By Jessica Grutkowski Portraits by Lauren Ann Wagner Isabel McGovern had nothing to lose when she attended tryouts for Auburn University’s National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) team on her first day of school freshman year. The chances of being recruited to play on a D1 NCEA dual-discipline team are quite slim, especially at Auburn, a

By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller A diehard “My Little Pony” fan, Eva Paliouras was obsessed with horses as a child. Eva relentlessly begged her parents to take her to a riding lesson, without any success. After her parents said no, Eva found a secret weapon—her grandma. “A few weeks after I started begging

By Jessica Grutkowski Portraits by Sara Farrell As a little girl growing up in Washington state, Emilie Goddard devoured every horse book she could find at her local library. No one in Emilie’s family rode horses, but she was largely inspired by her grandfather’s obsession with all things Western, and her father’s passion for art

Story by Susan Friedland Photos by Carolyn Rikje Photography For any horse, visiting a showground for the first time is a momentous, and sometimes stressful, occasion. However, two born-in-the wild Chincoteague Pony fillies hopped off a horse trailer at World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, for Breyer Fun Day, May 17, and took their new

By Shya Beth There are so many things about being an equine photographer that bring 25-year-old Madison Taskanikas joy. One aspect is that it allows her to travel across the country, meet many different people and learn their stories. Another is that she can explore her creativity in a way that benefits others by memorializing

By Helen Townes Portraits by Kacy Brown Eventer Mary Bess Davis doesn’t come off as someone who craves the spotlight, but her talent is undeniable. Her unassuming, no-nonsense manner was instilled at an early age as she grew up in Covington, Georgia, in a family devoted to horses. Her father, Dr. Michael Sigman, was a

By Tori Kistler Portraits by Becky Henderson Grandma’s quilt, warm bread fresh from the oven, a handmade card—some things are just better made from scratch. But what about a career? Is it better to have everything handed to you on a silver platter, or to invest years of your life creating the future you dream