Everything Eventing with Boyd Martin

You’ve just won team and individual gold medals at the Pan-Am Games. What was that experience like? I’ve just arrived back on the farm after flying home from the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, and it’s a wonderful feeling to have accomplished a major goal. We all knew the Pan Am Games were a
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Taylor Hall: Life, Fashion and The Tried Equestrian

By Susan Friedland-Smith Portraits by Kristin Lee Taylor Hall experienced an unorthodox introduction to horseback riding, which left her confused at the end of her first lesson. Nevertheless, the young horse lover from Santa Clarita, California, persevered, showing successfully on the A circuit and later earning an NCAA equestrian scholarship. While navigating her early career
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Boots For Troops: How a Family of Equestrians Is Giving Back to America’s Veterans

By Ruby Tevis The horse is a universal symbol of freedom. Like many equestrians, Shane George of Magnolia, Texas, fell in love with the feeling of freedom from the back of a horse. As a USEF “R” judge, Shane has traveled from sea to shining sea to judge competitions. While each horse show was held
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Christian Rogge: From the Top of the Sport to Fatherhood

By Kathryn McMackin Portraits by Kristie Nichols For Christian Rogge, 2019 has been a year of new adventures. In January, Christian and his wife, grand prix rider Hailey Henderson-Rogge, welcomed their baby son, Hans, into the world. “I’m pretty sure Hailey already has a pony for him,” Christian laughed. “Hopefully the kid likes horses.” Science
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Kirsten Ostling: The Ins and Outs of Equitation on the Flat

Southern Methodist University junior Kirsten Ostling didn’t always know the ins and outs of the flat ring like she does now. Like most collegiate Equitation on the competitors, the format is something they pick up within the first few weeks of practice. Kirsten credits the smooth transition to her time with Val Renihan at Findlay’s
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Kendel Neidermyer: From Front Flips to FWORDS

By Doris Degner-Foster Portraits by Michael Paniccia Kendel Neidermyer has successfully fused couture fashion design with active sports clothing, including riding apparel. Although she doesn’t ride, she considers herself a part of the horse community. “I had this moment in the first recognized show that I attended — it was the Longines Masters in New
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Unbridled with Melanie Smith Taylor

By Jan Westmark Melanie Smith Taylor is well known in the equestrian world for her legendary partnership with Calypso, for her team gold medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and for being one of only two riders to win the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. Despite all of her accomplishments in the saddle,
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McKinley Harvey: These Boots are Made for Dreaming

By Amy Hempe Portraits by Bianca McCarty McKinley Harvey developed her work ethic at an early age. “When I was a little girl, I’d get up at 5 a.m. to take care of my horse. Nobody else in my family rode, but I knew this was what I wanted,” she said. That determination has stayed
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Yulia Bratkovskaya: Modeling An Equestrian Life

By Lyssette Williams Portraits by Lori Ovanessian Five years ago, Yulia Bratkovskaya moved from Russia to the United States to springboard her riding and training career. What she didn’t expect was the circuitous journey she ended up on. “I started riding in a very intense Russian Olympic Reserve school at the age of 6,” Yulia
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Course Walk with Heather Caristo

You and some of the ponies you have ridden in the past are still discussed by young riders aspiring to become professional equestrians. What made some of those ponies special? Throughout my junior years, I was presented with the opportunity to ride many different ponies. I also had the good fortune to be able to
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