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The Legal Equestrian

May 19, 2016

Bree Steffen: A dressage rider on a mission to stay authentic, improve her riding, and finish her university degree

Bryelle Steffen, or Bree, is a well known name on “eq anon island.” She is a dressage rider that hails from Canada, owns a super cute Trakehner/Quarter Horse named Phantom, and has a strong personality that sometimes rubs people the wrong way. Despite that, she has made a name for herself online, and she stays true to herself and her riding no matter what people say.

Bree & Phantom. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

Bree & Phantom. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

Now 21 years old, Bree started riding when she was 4 years old, but has been around horses since before that!

“My mom rode before I was born and continued until her horse passed away when I was 8 or 9. She has been taking me to the barn since weeks after I was born and would set me in my stroller by the ring while she rode. I have been extremely lucky to have been around horses since I was a baby,” she said.

Although she is a dressage rider now, she did dabble in the jumpers when she was younger. She said dressage keeps her focus and “every rider is something different.”

“Dressage comes down to every little detail and I love that. I love having something to always reach towards and knowing I will never be done trying to make myself better,” she said. “Dressage also provides you an opportunity to be so connected with your horse. There are moments when you ride a horse that is so responsive to the slightest aids and it’s a wonderful feeling.”

Bree is also an avid show rider, who trains with a local trainer from her town, Kingston. She also has another trainer she utilizes while she is away at school. She has shown every single summer since she was 7 – although she has taken one or two summers off. She also said she is currently on a break from showing because she is in university (something we totally support!) However, once done with school, she wants to get back into shape and ride second or third level dressage shows.

Bree & Phantom at a show. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

Bree & Phantom at a show. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

Bree feels that showing in dressage is less stressful than when she was doing another discipline. What is a typical dressage show day like?

“Your day layout would be the same, you have your time you’re showing and go in the ring at your allotted time, which is very specific down to the minute. You do your test for the judge and then exit the ring and wait for everyone else in your class to finish riding the same test, then you get your results and pick up ribbons if you won any. You receive your test back from the judge with number scores next to each movement followed by rider marks and any comments they have for you,” she explained.

Bree personally loves showing locally.

“…[E]veryone knows each other[,] and there are people who have been around and showing with me since I was little and showing my first pony.”

Bree & Phantom at a show. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

Bree & Phantom at a show. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

However, she also likes showing out of her general location.

“…[I]t’s also fun to go out of area to show because it’s more competitive,” she said.

So what about her horse Phantom, who arguably is also eq anon island famous?

“Phantom is an 11 year old Trakehner/QH gelding I’ve owned for almost 5 years. He’s my second ‘one in a million.’ He has dabbled in a little bit of everything[.] [H]e can jump a 4 foot course when in shape[;] he loves dressage because he loves to please[;] and he also has the greatest personality. Everyone who has spent time with him loves him because he’s so sweet, like a giant dog really,” Bree said.

Phantom loves bananas and watermelon, as well as spending time with people.

Bree & Phantom. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

Bree & Phantom. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

“Some of my favourite times with him have been just having him graze around me while I sit on the hill at my home barn and read a book. He’s very sane and level-headed but also has a sassy side that makes riding him really interesting and great for dressage because he has this presence in the ring that makes people want to sit and watch him.”

Bree said Phantom is very comfortable. His walk usually gets 9s from judges. Despite his comfort, Bree said it took two years for her to learn to ride his canter properly, and “some days I still can’t get it.”

She said she could talk about him all day, and in one sentence, she would describe him as an “amazing, kind soul that I consider myself extremely lucky to have.”

One thing I asked Bree about was the importance of dressage. Many hunter/jumper riders will agree that a dressage background, even if just lower level, does wonders for a horse.

“Your horse needs to have a solid foundation built on the flat before you can do anything else. The best way I’ve had it described to me is similar to the foundation of a house. Your flatwork is the foundation, and jumping or anything else are just the extra stories you build on top. A house with shaky foundation has a hard time staying steady, but also will have problems in the future,” she said. “A horse with solid dressage basics is the golden ticket for most other disciplines. Almost everything in dressage can be applied to hunter/jumpers; Collection, extension, stretchy work, being able to ride from your seat, and the list goes on.”

Bree said her favorite things about her discipline are that you never stop learning, though she acknowledged this is true for all disciplines. She also said she loves reading judges’ comments after she shows, and she also loves how dressage helps every single horse.

Additionally, she “love[s] the connection that’s required between a good horse/rider pair and I love to watch (and hope I can be) one of those pairs where you just sit there in awe and wonder how they do it. There are these moments during collection work and beyond where you feel your entire horse right beneath you and every movement they do is controlled by your body, to be able to feel that level of connection is unreal.”

Many of you are aware of the “in” items for the hunter/jumper world. I asked for her insight into what’s “in” for the dressage world right now.

“One of the great things of dressage (at least what I’ve observed) is there’s less pressure put on people to have certain things. Dressage is simplistic in the sense that if you have a saddle, bridle and boots [or] polos, you’re good. Some of my favourite things I have … include my saddle and bridle, which are both Schleese, and Ogilvy dressage pads. I also hoard DSB boots … As for rider, a lot of dressage riders have taken to the look of the Samshield helmets[,] and I see a lot more of those, I want one really bad actually,” she said.

According to Bree, a good dressage horse has a natural ability to move through their body, over their back, and has “semi-good” conformation in order to be able to sit and collect. She said being able to move, for a good dressage horse, is like being an “elastic band.” She also said “willing to be worked” and being pushed out of the horse’s comfort zone is a plus, personality-wise.

As for a good dressage rider? Bree said “a lot of patience.” She also said a good dressage rider can move their entire body separately and together, which took her about 10 years to figure out. Timing was another trait she cited as well.

Bree riding when she was younger. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

Bree riding when she was younger. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

We asked Bree who she would clinic with, if possible. She said: Anky Van Grunsven, Charlotte Dujardin, Kristina Bröring-Sprehe, Andrea Bresee, and Belinda Trussell.

Her favorite dressage horses are Desperados, ridden by Kristina Bröring-Sprehe; Salinero, ridden by Anky Van Grunsven; Blue Hors Matine and Anton, ridden by Belinda Trussell; and of course, Valegro, ridden by Charlotte Dujardin.

One thing Bree experiences a lot of is hate on social media. While this may come with her popularity (there are always the haters when you’re super well-known and popular online), she also acknowledges it could be due to her “strong personality.” She’s experienced hate due to her eyebrows, weight, economic status, and her riding.

How does Bree deal with the hate? One thing is putting things into perspective.

“I ask[] myself, really.. does it matter that these people hate me? How does it effect [sic] my life? When I thought about it I realized it really doesn’t effect [sic] me at all. These people don’t know me nor do they know what I’m capable of. They’ve never met me nor have ridden my horse, so their opinions of me shouldn’t cloud my view of myself. You can’t make people like you, you just learn to swing with the fact that people dislike you and there’s nothing you can do to change it. Some people are bitter with their own lives and project their dislike on other people, that looks worse on them than it does on me!”

Though she stays authentic online and tries to give people something good to talk about, she also tries not to fuel any fires and tries to follow the “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all” rule. However, she said she does not put on a “fake front” because she wants to be a rider that is genuinely looked up to by others.

Finally, we asked her what one thing she thinks needs to change about the equestrian community is.

Bree & Phantom. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

Bree & Phantom. Photo Courtesy of Bryelle Steffen.

“I think there needs to be a major attitude change. There are so many people who are so hostile and judgemental [sic] based on such trivial things. People are judged on what they have in terms of money and material things instead of focusing on what they have to offer like talent or hard work. I think as riders we need to work on encouraging each other and building each other up instead of constantly tearing each other down.”

“Another thing that I personally feel is really important is body positivity in this sport. As someone who has been ridiculed since I was young about my weight, I was always under the impression that I was less of a rider because of it. My coach always reminded me that it’s not about your body but it’s about how you use it and I always like to remember that and try to pass on that message. It makes me really upset to see riders evaluated on how they look instead of the talent they have and I think that is something huge that needs to be changed. If I myself can spread that message and can inspire other people to believe in themselves I will feel like I’ve done something positive so other people can feel confident in themselves too.”

Overall, Bree is on a mission to become the best dressage rider she can. She also feels there’s only one her in the world, and she wants to be liked for her – not being someone she isn’t.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Horse Advice, Horses, Interviews, Rider Interviews, Riding Tips, Spotlight on..., Tips, Up & Coming Riders

April 8, 2016

From Junior to Pro: An interview with Kelli Cruciotti

Last year, Kelli Cruciotti clinched a win in the Pessoa/US Medal Finals. She has since gone pro and is fully focused on developing herself further in the jumpers with a huge ultimate goal for 6 years down the road. Kelli was kind enough to do an interview with The Legal Equestrian, and we caught up with her about riding, aging out, what she’s been up to since Medal Finals, and some non-horse-related things.

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Photo Credit: Peter Pham.

Photo Credit: Peter Pham.

How long have you been riding?: Ever since I remember I have been riding, I believe I did my first leadline class in Indio when I was 3 years old.

How did you get started?: Since my mother … has always had a very large training stable, I have been involved [with] horses my entire life.

What drew you to the equitation?: My mother is a very strong supporter of the equitation and how it promotes the classic American style of riding and how it translates into the higher levels of the sport. Since I was very young I always loved to compete in the equitation in hopes to further my skills for the jumper ring.

What do you plan on doing now that you’ve aged out?: I am currently working for my mother at our stable Serenity Farm. I plan on further building our business while continuing to develop myself as a professional.

What was aging out like for you?: For me it was not difficult at all, I was taught that the equitation is a necessary stepping stone to other things, not just something you do for your junior career and then you have nothing after. This helped not put so much pressure on my “last junior year” as I was already thinking about what I would do next.

What was it like winning a major equitation final?: Winning a major equitation finals was a dream come true not only for me but also for my team. We all worked toward the goal of winning a final[] and for it to actually happen was a great credit to everyone around me and for all of their hard work.

How did you prepare for equitation finals this year?: I did not prepare for this equitation final[] any differently than I had any of the other[] years[.] [Y]ou want you and your horse to be ready for anything but you really don’t know exactly what will be asked of you on that particular day. The only thing that I had done differently was not ride Monterrey in the warm-up class before the finals. I always thought his best class was the first one he did, so I took a bit of a chance and thankfully it [paid] off!

With whom do you train?: For the equitation and the hunters I train with my mother, Cindy Cruciotti, and for the jumpers I train with Peter Lutz.

What are your must have equestrian products?: My Ariat Monaco stretch boots. With being so busy and being on your feet all day it is so nice to have a boot that is so functional and looks great. I could not go to a show without them!

What are your must have products for your horse?: My horses are very spoiled and cannot live without their treats after they come out of the arena.

Tell us about your horse(s).: At the moment I have some very exciting horses: I have Monterrey, my equitation horse. [We] won the finals and now compete[] in the International Hunter Derbies. Then I have Chamonix H, who is my most seasoned horse that I compete in the Grand Prix [classes with] and [the] Under 25 classes. I recently bought two very nice 9 yr old horses and a 7 yr old to develop for the future.

Are you going to college? If so, where?: No right now I am focusing completely on my riding and training career.

If not, do you plan on going professional?: Yes I turned professional as soon as I aged out, I am really looking forward to the future!

Kelli after winning Medal Finals. Photo Credit: The Chronicle of the Horse.

Kelli after winning Medal Finals. Photo Credit: The Chronicle of the Horse.

What has been your most memorable riding experience?: Getting to share the Medal Finals win with my family. We all work so hard and for everyone to get to share the moment together was something very special for me.

What has been your biggest riding accomplishment?: Winning the Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon with Chamonix. This was a class that I didn’t expect to place in, let alone win, and I will remember it for the rest of my life.

What have you struggled with in riding?: Being brave, I have a very shy personality and sometimes that would translate into my riding. I had to learn to get a little tougher and be more outgoing.

What comes easy to you in riding?: I have always felt like I had a good connection with the horses, whether I am riding or taking care of them. I really just love being around them.

Kelli & Chamonix during the Devon Sapphire Grand Prix, which they won.

Kelli & Chamonix during the Devon Sapphire Grand Prix, which they won.

How do you unwind?: I love watching TV shows such as Criminal Minds and Law and Order to help me unwind from the busy days.

How often do you ride?: Six days a week.

What is your favorite band?: I don’t really have a favorite band, but I do really enjoy country music.

What is your favorite food?: I love Italian food, anything to do with bread and pasta I could eat everyday!

Dream person to clinic with?: I f I had to pick someone that I would like to clinic with I would say Hap Hansen. I have always admired his riding style and how effortless he makes everything appear.

Kelli's dream horse to ride. Photo Credit: HorseAndCountry.tv

Kelli’s dream horse to ride. Photo Credit: HorseAndCountry.tv

Dream horse to ride?: My dream horse to ride would be Glock’s London.

Ultimate goal for your riding.: My ultimate goal for my riding is to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games for the United States.

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Kelli can be found on Instagram.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Horses, Interviews, Q&A, Question & Answer, Spotlight on..., Up & Coming Riders

January 28, 2016

Lauren Mahoney: A successful rider with higher aspirations

Lauren and Zander "Bon Bon" - Photo Courtesy of Lauren Mahoney.

Lauren and Zander “Bon Bon” – Photo Courtesy of Lauren Mahoney.

The long awaited interview with Lauren Mahoney has arrived. You may have seen her at one of the faces of Le Fash or know her from doing 1.45m to Grand Prix classes with her wonderful, amazing former horse Armani. Lauren seems to live a glamorous life, but one must remember that social media is all curated. Lauren is actually super nice, extremely down-to-earth, and someone I know I can go to if I ever need to talk or need advice.

She is currently a sophomore at Sacred Heart University (my best friend went there!), and she said she has an “unhealthy addiction to Talenti and horses.” She is studying marketing with a double minor in fashion merchandising and digital marketing.

Lauren started riding when she was four. Surprisingly, she didn’t like it.

“My dad started me with lessons at Stonyhill, a show barn on Long Island that was 5 minutes from our house,” she said. “I actually hated it for the first year or so, then sometime around when I was 6 I come home and asked for a second lesson a week. I think that’s when my dad realized having a daughter who rode might not have been the smartest financial decision.”

Lauren is known for doing the jumpers, though she did do the equitation for some time. However, she “absolutely hated doing the eq in the pony division.” She said she “always” wanted to do the jumpers.

Lauren & Bon Bon. Photo Credit: Hannah Tucker.

Lauren & Bon Bon. Photo Credit: Hannah Tucker.

“Even when i had my large pony, I used to have to beg my trainer to let me do the jumper classes at the end of the day on my pony!” Lauren said. “She would always let me if my pony was up for it and as long as I got the points I needed in the morning for whatever pony division we were chasing. It [was] the best part of my day, getting to do the 3[‘] jumpers on my fancy large pony.”

So why did (and does) Lauren like the jumpers so much when most girls her age were doing equitation or hunters?

“The whole, get it done type of mentality was always more inviting to me than the perfection and stress of the equitation or hunters. I loved jumping big too, even when [I] was little I would beg my trainer to put the jumps up,” she explained. “Jumping in the … big classes [has] always been my dream ever since I was little. I used to watch my old trainer, James Benedetto, school his jumpers at home before heading of[f] to Spruce or Wellington[,] and it was mesmerizing watching him jump around 1.60[m] courses with such grace.”

Lauren said she was hooked, and that jumping in big classes has been a “dream” ever since she was a little girl.

Lauren has also had the luck of importing her last three horses. So, what were they?

Her first import was Vancouver DH. She imported him when she was 12, and he was 5.

“He was a great learning experience and got me into the 1.10[m],” she said of Vancouver DH.

Then comes the ever famous Armani. She imported him after taking a year off of riding. She had Armani for 3 years. He took her from 1.10m to 1.45m.

Lauren and Armani at WEF, 2014. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Mahoney.

Lauren and Armani at WEF, 2014. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Mahoney.

He basically taught me everything I know and I don’t think I could have gotten any luckier. Truly he was everything you ever wanted in an athlete,” she said of Armani.

And, if any of you follow Lauren on Twitter or Instagram, or know her well, you know she still speaks very fondly of him.

“He is actually doing fantastic! His new owner loves him dearly, and he is at an absolutely beautiful barn with the best staff,” Lauren said. “I really couldn’t have asked for a better home to sell him to. Last [I] checked she was doing the adults with him, but might move up soon.”

Recently, Lauren imported Zander, also known as Bon Bon.

“He’s a 7 year old Zangersheide out of Level Z and has honestly been the biggest challenge I’ve faced yet in my riding career. When I went over on this trip I knew I wanted a horse to get into bigger classes with, but we didn’t have the budget to get a typical 1.50[m] horse,” she said. “So in order to do the impossible, find an inexpensive Prix horse, I had to go with something that really isn’t for everyone. He’s been hard to figure out and he was actually gelded not long before I bought him.”

Lauren & Bon Bon for Heels Down Magazine. Photo Credit: Heels Down Mag.

Lauren & Bon Bon for Heels Down Magazine. Photo Credit: Heels Down Mag.

Bon Bon passed all the stallion testings in Belgium; however, his owners decided to geld him as a 7 year old.

“…[I]t’s hard working with him sometimes but I really think it will all pay off in the end,” she said.

Lauren has some goals for Bon Bon this year, such as stepping up to the big classes.

“He did one 1.50[m] class last summer at Princeton with my trainer[,] but it was on the smaller side. He settled into himself truly by the last couple of lines, so if he could begin with that same mentality and also finish with it, that’s the goal,” she said.

Lauren seems to know her new horse relatively very well.

“He’s a young horse with a little bit of a stallion brain, so it’s like working with the most stubborn person you know!” She explained. “He really does like his job though, and he’s made leaps and bounds of progress since he’s gotten over here so I’m just going to take it day by day with him.”

As for Lauren, she wants to feel confident again in the 1.35m classes and 1.40m classes, maybe. However, this is all dependent on Bon Bon.

“…[L]ike I said it’s been hard to figure him out and we’re just working on the details now but as we all know, sometimes its the little things that are the most important.”

Lauren also had a tragedy hit her family last year that affected her riding and her progress with Bon Bon. She wanted to share this with The Legal Equestrian readers. Lauren’s half-sister passed away last July.

“Not many people know, but this summer my sister Briana passed away suddenly by something that truly was just a freak accident. She actually passed away on July 5th; my 19th birthday. It not only swayed my riding, but it also stopped my world. Briana and I grew up together until [I] was finishing middle school, then she moved to Florida to live with her father.”

Briana, 26, had three little boys under the age of 5.

“The reason I’m talking about this is not only because it was a large reason why my riding didn’t get as serious as it should have this summer but also to make people realize that there’s always so much more going on than what you see.”

“I can’t even begin to tell you [in] words how hard these past 6 or 7 months have been, and for those of you who may be reading this, who have also lost a loved one, I’m so sorry. This was a large reason why my plans with Zander didn’t progress as I had planned at the beginning of the summer. It was very hard for me to focus on something that seemed so trivial when three little boys very close to my heart had just lost their mother,” she said. “It honestly was very hard for me to focus on just about anything. Hopefully with this all said, this year things will start to come together for us as a team.”

Lauren said her head is in a better place, and her vision for Bon Bon is “clearer than ever.”

“I honestly don’t consider myself the same person as I was before this all happened. If anything good at all can possibly come out of this, it’s to learn to never take anything for granted,” she said.

The Legal Equestrian team wants to send our sincere condolences to Lauren. Losing a loved one is never easy, but this was especially hard for her because of how close she was to her sister. We also are honored that Lauren wanted to address this during her interview, as it is something she has kept quiet about on social media.

Lauren is a true equestrian fashionista, so we had to ask her about her favorite equestrian brands. We all know she loves Le Fash.

Photo Credit: Le Fash.

Photo Credit: Le Fash.

“[Their] clothes make my life easy honestly because if I have to go straight to class from the barn, I can just put a blouse in my car and some flats and thats my class outfit for after the barn with their breeches,” she said.

She also loves Equiline and EcoLicious Equestrian, for which she is an ambassador.

Lauren also adores Ecogold, which makes great, amazing pads. We asked her why she chooses Ecogold over the other ever popular Ogilvy. First, Lauren said she had used just about every “top” half pad on the market, partially inspired by Armani’s high withers.

“I came across Ecogold and honestly at first [I] was hesitant to try any products because they are so expensive, but after trying them there was no looking back,” she said. “Absolutely no slip, and they washed out beautifully. Then when they came out with the [F]lip [H]alf [P]ad, what could be better!? You get two half pads for the price of one, plus I love that they’re not as thick as other brands[;] they really went wit[h] the quality of their material versus the quantity of it. I felt that other brands really [m]ade my saddle sit too high off the back and I felt disconnected[.] [W]ith Ecogold there was none of that. I don’t think I’ll ever switch now!”

Lauren is a college student with a heavy load on her plate. After all, she has a major and a double minor. How does she balance school and riding?

“Honestly, it’s really hard. It leaves me with minimal time for anything else, especially anything social. To me it’s worth it though. My dreams have always included horses and I don’t see that changing anytime soon,” she said.

Lauren also rides on her University’s riding team, which she spoke to us about not too long ago.

“The girls on the team are all like one big family, and it’s nice to have people at your school & surrounding you that you all have a similar passion. It’s tough in the sense that the commitment is huge. It’s a D1 team as well as a[n] IHSA team so we do a lot to try and stay on top.”

‘A lot’ includes workouts, study hall hours, practices, tutors, meetings, and barn work.

Lauren is obviously a good rider and has accomplished a lot as just a sophomore in college. However, she does not plan on going professional with her riding.

“I’m majoring in Marketing so I would really like to take that and run with it,” she said.” I’m starting up an internship at LARC test[,] which is a new research and training technique in the equine world. Working with start up companies is really what I find myself loving so far. I’m not sure if I’m going to stay within the [e]quine field or not, but I really hope I can at least always do something on the side that is connected to this world because I find the people & athletes in it just down right amazing.”

Like most of us, Lauren is not immune to the internet haters. We asked her how she deals with those haters.

“Honestly I just ignore it. It takes a certain amount of maturity to be able to look at someone else’s life and realize that things are never how they seem to be. Some people just haven’t found that maturity yet and that’s ok[ay]. Hopefully some day they will and it won’t be because they find themselves the center of hate,” she said.

Lauren & Armani. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Mahoney.

Lauren & Armani. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Mahoney.

For those of you that are wondering, “how can I be like Lauren Mahoney?” (We know you’re out there…) Lauren had this to say:

“Ride, ride as much as possible. It’s never going to be easy but if this is truly what you love then put yourself out there and try to work for different barns. The more you experience, the better of you will be.”

Finally, we finished with some fun, non-horse-related questions. First, her guilty pleasures, which pretty much include foods like pizza, sushi, and Talenti (anything caramel related).

We also asked Lauren about her move last year. When Lauren decided to attend Sacred Heart, she and her dad moved from Long Island (her life-long home) to Connecticut. We asked her if she ever missed Long Island. Short answer: Not really.

“I never really loved it there honestly. I just found it congested and honestly it’s really hard to find good places and opportunities to ride on the island. There’s minimal show barns out there[,] and I was just lucky enough to live near a farm that had a great trainer, but even then that barn wasn’t a super high functioning show barn. They brought us to all the shows, but didn’t live on the circuit like a North Run or Heritage does. So I found it hard to get any opportunities unless I was traveling to horse shows.”

For those of you who are Long Islanders, Lauren said she misses Ralph’s and Little V’s Pizza.

Finally, will Lauren be at WEF this year?

“Yes!” She said. “I’ll be down to visit some friends and possibly catch ride. I just won’t be bringing any horses down.”

If you want to catch up with Lauren on social media, you can find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Lauren & Armani. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Mahoney.

Lauren & Armani. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Mahoney.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Horses, Rider Interviews, Spotlight on..., Up & Coming Riders

January 19, 2016

Up & Coming Riders: Coco Fath

Photo Courtesy of Coco Fath.

Photo Courtesy of Coco Fath.

Coco Fath placed 9th at the 2014 Pessoa Medal Finals and was Champion in the 2015 Small Junior Hunters at Devon. However, she is more than just her riding accomplishments. When asked, Coco said her friends would probably describe her as “entertaining.”

Coco, 15, has been riding for 9 years.

“I began riding because my sisters were riding and I had always been in love with ponies,” she said. “My great grandmother fox hunted which got the rest of my family (my grandmother then my mother) into it.”

She currently owns 7 horses and trains with Molly Ashe. She also has her own LLC, Hillside Farm, which she hopes to make into a real barn one day.

Currently, Coco’s goals include earning ribbons at Equitation Finals and “mak[ing] sure all of [her] horses are happy and healthy.”

This winter, she will be competing at WEF, which she said is one of her favorite shows. She has found that every time she returns home from WEF, her riding is much better.

“Every time I come home to Connecticut after WEF, my position is always 10x better,” she said.

Coco said her biggest strengths as a rider are being able to seeing distances from far away. She also has another strength which has been super important and helpful to her, especially when she is competing at bigger finals: she has the ability not to choke under pressure.

However, Coco said she does “occasionally” get nervous at big finals. But, to deal with this, she channels the nerves into “focusing on [the] course and [her] position.”

Coco did say that competing in the Big Eq Finals is “a little scary.”

Photo Courtesty of Coco Fath.

“…but once you get over the big crowd and difficult jumps it’s really fun. The time of year, however, is very stressful with school and prepping the horses,” she said.

Speaking of school, how does Coco balance school and her rigorous riding/competition schedule?

“It can be really difficult at times, but I’ve been lucky enough to work with tons of tutors … you just have to manage time really well. I also stay down during WEF and use a tutoring service in the winter,” she explained.

This year, Coco plans on working on her position and also moving up in the jumpers. Long-term, she would like to compete in more hunter derbies.

As an avid equestrian, Coco is obviously up on the latest in equestrian brands. She said her favorites are: Equiline, Charles Ancona, Ariat, Parlanti, Tailored Sportsman, and Hermes.

Coco isn’t always riding, and when she does have time to relax and unwind, she does so by hanging out with friends, playing tennis, or doing homework.

Coco has obviously had a lot of success in the show ring. She had this advice for young equestrians who want to follow in her footsteps.

“[R]ide as much and as many different horses as you can and … remember to always have fun with it,” she said.

Coco said if she could ride any “famous” horse, it would be Brunello because of his jump. Brunello also just won USEF Horse of the Year. Additionally, if she could clinic with anyone, it would be George Morris, who has a new book coming out this year and wrote one of the most well-known books about hunter seat equitation.

Photo Courtesy of Coco Fath.

Finally, we asked Coco what her plans are in terms of whether she would like to become a professional rider. She had a very smart answer.

“It would be amazing to go professional, but I plan on going to college and cannot predict the future so I am not sure,” she said. “I would spend some time as an amateur, for sure.”

Much like other equestrians, such as Lillie Keenan, it seems as if Coco values education just as much as she values her riding – something we certainly cannot disagree with.

If you’d like to keep up with Coco and her adventures riding, she can be found on Instagram.

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: Horses, Interviews, Rider Interviews, Spotlight on..., Up & Coming Riders

January 16, 2016

Meet Rileigh Tibbott: A young Grand Prix rider with Olympic dreams

Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Over the summer, I got the pleasure of meeting Rileigh Tibbott at the Sussex County Horse Show. She recognized me from my blog, and little did I know that she was competing in her first Grand Prix that week. Coincidentally, she had also ridden Luther quite a few times as she used to train with the individual that leased/sold me Luther.

Rileigh just recently made the decision to put off college in order to compete at WEF this winter, and she also just recently purchased a 1.60m horse in order to compete in the Grand Prix classes at WEF.

Rileigh describes herself as “the most sarcastic person ever” who “always tr[ies] to make people laugh.” When asked to describe herself, she also said that “when it comes to the show ring, there’s no stress just smiles.”

Rileigh, 18, grew up on a farm her whole life. Her family owned over 30 draft horses which she said she would try to jump and “epically” failed at doing so. When she was younger, she did 4H and local shows.

She didn’t compete at her first rated show until she was 14 years old. When she was 15, she purchased a Thoroughbred that got her started in the low children’s jumpers. When she was 16, she purchased a low junior jumper named Axel. She competed in her first 1.20m class when she was 16.

Although Rileigh loves the jumper ring, she does dabble in other disciplines.

“The fun and adrenaline rush of doing the jumpers is what made me fall in love with it, however I still do the equitation and hunters on occasion,” she said.

Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

At the Sussex County Grand Prix, Rileigh competed on her horse Kahlua 7, a 9 year old German Sport Horse by King Kolibri. Kahlua was just imported in August and had a successful record over in Germany in the 1.45m classes.

“We bought her because she is so easy to ride and very forgiving. What most people don’t realize is that up until the past summer I was only jumping 1.20m,” Rileigh said. “She took me from 1.20m to 1.50m in just a month.”

However, since Rileigh purchased a new horse, Kahlua is now for sale.

Rileigh’s new horse, Cento per Cento CG is a former Pan American games competitor. He has also been to several World Cups.

“A friend of mine in Wellington had him and that is how I found him,” she said of the 1.60m jumper. “What made me chose him is his incredible scope and hind end.”

As stated before, Rileigh made the tough decision of not returning to college this semester in order to stay down in WEF and compete.

“I decided to stay in WEF and take a break from college when we decided to purchase my new 1.60m horse,” Rileigh said. “I know that it will take a lot [of] training and time to be able to accomplish my goals so staying here was in my best interest. The decision was hard for me simply because I will miss all of my friends back home.”

Prior to that, Rileigh was attending college and continuing to compete with her horse Kahlua. Prior to that, Rileigh also had to learn how to balance school with riding and competing – something that many young equestrians have to deal with.

“Balancing school and riding was incredible hard,” Rileigh said. “I would miss all the days I was allowed to [in] high school to compete. Luckily, I had an amazing principal who worked with my riding schedule.”

Rileigh & Kailua in the Sussex County Grand Prix. Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Rileigh & Kahlua in the Sussex County Grand Prix. Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Rileigh competed in her first Grand Prix last August at the Sussex County Horse Show. She was in good company with riders like Andy Kocher, Michael Hughes, and Michael Desiderio. However, she held her own and finished with just four faults – impressive for her first Grand Prix ever.

“My first Grand Prix was probably the most nervous I have ever been. It was the highest the horse and I have ever jumped and I had only had her for about a month,” she said. “There were so many people and it was under the lights and a BIG grand prix course.”

How did Rileigh prepare for the Grand Prix? By going for a light hack in the morning and listening to music.

“That is how I mentally prepare myself to get ready,” she said. “My go to song is ‘All I do is Win’.”

Before actually competing in Grand Prix classes, Rileigh was an avid Grand Prix spectator.

“I have been a spectator at Grand Prixs for as long as I remember. However, I never could’ve imagined doing one before the last 2 years,” she said. “My first 2 horses that were able to jump the bigger jumps taught me so much and made that dream a reality.”

Although Rileigh has her eye on the Grand Prix classes at WEF, she’s got bigger dreams in mind, such as competing in the Olympics one day and becoming a Professional as soon as she is ready.

Rileigh said she looks up to Reed Kessler and if she could ride any horse, it would be Cortes C.

“I saw her [Reed] compete when I was 14 and always loved the way she rode. She also has a strong connection with her horses which means the world to me,” Rileigh said.

As for favorite equestrian brands? Rileigh loves Equine Couture, JOTT, and Animo.

“I’m ALL about sparkles and the color blue!” Rileigh said.

When she is not riding, Rileigh loves to unwind by watching Netflix and hanging out with her friends. However, she can’t stay away from horses for long.

“[M]y most favorite thing is to just sit in the barn and play with the horses. I feel like that creates a special bond with them outside of the ring,” she said.

In addition to riding, Rileigh is also a model, which she started doing her senior year of high school and absolutely loves.

Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Photo Courtesy of Rileigh Tibbott.

Rileigh said her biggest accomplishment thus far as an equestrian has been competing in the International Ring at WEF with Kahlua. She said that had always been a dream of hers.

Rileigh’s goals for 2016 include competing in a 1.60m Grand Prix with her new horse and to do the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Grand Prix.

“Obviously it will take time to bond with the new stallion but we’ve already had a clean round in the 1.30m and we are excited to move up,” she said.

Rileigh had this to say to young equestrians with big goals like her own.

“…[F]ollow your dreams,” she said. “My dream seemed so far out of reach but hard work and dedication DOES pay off. No matter what critical people might say you CAN do it.”

And what did she have to say about navigating a Grand Prix course?

“The most important thing is to keep cool,” she said. “The second you tense up, so will the horse. Take deep breaths in the corners and act like nobody is watching.”

She also said that it helps to have a forgiving horse because if the rider gets tense or nervous, “they’re able to save you.”

We are looking forward to seeing Rileigh’s progress at WEF this winter and for what this whole year has in store for her!

If you’d like to keep up with Rileigh, she can be found on Twitter and Instagramk.

2 Comments · Filed Under: Horses, Rider Interviews, Spotlight on..., Up & Coming Riders

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amateur hunter/eq rider. lawyer. entrepreneur.
two horses, one pony.
zone two.
perfectionist.
still love the expensive & innovative.

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