32 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Jan Westmark-Allan
As the daughter of famous Hollywood parents, Hannah Selleck
could have chosen a career path that included the glitzy and
glamorous trappings of a Hollywood lifestyle. Instead of hanging
out with celebrities, however, Hannah is far more likely to be found
hanging out at the barn – thanks to a love of horses that began
at the tender age of four on the back of a tiny pony. Her early
experiences with horses had a lasting impact on Hannah - setting
the stage for her life’s calling and unearthing a passionate love for
horses that has carried on through her teen and college years and
into her adult life.
Hannah, 23 and now a professional rider, is the daughter of
Tom Selleck, of “Magnum P.I.” and “Blue Bloods” fame, and Jillie
Selleck, a dancer who performed in “Cats” in London. “My parents
are private and they wanted me to be normal and live a normal
childhood so I haven’t lived the Hollywood lifestyle. Growing up I
had a bunch of different animals: cows, sheep, rabbits, dogs (at
one point we had 13), cats and horses,” Hannah said. “I tried lots
of activities when I was young, including ice skating, ballet, soccer
and gymnastics. My parents encouraged me to fnd my own path.”
Great Memories
Hannah’s path took her toward the barn, and rightly so, as a
love for horses runs in Hannah’s genes. Her dad had learned
to ride for Western movies and the Selleck family had horses at
home. Those ranch horses not only fueled Hannah’s equestrian
aspirations but also helped create a lifetime of great memories.
“My best horse memory probably has to be the frst time my dad
ever came to watch me ride. I was four years old and taking
lessons on a tiny black Shetland Pony named Sheba who was
bratty, as ponies can be. She knew just how to throw me off - she
jerked her head down and I went fying off rolling over her neck. I
got back on and she did it again. I fell off twice in a row in a matter
of fve minutes,” Hannah recalled. “My dad didn’t interfere and just
let me get back on and try again because that is what I wanted.
He has always been very supportive of my riding and so has my
mom. My mom is amazing; she comes to nearly every show and
is always at the ring video taping my rounds. I wouldn’t be where
I am today without all their love and support.”
Hannah, who lives in Los Angeles, began competing on the
A circuit when she was 10 and, as they say in the movies, it
was “lights, camera, action” after that. Hannah started riding
with California trainer Karen Healy when she was 16 and said,
“I have trained with Karen since then and along the way I have
also gotten help from Leslie Howard and Ian Miller. Karen is the
most dedicated and hard working trainer I know and I admire
her greatly. She has taught me the importance of preparation for
both horse and rider and that there is no substitute for hard work.
Whether it is for the equitation ring or a World Cup qualifer, the
foundation and basics are the same.”
After earning a Communications degree from Loyola
Marymount University last year, Hannah faced an important
career crossroad – would she choose a job in the real world or
pursue life as an equestrian? One thing she knew for sure, she
had ruled out following in her parent’s footsteps. “I took one acting
class in college and I was terrifed,” Hannah said. With acting out
of the picture, Hannah accepted a summer internship at a public
relations frm in Beverly Hills. “I didn’t like being inside from 9 to
6 – my passion was horses and I knew then that horses was what
I wanted to pursue.”
The Future
Hannah accepted a job as an assistant with Karen Healy and
A young Hannah
and her dad, Tom
Selleck, celebrate
her victory at
Pebble Beach
with her pony First
Impression
Photo courtesy of
Hannah Selleck
A Star All Her Own