28 SIDELINES DECEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Alessandra Shultz
Sarah Tredennick of Castle Rock, Colorado knew success
in the show ring from a young age. Her natural talent and
continued dedication to the sport throughout the years
honed her abilities as a rider, trainer and an equestrian
businesswoman. Sarah is a veteran of Young Riders (5th
and 4th overall in 2007 and 2008 respectively) and has
maintained a pattern of wins and respectable placings in
grand prix across the country including the Penn National
Big Jump Grand Prix, WIHS Open Jumper Prix, the Show
Park Summer Classic in Del Mar, and the WEF Speed, Prix,
and Challenge Cups.
In addition to her coast-to-coast riding successes, she is
also the head trainer at Wood Run Farm where she trains,
instructs and campaigns sale horses. Sidelines caught up
with the talented rider to fnd out more about life in Castle
Rock.
How did you begin your riding career?
My career started at birth, I suppose. My entire family,
going back as far as my grandmother, rode. I have pictures
of me riding with my mom as an infant! I started showing
more competitively at around age seven. I then made my
way through the pony national standings, onto the junior
hunter national standings, junior jumper standings, and
young riders. I started my grand prix career at sixteen.
Finally, I went professional in December of 2011. Along with
that I assumed the responsibilities of the home barn in Castle
Rock, as well as the traveling barn.
What are your favorite things to do when you aren’t
riding or working with horses?
This past year I have enjoyed wakeboarding on my days
off in Wellington and skiing on my weeks off in Colorado. I
recently signed a modeling contract with Wilhelmina Denver
and have pursued that career as much as possible. I also
just like going to sports games, having the occasional fun
night out on the town, or just enjoying the company of my friends
on a couch watching movies.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever followed and who gave it
to you?
My favorite person, Norman Dello Joio, has given me a lot of
advice in the past, but the one expression that rings in my mind is,
“Pace, Patience, Position.”
What traits do you look for in a horse?
I look for something that could potentially turn into a relationship.
I look for talent, size, personality, but it’s all in vain unless the
horse sees likable traits in me. Much like Facebook: one can see
someone’s profle picture, maybe a bit about where he or she is
from, but one still has to click the “add as a friend” button before
getting to know one another. If the “friend request” is confrmed,
then one is well on the way towards fnding a great partnership. If
riding was as simple as fnding exactly what one wants in a horse
and then just navigating that animal around a course, everyone
would do it!
If you could ride or have any horse in the world, which would
it be?
My mare, Special Verdict (Missy), who died in 2009. She took
me through my frst 1.45m grand prix at 16 and then into the
1.60m FEI grand prix’s at age 18. At face value that statement
deems the mare solid, reliable, and talented, but the subplot to
our partnership was what made her special. When I bought her,
in 2005, she was a quick replacement for my other mare who
had gone lame. Missy was only supposed to carry me through
the 1.30m low junior jumper division. The mare went through an
entire Wellington circuit in the FEI classes and even placed in 2 of
the grand prix’s, before she passed away. There was something
mysterious about my partnership with that mare: nothing was out
of reach, too high, too technical, or too bizarre. She was something
else.
About the writer: Alessandra Shultz grew up in the mountains
of Colorado, but now lives in upstate New York to study Apparel
Design Management at Cornell University.
Rocking the Show Ring
Sarah Tredennick and Vigaro
Photo by SportFot