Laura Douglas: Dreams, Determination and a One-Dollar Horse

By Tafra Donberger Portraits by Shawna Simmons If you’d asked Laura Douglas four years ago where she would be with her riding career today, eventing wouldn’t have made it into her top three.  The well-versed equestrian, whose riding resume includes hunter-jumpers, galloping racehorses and polo, never imagined herself flying across cross-country courses. “I thought eventing
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Erin Richards’ Life Writing & Riding

By Britney Grover Portraits by Angela Peterson The words “writing” and “riding” can frequently sound the same — which can get confusing when talking to someone like Erin Richards who has devoted her life to both. Fortunately, both stories in Erin’s life follow similar lines: She discovered the passion early on in life and never
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Upcycling Reins and Giving Back

Kathryn McMahon Rutherfordton, North Carolina Owner, Stitching Fox needlepoint shop, and executive director, Green River Foundation How long have you been part of the horse world?   My love of horses has been lifelong. I was raised in Augusta, Georgia, graduated from Sweet Briar College in Virginia and then spent the better part of my 12-year career
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Nancy Smyth: Bringing Horses & Art Together

By Shya Beth Nancy Smyth has been surrounded by horses and art all her life. From growing up in the natural beauty of New Jersey to living in the equally beautiful — but slightly more humid — state of Florida, it doesn’t matter if there are mountains or everglades on the horizon. As long as
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Caroline Hoffman: From the Dressage Ring to the Westminster Dog Show

By Tafra Donberger Photos by Lori Ovanessian Teaching has always come naturally to Caroline Hoffman, whose innate ability to share her talents in dressage started early — as early as her own developmental years learning how to ride in Sweden, where she was born and raised. At Säby Riding Academy, 10-year-old Caroline participated in the
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Alexa Fairchild: X Marks the Spot for Fashion and Dreaming

By Laura Scaletti For Alexa Fairchild, X marks the spot.  From an early age, this dreamer has been passionate about horses and high fashion. Today, at age 25, Alexa not only runs her own fashion line, Alexa Fairchild; she also competes at a Grand Prix level in dressage. Love and appreciation of fashion is literally
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Britt Larson: Dignity, Respect and Opportunity Matter

By Carter Anderson In a time when the world is confronting a pandemic and racial injustice that is deeply rooted in our country’s history, a lot feels like it has been turned upside down. Fresh attention to racial injustice has caused the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA), athletes and colleges involved with NCEA to take
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Unbridled With Shawna Simmons

By Jan Westmark Photographer Shawna Simmons is well-known in the horse world for her black background portraits and beautiful photo shoots. Before she was an equestrian photographer, Shawna spent seven years in New York as an assistant, photo retoucher, stylist, editor and fashion photographer. “My first month there, I photographed 32 runway shows at New
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Great Coaching From Ring to Rink

Name: Blythe Novick City/State: New Canaan, Connecticut Occupation: Student How long have you been part of the horse world? 10 years What part do you play in the horse world?  I compete nationally in show jumping and regionally in ice hockey. I love that I can experience two completely different worlds. While they may appear
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Unbridled with Shereen Fuqua

By Jan Westmark Shereen Fuqua loves her life — which includes her husband, Jeff; daughter, Kat; their Collecting Gaits Farm and all the horses and ponies that call it home; supporting the horse show world; and her company. “My company of 14 years produces chewing gum for horses, GumBits. It’s a product that makes people
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