January 28, 2015

Hunter Holloway: Making her mark on all 3 rings

Hunter Holloway riding Tori Colvin’s horse, Patrick, during the work-off at the 2014 Maclay Finals.

While Hunter Holloway has been riding since she was a young girl, she really broke into the scene and onto our radar when she placed second at the Maclay Finals this year on Any Given Sunday (though it should be noted that she won her first Grand Prix class at the age of 12 making her the youngest rider ever to win a national standard Grand Prix). Hunter was head to head with first place winner, Tori Colvin, and they went all the way to a work-off and switching horses to determine the winner.

Hunter is someone who lives and breathes horses. She spends most – if not all – of her time at the barn. According to an article in the Kansas City Star, Hunter, who is based in Kansas, spends at least 12 hours a day with horses. She balances that with attending high school – online – and a busy competition schedule. She also works on her family’s farm, helping to train and sell horses.

Hunter recently caught my eye as a rider to watch. She has had success in the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings at such a young age. She has ridden with George Morris and recently started training with Anne Kursinski. She is also sponsored by my favorite equestrian apparel company, Le Fash.

Hunter riding Any Given Sunday at the 2014 ASPCA Maclay Finals where she placed second.

I reached out to Hunter to see if she would be willing to be interviewed, and she said yes. I was extremely excited for this opportunity, and I am extremely excited to be writing this post.

Hunter’s list of accolades is long (thank you to Le Fash’s sponsors page for this list). Among others she was:

The youngest rider in history chosen to represent the United Stations in the FEI Nations Cup Young Rider Team in Germany;
Devon 2014 Reserve Best Child Rider;
Altech National Horse Show 2013 Reserve Champion in the Younger Large Junior Hunters division;
Pennsylvania National Horse Show 2013 Reserve Champion in the Younger Small Junior Hunters division;
Washington International Horse Show 2013 Reserve Champion in the Younger Small Junior Hunters division;
Reserve Champion at the 2013 East Coast Junior Hunter Finals;
Second place at the 2014 ASPCA Maclay Finals;

Hunter riding Lyons Creek Bellini at Summer in the Rockies. Photo Credit: PhelpsSports.com

At 16 years old, Hunter has a lot under her belt, and there is no doubt she will be a big contender during the last two years of her junior career.

Hunter has been with horses ever since she was young. In fact, her mom rode horses while she was pregnant with Hunter and even took a tumble at one point!

“It wasn’t a bad fall though,” Hunter said. “She was flatting around when the horse tripped really bad causing her to fall off.”

Growing up, Hunter’s trainer was her mom, Brandie. She was also trained by, and continues to train with, Don Stewart. She recently started training with Anne Kursinski, and even worked in New Jersey as a working student for Anne at Anne’s Farm Market Street over the summer. While in Wellington, Hunter meets up with Anne for lessons.

Hunter said that Anne is an “amazing person” and an “inspiration” to her.

“She is so passionate about what she does, just watching her teach and ride allows you to learn so much,” Hunter said.

While Hunter competes in all 3 rings, her main focus for this year is the jumpers.

“I’d really like to do some bigger classes and some World Cup qualifier stuff,” She said. “Also wanting to try and do some more team events this year. I still have my sights set on the equitation finals as well so I’ll continue to work towards that.”

However, despite her focus on jumpers, she still plans on “doing it all.”

“My family’s Equi-Venture Farm has a business based on buying and selling horses,” Hunter said. “I’ll keep showing the horses until they sell, everything I ride or have ridden has been a sales horse. It’s how we make our money so we can continue to do this.”

Hunter Holloway & YOLO. Photo Credit: PhelpsSports.com

A typical day for Hunter includes riding about 10 horses and working on schoolwork. She also adds in her busy competition schedule. She is currently in Wellington and will be going back and forth between Wellington and Ocala to compete – with Anne.

Hunter stated she wants to go pro with her riding.

“I hope to take it as far as I can, hopefully the Olympics one day,” she said, adding: “Go big or go home.”

It is well-known that Hunter loves Le Fash. But what other equestrian products can she not do without?

“CWD, JOTT, Samshield, EquiFit, Bizi Bee Boutique, and Purina. They are all amazing products and fulfill all your equestrian needs,” she said. (Editor’s Note: We second the EquiFit, and a Samshield is on our wishlist!)

Hunter has had the opportunity to train and ride with amazing trainers and riders throughout her life. We asked her who she would love to clinic with if she had the chance. Aside from Anne Kursinski and George Morris, she said Beezie Madden and McLain Ward who she feels “are the poster children for the U.S. classical style of riding.”

Hunter Holloway competing in the Junior Hunters at WIHS, 2013. Photo Credit: The Plaid Horse.

It was recently announced that Le Fash founder and president, Arianna Vastino, will be working closely with Hunter on some new apparel for the summer. We asked Hunter if she could give away any details. Though she couldn’t reveal any upcoming items, she did give us one hint:

“I’m super excited about it and let’s just say it’s going to be very classic yet fashion forward,” she said.

Hunter has obviously had a huge amount of success at only 16. We asked her if she had an advice for riders that wish to make it big in this sport.

“Hard work and making sure the trainers around you know that you want it,” she said. “Ride whatever you can and get in the ring as much as possible. I believe hard work is the biggest thing though. You have to work hard for the things you want most.”

January 26, 2015

Aleece Jarman on turning pro, training with her parents, and spending as much time as she can with horses

I interviewed Aleece Jarman – a junior rider who just turned pro! Aleece currently competes in the hunters and jumpers and rides out of her family’s farm, Aubrey Hill Equestrian Center, located in Florida.

Aleece & Canto in the high junior jumpers at Conyers. Photo Credit to Flashpoint Photography.

Aleece began riding about 14 years ago. When she was younger she also did ballet and gymnastics, but her parents wanted her to choose one sport to invest her time in – she chose riding horses. For most of her life, she has adapted so that she could invest as much time and focus into riding and competing as possible.

“When I was in fifth grade I became homeschooled so I could focus even more on my riding and showing,” she said. “A few years after that I switched to online school so I could complete my work a little bit easier especially when traveling. Now I’m 18 and starting out my first year as a professional. I honestly can’t imagine myself doing anything else.”

Being a professional means a busy day. Typically, Aleece will start schoolwork around 8:15 in the morning. This takes her about 3 to 4 hours. After eating lunch, she begins her rides of the day which are usually a minimum of 3 to 4. After finishing up riding, she and her family eat dinner and watch television together.

Aleece’s parents have played an integral part in her riding. They are not just the owners of where she rides – they’re her trainers too.

Aleece & Levi in the younger small juniors at Devon. Photo Credit to Mollie Bailey and Molly Sorge.

“Training with them is great! Not only do we joke around and have a good time but I feel more comfortable being trained by my parents,” she said. “They know me better than anyone so if I’m having trouble with my riding they will know exactly how to explain it so I am able to understand. We don’t fight at all. Our entire family is very respectful when it comes to each other and I definitely think that helps.”

Aleece said she loves having her entire family involved in riding, and she feels it helps to bring them closer together.

“We’re able to share a sport that we love with each other and that’s pretty cool because some families aren’t able to do that,” Aleece said.

Aleece recently became a professional rider, and she was extremely excited about it. She personally loves having new goals and problems to overcome, and she also loves challenges. Although aging out has been a little nerve wracking, she considers it to be a new chapter in her career. She also said that she hasn’t found it difficult to start riding as a professional, even at only 18 years old.

“I have a lot of people around me that are extremely supportive and want me to have as much success as I possibly can,” Aleece said. “I just continue to ride to the best of my ability and work hard to improve my riding every single day.”

Aleece did hunters for most of her life and considers it to be her “main” discipline. However, when she turned 16, she decided to try doing jumper classes because they looked “extremely challenging.” Additionally, the jumper levels go much higher than they do in the hunter ring. She also wanted to expand her knowledge and skill set.

Aleece & Calisto, owned by Ashley Aycox, in the Elite Shows International Derby (Aleece’s first!) in Pensacola, Florida. Photo Credit to Nina Lisa.

Aleece currently competes in both the hunter and jumper classes on a few different horses. Her personal horse, Cantori (or “Canto”), is a 9 year old Holsteiner. During the end of her junior career, she showed him in the high junior jumpers. As she progresses in her professional career and he in his training and experience, she hopes to show him in welcomes, classics, Mini Prixs, and Grand Prixs. (Note: Aleece recently announced on her Instagram that she will be selling Canto. A horse that she has been riding, named Stevens, will become her personal horse.)

She also shows two other horses, both of which are for sale. Big Promise – or Promise – a 10 year old Dutch Warmblood that she considers to be a “great first jumper.” In fact, he helped Aleece get from the 1.10 meter classes to the 1.35 and 1.40 classes. Additionally, Promise is now ridden by Aleece’s sister who wanted to start doing jumper classes.

Finally, Aleece rides Wanelo – or Nelo – a 6 year old Dutch Warmblood in the pre-greens. He is also a sale horse.

Being able to train horses and ponies is something about which Aleece is extremely proud. She has been doing so since the age of 9 with the help of her parents.

“Putting all of that hard work and time into a horse or pony and then winning a big class or even qualifying for a big show means more than words can describe,” she said.

With all the success that Aleece has experienced, I wondered whether she ever felt the pressure to be ‘perfect.’ She did, especially when she used to show her small pony, Rico Suavè. Due to her success on him, a lot of spectators would attend her classes to watch her ride. She said this would make her nervous and cause her to choke.

“Eventually I learned to push the nerves away and just go out there and ride. Now that I’m older and have more show experience, I tend to not get nervous. No one is perfect so I finally stopped trying to be,” she said. “Turns out things work out much better when you aren’t trying to perform at an impossible standard!”

Aleece is extremely active on social media which hasn’t always been fun for her. She said that she’s experienced an incredible amount of internet hate, but she hasn’t let that get to her.

“Some people have said things to me that I do not wish to repeat…” She said. “Fortunately, I’ve always been the type of person that could care less what others think especially when it comes to my riding. I’m happy with who I am and that’s what matters. People that hide behind anonymous and try to destroy your life aren’t even worth your time. You just have to keep your chin up and focus on the things that really matter.”

Though she is a professional, Aleece said she does have a riding weakness: her size.

“I’m only 5’ tall so being strong enough is sometimes a big issue for me. For my height I’m quite muscular but compared to taller women or men I’m very weak,” she said. “Controlling horses much bigger than me can be a difficult task especially if the horse is acting up.”

However, she also thinks her size is an advantage as it allows her to ride any size horse or pony, and she wouldn’t want to be taller.

Aleece doesn’t have any specific goals going into this year aside from improving her riding and skill set. She also wants to learn as much as she can from the sport. Her ultimate long-term goal is to show in a Grand Prix or jumper derby at Spruce Meadows.

Aleece & Canto competing in the high junior jumpers at the Classic Company show in Pensacola, Florida. Photo Credit to A&S Photography.

Since she is 18, college is just around the corner, but Aleece hasn’t figured out yet what she would like to do aside from taking some photography classes. However, she did stress that riding will always come first for her, and she considers it to be her profession.

As for other professionals, Aleece said she has always looked up to Nick Skelton.

“His horses are always in amazing shape and perform to the best of their abilities,” she said. “He goes in that ring to get the job done and he makes it look effortless in the process.”

She also considers McLain Ward to be a role model and would love to clinic with him one day.

“He is an incredible rider who not only has amazing equitation, but he’s also quite admirable in jump offs. He knows exactly how to set a horse up for a turn and knows exactly when to push the limit,” she said.

Finally, we asked about her favorite riding products. She loves Tailored Sportsman breeches (which she was still wearing at 7 pm during her interview), her GPA Speed Air helmet, and Pikeur jackets and belts.

If you’d like to keep up with Aleece, she can be found on Facebook, Kik (Username: AleeceJarman), Ask.fm, and Instagram (which she uses the most).

All photos are courtesy of Aleece Jarman and credited to the photographers listed in the caption. Please do not use without permission.

January 12, 2015

Up & Coming Rider: Lizzy, Pony Jumper Finals Team Gold Winner

Lizzy & Theo at Pony Finals. Photo Credit to Chronicle of the Horse.

I’m very excited to announce that I got the chance to interview Lizzy S., who won team gold at the Pony Finals with her lease pony, Theo. After aging out, Lizzy started as a freshman at Auburn University, where she is majoring in pre-vet animal science at the College of Agriculture.

Lizzy describes herself as a “very open person with a lot of goals.”

“I love to have fun but when it comes down to it I will always choose studying over going out because my future means so much to me,” she said.

Lizzy also considers herself to be a “very accepting person.”

“I was raised in a very loving home,” she said. “We moved around a lot and I was exposed to a lot of cultures when I was very young.”

Lizzy & Theo schooling. Photo Credit to Lindsey Toothman.

Despite her riding accolades, interesting life growing up, and her large aspirations, she did say she doesn’t consider herself “too interesting.

Although Lizzy has aged out and is no longer riding Theo, she is trying to find as many riding opportunities as she can. However, college hasn’t made her life too different, and she is focusing on making sure she gets good grades and is successful academically.

“I think first semester I focused more on academics than riding, and second semester I can ride more because I’ve figured it out,” Lizzy said. “My junior status has never been too important to me. In the long run I love to compete, and I can still do that without that status. I only needed it to compete at Pony Finals and now that I’ve had a successful round there, I’m content with it.”

Despite her lack of riding first semester, Lizzy has managed to work out a few opportunities to ride her second semester so she can ride more. Additionally, she did have a working student position over winter break but had to give it up to do a medical issue.

Speaking of Pony Jumper Finals, Lizzy described that experience as “amazing.” In 2012, she competed at Pony Finals with a different pony and got a bronze team medal and 13^th overall. Despite that, Lizzy still wasn’t satisfied. However, she considered herself to be “done” with pony jumpers until her friend suggested she try Theo.

“Theo fell in my lap exactly one year from the starting date of Pony Finals 2014. We had a lot of ground to cover, and we entered our first AA show in February. If you look at the videos from our first show you’ll think it was a miracle we survived an entire course at Pony Finals,” she said. “Both him and I had a lot to fix. I poured my heart and soul into him, and it paid off. My goal going into that competition was to get through the finish flags on every course. If I did that, I would be so happy. We did that and a lot more.”

Lizzy had a hugely successful jump-off after what she calls “two silly mistakes” that ended up helping her team win gold.

Lizzy (left) & her teammates after winning team gold at Pony Finals. Photo Credit to Chronicle of the Horse.

“Theo and I ended up in 5^th overall and with a gold team medal. The super cool part about it is that no bronze and silver medals were handed out for team,” she said. “The other teams had to be within 20 faults of the gold team to qualify for a medal, and [the] Pony Club team was so good that no one was within 20 faults! I have never been more proud of that pony or that team. That moment is something I will always hold onto.”

Lizzy said for Pony Finals, “don’t ride for time.”

“The only time the time counts is in the jump off for the medals. Ride smart, read the rules. Don’t let yourself get nervous and don’t let yourself blank out. There is NO SUCH THING as too much leg. And be confident in yourself and your pony!” She said.

Lizzy is no longer riding Theo because he went back to his current owner. She said that he is competing in eventing with his current owner and is “doing well.”

Lizzy & Theo. Photo Credit to AK Photography.

Lizzy does want to go back to showing and competing, even though she doesn’t currently have a horse. She also plans to take her riding as far as she can possibly go with it.

“Upper level show jumping is always something that I have aspired to,” she said. “I also enjoy teaching and learning and would love to take that as far as I can.”

Lizzy grew up at a lesson barn like most of us, but she also participated in Pony Club. She said Pony Club made her the rider she is today.

Lizzy & Theo. Photo Courtesy of Lizzy S.

“I have horsemanship skills that I commonly see lacking in my competitors. Pony Club emphasizes knowledge and safety,” Lizzy said. “I truly think that that experience made me a better rider and contributed to the win we had at Pony Finals. If you watched the videos – none of our girls [rode] for time. We take the safe, practical approach.”

Lizzy said that she not only knows what she needs to do to keep her horse or pony healthy but also the why of what she is doing. This knowledge has also set her apart from a lot of others in the pre-vet science major at Auburn.

”I honestly recommend Pony Club to everyone. I think the knowledge and professionalism that it teaches you is irreplaceable,” Lizzy said. “I also know that the connections that it has opened me up to [have] given me the best coaches I could ever imagine.”

Lizzy likes competing in the jumpers, and she will continue to do so if she is able. Her favorite thing about the jumpers is that they’re “unbiased.”

Lizzy & Theo. Photo Credit to Limerick Photography.

“There is little room for cheating. If i walked Theo into a hunter round we would probably place different each time with a different judge with the same round,” she said. “In jumpers, that’s not possible.”

Lizzy said that her nerves and her back are her biggest riding weakness. She is a self-described “micro-manager,” which makes her tend to hold her breath. However, she pointed out that this habit makes her round go terribly.

“If you watch my rounds at pony finals, I talk to Theo,” she said. “It’s obnoxious, yes, but me encouraging him makes me visibly relax more.”

Lizzy & Theo after their win at Pony Finals.

We asked Lizzy her opinion on internet bullying, as it is something that has plagued a lot of equestrians as of late. Lizzy said she doesn’t deal with bullying well, but she eventually realized that if people have a problem with her, that’s fine. She would rather someone come to her directly if they have an issue with her rather than pick on her anonymously or behind her back.

As a college student and someone who went through the college application process, Lizzy has the following advice for those that will be or are applying to college now:

“Make yourself stand out. No college wants all of their students to have a 4.0 and be in the top 10 percent and no extracurriculars. Make yourself so unique there’s no way they can say no to you,” she said.

Right now, Lizzy spends most of her time studying. However, she doesn’t regret it as she finished her first semester of college with a 3.81 GPA, which is amazing! She also added that it is incredibly difficult to get an ‘A’ at Auburn, so she is very proud of her academic success.

Lizzy after winning team gold at Pony Finals. Photo Credit to Chronicle of the Horse.

2014 just ended, and Lizzy said her biggest lesson from last year was to have fun.

“I mean I am still incredibly competitive but some of the pictures you’ll see me smiling and laughing because having fun is something I forgot to do for a long time,” she said.

December 30, 2014

The Legal Equestrian’s Top Posts of 2014

A new year is coming, and I thought it would be fun to recap the top posts on my blog in 2014.

Just some of the Ogilvy half pads and baby pads I own.

1. Ogilvy Memory Foam Half Pad Review: This was our top post of 2014. Ogilvy Equestrian is a hugely popular equestrian tack company, and people are always searching for reviews on their products. WordPress allows me to see what search terms referred people to my blog, and almost everyday there is something Ogilvy related. If you haven’t purchased this pad yet and are still on the fence, read the review! It does everything it promises and more!

2. Must Have Equestrian Fashion Items for Fall 2014: In this post, I talked about some trends for the fall season. Equestrian fashion is always changing, and equestrians are always trying to keep up with the trends. Reading this post now won’t put you behind the trend though. A lot of what was popular in the fall is still popular now!

“Here comes trouble” charm for the girl with the naughty pony ;)

3. What to get your barn child for Christmas: Shopping for equestrians is a bit difficult for non-horsey people so I put together a list of the things a young equestrian would love to find under the Christmas tree! Christmas may be over, but luckily, these items would still be perfect for a birthday gift or another holiday like Easter!

4. Why I scratched from USEF Medal Finals: Georgie Hammond, who I interviewed earlier this year, achieved her goal which was to make it to USEF Medal Finals. However, things didn’t go quite as planned, but Georgie took it all in stride – proving her true passion for this sport and for her horses.

Butet

5. 10 “Urge to Splurge” Equestrian Items: This, quite honestly, was my big breakout post – the one that started it all. It went viral on Tumblr, and the rest as they say is history. This post outlines some expensive – but worth it – items you can purchase for your horse. So if you get a lot of Christmas money, you might want to check this post out!

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to read my blog this past year. I started this for fun and had no idea it would get this big. I’ve really enjoyed everything that has come out of this, and I look forward to all the awesome things 2015 has in store! I hope you continue on this journey with me.

December 26, 2014

Up & Coming Rider: Eden from My Barn Child + A Giveaway!

I am super excited to announce that I was able to interview Eden from My Barn Child. For those of you that don’t know, Eden is a Featured Rider at My Barn Child as well as the founder’s daughter. Eden can often be seen modeling My Barn Child items, being silly with her pony, Goose, her horse, Tyler, and her dog, Cubby, and getting to go to shows like the Royal (and meeting amazing riders, like the Philippaerts). She is also a fantastic rider, and as you will see, an extremely kind, intelligent, and mature young lady.

My Barn Child also just recently released its newly redesigned website, and they will be coming out with more apparel and accessories in 2015, so definitely check it out when you get a moment! While My Barn Child did not invent the tack charm, it revolutionized them and made them what they are today – a trendy item for all ages (I have four charms, and I am in my 20s). I think of My Barn Child as the original tack charm company because let’s be real, when you hear tack charm, you know you think “MBC”!

Eden, VP in Charge of Being Awesome & Featured Rider at My Barn Child. Photo Courtesy of My Barn Child.

I always start my interviews off by asking the rider to tell us about herself. Eden had this to say, “My name is Eden. I am 13 years old and in grade 8. My Barn Child is our family business. And I ride with Lori Shaw at Sunbridge Farms.”

Eden started riding about 5 years ago at a lesson barn near where she used to live. Additionally, riding is in her blood because most of the women on her mom’s side of the family love horses.

Eden currently owns a pony named Goose (more about him later) and has begun riding her mom’s horse, Tyler.She currently shows in the Large Ponies and B Equitation on the Trillium Circuit. She hopes to try a couple of A-rated shows this upcoming year if her coach, Lori, thinks she is ready.

Eden & her pony Duck Duck Goose, or “Goose” Photo Courtesy of Brieann Chapman.

Goose, pictured above with Eden at a show, is a Welsh cross large pony. His show name is ‘Duck Duck Goose.’ Eden said she thinks Goose is a good match for her.

“He is very athletic and talented, but he’s also sensitive which makes him a big tattle-tale,” Eden said. “My coach is teaching me to be very straight and accurate. If I’m not balanced, Goose will tempi up the lines. He is a good teacher and makes me a better rider.”

Eden also said that Goose’s tail is her “pride and joy.”

Eden has also started riding her mom’s horse, Tyler. Tyler is a 16.3hh, 10 year old OTTB. They have owned him for about 2 years, and Eden just started riding him a few months ago.

Tyler is quite a bit bigger than Goose, who is only 14hh, so Eden has been getting a lot of help from her coach on making the transition, which Eden said was easier than she thought it would be.

“Lori helps me a lot since Tyler is bigger and was race trained,” Eden said. “Even if I don’t have a lesson, Lori always coaches me when I ride.”

Because Goose is a large pony and Eden is still growing, there will come a day when she will outgrow him – as most riders do with their ponies. However, Eden hopes to keep Goose and has some plans for him when she does outgrow him.

“I would like to always keep Goose and lease him out and find a larger large pony to keep showing ponies as long as I can!” She said.

Eden’s mom, Averill, is a huge presence on social media, especially as the founder of My Barn Child. Averill has also often been complimented on how she uses social media to market not just her company but also to interact with customers and show off her Featured Riders. Of course, I had to ask what it’s like being the daughter of My Barn Child’s founder, especially because Averill is so awesome and cool online.

Eden had this to say, “I still have to clean my room and do chores.” She also added that she and her mom have a completely normal relationship.

“Sometimes she is grumpy, and sometimes I am sassy. But mostly we have a lot of fun.”

Apparently, Eden is not a fan of her mom’s singing. When asked what it’s like to have “the coolest mom on eq island,” Eden said “I don’t go on Twitter very much because the girls on there are mostly a lot older than me. But they haven’t heard her (Averill) sing sooo…..” (insert crying & laughing emoji here).

My Barn Child has certainly exploded onto the scene, especially over the past year. Eden said that she “kind of” had a part in creating the company.

“My mom wasn’t working and we would go into tack shops and I would only be able to get socks,” she said. “So my mom thought there needed to be a brand that kids would love that wasn’t expensive. Now everyone loves it!”

In fact, My Barn Child has gotten so popular that it had its own booth at the Royal this year, which Eden helped run for a few days because her mom was very sick. Eden had a ton of fun at the Royal, and she said she got to work almost the whole time. They also were beside Ogilvy Equestrian, another popular equestrian brand which made the experience even greater.

One of the biggest issues online is bullying. I’ve noticed it frequently on Twitter, especially because a lot of the Twitter users that are on what is called “eq anon island” like to pick on or bully other riders. Ask.fm is another popular place for people to post nasty, mean things against other riders. I asked Eden what her view was on online bullying, and her answer showed just how mature she is for only being 13.

“It makes me sad when I see people being mean anywhere. I think people should talk to their mom and dad if someone is bullying them,” Eden said. “If someone is scaring you, you should tell your parents and anyone who can help you. You need help stopping the bully but you also need help dealing with the bad feelings.”

Thankfully, Eden does not experience much hate on the internet. But she does have a strategy to help her avoid receiving some.

“I try to be nice to everyone and hope people will just be nice back!” She said. “I always think that I represent myself, MBC and my coach on my social media, so I try to never do anything to hurt anyone’s feelings.” (Editor’s Note: This is fantastic advice, especially for someone who is a brand ambassador or not anonymous on Twitter. You are representing the barn, trainer, and companies with whom you associate, and you must remember that everytime you hit that “tweet” button.)

Additionally, Eden has strict instructions from her parents about handling online bullying.

“We talk a lot about what kids should do and not do. And what a brand ambassador should be like,” Eden said. “We have a zero tolerance rule in my family for my social media. If someone is mean, I am not allowed to respond, I screenshot it, tell my parents and block the mean person.”

Another good tip Eden has received from her parents is to avoid the “duck face” in selfies. We at The Legal Equestrian completely agree with this tip. Just say no to the “duck face.”

Eden & Duck Duck Goose, "Goose," over fences. Photo Courtesy of Averill Pessin.

Eden & Duck Duck Goose, “Goose,” over fences. Photo Courtesy of Cara Webster.

Although Eden is only 13, she plans on doing the medals and Young Riders someday. At her young age, she has already done hunters, equitation, and a little bit of training jumpers. She also hopes to attend college and receive a business degree as well as work in the horse industry. She said she also would like to “maybe” take over My Barn Child one day, which we certainly think she is poised to do given her extensive experience in sales and marketing techniques which she learned at the Royal. She also has learned a lot about setting up displays and customer service – all qualities that make for a successful business person and business model.

We know that Eden’s favorite equestrian company is My Barn Child, but we had to ask if there are any others she really enjoys.

“Ogilvy for life. Their saddlepads are amazing. Kristy Lake who does Ogilvy’s social media is a really good friend of ours. She gives me lots of fashion and social media advice.”

Eden also added that her newest favorite brand is Struck Breeches. “They’re so comfy and I feel cute in them. I met Ashley and Kevin at the Royal. They are so nice!”

If you are just hearing of My Barn Child, you may be wondering about what you should buy since they have so many things from tack charms, to belts, to apparel, and more. Eden said she especially loves the “Stop Staring At My Pony” hat and t-shirts. However, My Barn Child will be releasing new items in 2015, and she said those are “even better.”

In 2015, Eden hopes to start getting a little chunk of the hack and be more straight with no swapping. She also would like to work on having a good pace over fences. Her biggest goal is to qualify for Trillium Champs.

During her riding career, Eden has had a lot of awesome riders to look up to including Ian Miller, Mac Cone, Beth Underhill, and Jill Henselwood. She also looks up to Keean White, Chris Sorensen, and Erynn Ballard. In fact, she had a special encounter with Keean, and she gave her some invaluable advice for riding a pony that loved to stop before jumps.

“At the Great Pony Challenge at Angelstone I was riding a pony that was a stopper. Keean reminded me to be the boss, stick to the basics, ride like a jumper, and get the job done. I got one of the lowest scores in the Classic, and it wasn’t hunter pretty, but NO STOPS. I got the job done like he told me to and it was my best trip of the weekend,” she said.

Eden of course also loves watching the pony riders at A-rated shows and thinks they are “amazing girls.”

If given the chance to ride any “famous” horse, Eden would choose Star Power. She also said she would love to ride in a clinic with George Morris.

“I audited his clinic last year and thought he was amazing. He can get on a horse and totally change it in a few minutes. He talks a lot about horsemanship and horse training, not just how to win classes.”

With its growing popularity, My Barn Child has obviously become a bit “internet famous.” This includes Averill, Eden, and their cute corgi puppy, Cubby. Eden said she does feel a little shy sometimes but realizes that people just want to be friends which she thinks is “amazing.”

“When I go places sometimes people come up to me. But they are so sweet and I have met some awesome girls,” she said. “The other 3 girls on the MBC team for the Horseless Horse Shows at Angelstone were girls who came to the Great Pony Challenge to meet me! We went to Willow Equestrian once and two girls came in because they knew I was there. It was so sweet. Now they’re all my friends!”

Eden is certainly someone to keep an eye on as she progresses. She shows maturity, talent, and an intelligence that not all young riders have at this age.

If you’d like to keep up with Eden on social media, she can be found here and here.

My Barn Child can be found here, here, and here.

And, as promised, we will be doing a huge giveaway! My Barn Child and The Legal Equestrian will be giving away a MBC scarf, an MBC charm, and an MBC “Princess Pochette.”

To enter the giveaway, please click here. It begins today, December 27, and will run until next Saturday, January 3. Good luck to everyone who participates!

Giveaway items include a My Barn Child scarf, the Aurora Charm, and a Princess Pochette.

We would like to thank Eden & her mom, Averill, as well as My Barn Child for giving us this opportunity and for donating the giveaway items.

All photos are property of Averill Pessin. Please do not use without permission.

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Up & Coming Rider: Eden from My Barn Child + A Giveaway!

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