Cutest Horse Races Ever: Leadline Racing at the Aiken Horse Trials

Photos by Barbara Magrogan   Young participants in leadline racing at the Aiken Horse Trials show off their goodie bags.       Imogen Weaver obviously takes leadline trot racing very seriously, led by Regina Welsh and riding Olney Quick Draw McGraw.     Rider Carson Lily Moyer is absolutely adorable on pony Olaf, led
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Industry Innovator: Cathy Sacher & Essex Classics

By Britney Grover Portraits by Isabel J. Kurek Cathy Sacher founded Essex Classics in 1985.   Cathy Sacher knows show shirts: She’s been wearing them even longer than she’s been making them. She began taking riding lessons at 10 years old, showing locally through her teenage years. “I got a taste for the ‘A’ show
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Jesse Hall: The Blind Blacksmith

By Britney Grover     If it looks like blacksmith and craftsman Jesse Hall isn’t looking directly at the red-hot metal he’s working with, it’s because he’s not. Jesse is legally blind. He has Stargardt disease, a rare, hereditary eye disorder that affects the central field of vision—the vision most of us use on a
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Adrienne Marciano & Ruespari: From the Equestrian World To Nordstrom

By Britney Grover Portraits by Isabel J. Kurek     At first glance, Adrienne Marciano appears to have simply fallen into entrepreneurial success. While competing in the High Amateur jumpers, Adrienne asked her aunt to sew her some elastic belts—everyone from friends to strangers asked about them, and Ruespari was born.   From humble beginnings
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Photography, Horses and a Photographic Memory

Melissa Fuller Palm City, Florida Editorial and Freelance Photographer Melissa Fuller   How long have you been part of the horse world? My best friend in middle school had an Appaloosa mare that kicked off my love of horses. All my horse-crazy friends and I used to make our “dream horse” list by picking out
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Occupation: Horse Show Doer of Many Things

Liz Soroka Shelter Island, New York (“But really it’s wherever our camper is!”) Event Coordinator, Co-Founder of StableMaster LLC, Jump Designer, Etc. Liz enjoying a hike in Lake Placid, New York. Photo courtesy of Liz Soroka   How long have you been part of the horse world? My parents moved our family from New Jersey to
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Cosby Green: Talking About Horses

  By Jan Westmark Bauer Portraits by Alex Banks Cosby is a student at the University of Kentucky and was the Advanced Intercollegiate Champion in 2021.   Eventer Cosby Green’s propensity for talking about horses developed in early childhood. Although born to non-horsey parents, she was fortunate to have grandparents who owned a Thoroughbred breeding
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Doug and Jess Payne: From the Olympics to Family, Finding the Perfect Balance

By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Pam Jensen Payne Equestrian proudly displays the American flag in their barn, while Doug Payne, left, groom Courtney Carson, middle, and Jess Payne sport their USA wear. Doug was a member of the 2021 Tokyo Olympic USEF Eventing Team and was the highest-ranking U.S. individual horse and rider, placing 16th
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Haylie Kerstetter: Riding and Networking at Centenary University

Haylie and Houdini, a horse from Centenary University. Photo by Kylie Dailey   Haylie Kerstetter has always known that horses would be a part of her life, but wasn’t sure exactly how they would fit in. Now a senior at Centenary University, Haylie is majoring in equine studies: communications for the equine industry, and hopes to
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Unbridled With David O’Connor

By Britney Grover   David O’Connor says he’s inspired by athletes from any sport who work to become true masters of their craft, but many would say that’s exactly what he did in eventing. By the time he retired from competition in 2004, he’d won every color of Olympic medal—including individual gold from the 2000
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