Connor Husain: Enjoying the Best of Both Worlds – Switching from Eventing to Show Jumping Changes the Course of Hot Horseman’s Life

By Britney Grover Portraits by Shawna Simmons By the time he was 19 years old, Connor Husain was becoming well known as a rising star in eventing. He took the top spot at the 2012 North American Young Rider Championships — his first CCI2* — and became a professional quickly climbing through the levels. Giving
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Kimberly Gatto: Born to Write, Born to Ride

By Kathryn McMackin It’s unusual for Kimberly Gatto to be on the receiving end of questions. An accomplished author and lifelong horsewoman, Kimberly is more likely to be found in the interviewer’s chair, researching for one of her many non-fiction tales. She’s written about the world’s most famous racecourse in “Churchill Downs: America’s Most Historic
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Terri Crowley: Traditional Painting in the Modern World

By Shelby Phillips If you told Monet that you could bring his “Water Lilies” to life without a single paint brush, he would definitely shake his head in disbelief. Mississippi-based artist Terri Crowley does just this, merging two worlds: the old and the new, in an explosion of life at its most colorful. Terri brings
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Ken and Emily Smith: Working and Riding Together

By Dani Moritz-Long Portraits by Shawna Simmons While working and living together can often be a recipe for disaster, that isn’t the case for equestrian power couple Ken and Emily Smith. The owners and trainers of Ashland Farms, which is based in Wellington, Florida, during the winters and Lexington, Kentucky, in the summers, got married
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Amanda Steege: Finding Her Inspiration by Leaving it Behind

By Laurie Berglie Portraits by Isabel J. Kurek While horses have always been a part of Amanda Steege’s life, it wasn’t until her last year of college that she realized they would become her life. Armed with a psychology degree she admits would later come in handy, Amanda set out on a path that would
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Makayla Benjamin: Enjoying Horses From Sweet Briar to Bitterroot

By Carrie Wirth After donning a cap and gown and graduating from Sweet Briar College, 2018 USEF/Cacchione Cup winner Makayla Benjamin packed her bags and road-tripped to Wyoming with her best friend and IHSA teammate Courtney Barry. The two riders hit the trail and headed west for a five-month adventure as wranglers at Bitterroot Ranch
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Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue: Stubbornly Advocating for Misunderstood Animals

By Britney Grover In the equestrian world, horses have a cousin far too often overlooked: equus asinus, or donkeys and burros. Mark and Amy Meyers were once among the many who didn’t know anything about donkeys, but taking in just one 20 years ago has turned into saving the lives of over 10,000 and leading
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Julie Ulrich: Four Lifetimes of Horses

By Lauren R. Giannini Portraits by Shawna Simmons Former grand prix jumper rider Julie Ulrich holds an unofficial Ph.D. in horses. A firm believer in the importance of flat work, she can ride and train at the highest level of dressage and show jumping. Based in France for many years, she’s going to spend half
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Mimi Wroten and the Sweet Briar Vixens Take on the NCEA

By Carter Anderson The Sweet Briar Vixens, of Sweet Briar College in Virginia, have completed their first year as a National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) team with Head Coach Mimi Wroten leading the way. Mimi is excited to add to the accolades of Sweet Briar’s successful first season. She hopes that other equestrian teams will
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Angel Heart Farm: Joy and Ponies for Children with Cancer

By Britney Grover Portraits by Hannah Draughan It was just a walk-trot class at a class A Arabian show, but Kira and Krystal Annie EN looked fit for any world stage. With fancy bows attached to her riding helmet, Kira fit in with all the other kids. As the judge moved down the line, he
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