Hallie Rush: Stepping Up With Auburn Equestrian

By Haylie Kerstetter Horses have always been a major part of Hallie Rush’s life, so when she was looking for a college, she chose Auburn University for their top-class equestrian program. Currently in her freshman year, Hallie enjoys everything about Auburn and the equestrian team. Hallie began riding at age 5 and has been hooked
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Nayel Nassar: Jumping Rings Around the World

By Britney Grover Portraits by SAS Equestrian When Nayel Nassar competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games, he had people cheering him on from all around the globe. His now-wife, Jennifer Gates, and in-laws, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, shared their support on Instagram from the United States, where Nayel has built a name for
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Looking Forward to International Competition

By George Williams Normally, 2021 would have been the year of “the calm before the storm.” It would have been a year of recuperation not just for our elite dressage horses, but also a year of recovery for the dedicated dressage staff that puts it all together. However, with the Olympics being delayed one year
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Will Ersland: Brought Back to Horses by Art

By Shya Beth  Will Ersland’s philosophy is that to be a great equine artist, you should be a good rider and know horses inside and out. That definitely could be said for Will, who has been constantly learning all things equine for most of his life. From jumping and foxhunts to Western riding, driving, snowy
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Kim Burnette: Sharing the Joy of Horses

By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Kim Burnette has always loved horses, and throughout her lifelong career as an equestrian, her mission has remained the same—to share the joy of horses with others. From collegiate equestrian coach to professional Grand Prix rider, carriage tour owner and boutique owner, Kim wears many hats and her
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Breeding Welsh Ponies at Fox Run Farm

Cindy Bellis-Jones Paris, Kentucky Retired science teacher and presently work part-time at Toyota How did you get started in breeding/showing?    Horses have always been a way of life for our family. My grandfather raised horses in Canada, which is where my father became involved in the industry. His business in the 1800s was in
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The Inner Voice of Fear

By Margie Sugarman I’ve been riding for 30-plus years and for the most part have not found myself concerned or nervous about the danger of the sport—until recently. I’ve become a mother, and since then there is a voice in the back of my head reminding me that if I get hurt it’s not just
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Unbridled With Penny Carpenter

By Britney Grover To say Penny Carpenter grew up in Great Neck, Long Island, New York, would be inaccurate. “First of all,” she’s quick to point out, “I’m a horse-crazy kid who never grew up!” Penny started riding at 7 and, as she got older, hung around a local stable. She traded feeding, cleaning tack,
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Lehua Custer: From Pineapple Fields to a Stallion Called Tuna

By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller In this day of technology, social media can be the gateway to dreams coming true. For dressage rider Lehua Custer, a regular evening of Facebook scrolling turned into the start of a new adventure—and love at first sight with a little chestnut colt on her screen. She didn’t
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Raising Hunters Right at Hickory Manor

Kimmy Risser Paris, Kentucky Horse farm owner and breeder How long have you been part of the horse world? I rode my first pony when I was 3 years old, received lessons on my 8th birthday and the rest is history. I grew up on Hatteras Island, North Carolina, and learned to ride on the
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