By Victoria Sheehan Portraits by Evelyn Szczepanek Hanging on Olympic dressage rider Lisa Wilcox’s wall is a prized possession. No, it’s not her 2004 bronze Olympic medal from Athens, or her silver medal from the FEI World Equestrian Games. It’s not a trophy, ribbon or title at all. On the Olympian’s wall hangs a pencil

By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller When Chase Shipka was a teen, she would’ve laughed if you told her she’d one day be living in Wellington, Florida, pursuing “just dressage.” Formerly a gung-ho eventer, Chase saw dressage as the phase before the fun stuff began. Today, dressage is the fun stuff. In 2021, Chase

By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Alex Banks In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the

Portraits by Monica Stevenson When Catherine Haddad Staller took a leap of faith and boarded a plane bound for Germany with one bicycle, two horses and $3,000 in her bank account, she never expected her European excursion would turn into a 20-year residency to develop her international dressage career. Ten years ago, Catherine returned to

By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Adrienne Morella When Becca Roth thinks about her future, she envisions galloping along the cross-country course at the Olympic Games. The 17-year-old eventer from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, has big dreams and the courage to conquer them. With her partner, an off-the-track-Thoroughbred called Deuce, Becca has already achieved a lifetime’s

By Britney Grover Portraits by Melissa Fuller Last summer, Jimmy and Danielle Torano embarked on their first “traveling circus.” Normally, the family travels from horse show to horse show during the summer circuit while living in a motor home. Last summer, however, they were caught between selling one motor home and receiving a new one.

By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Melissa Fuller A common translation of a Latin proverb—“fortune favors the bold”—advises us that courage, when followed, can bring great reward. For international dressage rider, trainer and instructor Luis “Lou” Retiguez-Denizard, that proverb is not just a personal motto; it is a way of life.  The tale of a skinny,

By Laurie Berglie Portraits by James Berglie Brendan Wise wanted to be a cowboy when he grew up. Clanging spurs, dusty boots, leather batwing chaps, broad-brimmed hat—that was the vision for his future. However, life presents us with challenges and leads us down different paths. While Brendan may not be the cowboy of his youthful