By Jessica Grutkowski Portraits by Molly Kennedy   Leslie Butzer founded Ponies & Palms Show Stables—aptly named, as a pony breeding operation based in Boca Raton, Florida—in the 1990s with the goal of breeding championship hunter ponies. “When I first got started in the breeding world, I quickly realized that many ponies were bred for in-hand showing.

By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Sophia Donohue   Laena Romond has been lucky to have a team behind her every step of the way of her riding career. From her family to the Mount Holyoke IHSA team to the team at Heritage Farm, Laena has always felt supported in what is typically a very individualistic

Horses are in Debby Buck DeJonge’s blood. “My grandfather was in the Danish cavalry and migrated to America, where he became a famous racehorse trainer, even counting War Horse’s daughter as one of his steeds,” she said. Since Debby’s first pony, Dolly, horses and riding have played an important role in her life—but it’s writing

By Helen Townes Portraits by Lauren Ann Wagner   Talent, hard work and never saying no: these have been the key ingredients to West Coast eventer Amber Birtcil’s success as a competitor and trainer. That included saying yes to the rigors of the eventing world when she was 18 and leaving behind a successful Junior

By Shya Beth   The way Susan McClafferty’s passion for horses bridges the art and equestrian worlds is one of a kind. As both a fine art photographer and horse owner, Susan has a perspective on the horse that is nuanced and dynamic. “I’m a fine-art photographer, so one of my biggest challenges is explaining

By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Kelly Murdock Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said, “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” Eventer Annabelle Nieman follows this same philosophy that if you believe and work hard enough, you can achieve whatever you want. Annabelle always wanted to be

  By Britney Grover The equestrian world is uniquely capable of bringing people with different journeys together—like Tara Swersie and Natasha Sprengers-Levine. Despite living in different states and participating in different levels of the industry, they’re both passionate about horses and improving the sport for others. They came together with one common goal: make simple