60 SIDELINES DECEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
By Holly Hugo-Vidal
In an industry largely dominated by men, Nicole
Hoyt Haunert has carved out a niche for herself! Not
an easy task for a 29-year-old to achieve, especially
lacking credentials as a famous junior rider. One
thing Nicole does not lack is talent; in addition she
has a great love for horses and a love for the sport
as well!
A California native, she grew up in New Port Beach.
Like so many good riders, Nicole began riding at the
early age of four at the Orange County Fair Grounds
in Costa Mesa. School horses gave her a good start
and for her sixth birthday her parents presented her
with a small pony. She showed the pony for several
years including a stint with the local Pony Club; but
dressage was not her cup of tea. “I was bad at it. It
was way too disciplined for me!” she said.
Her supportive parents then bought her Stormy,
a jack-of-all-trades horse that enabled her to ride
in several divisions. Nicole became a working student for Ann
Price for two years, until Ann moved out of the area. Edgar Pagan
offered Nicole another working student position, this time with
more riding as well as showing.
I asked Nicole when she frst knew that she wanted to be a
professional and she said, “When I was fve years old I knew that
one day I wanted to be a famous rider!” Even with a few years off
to focus on a modeling career with the Wilhelmina Agency in Los
Angles, Nicole found she was sad when she couldn’t ride and her
lifelong dream to become a rider eventually won out.
When asked how she made the transition into the professional
ranks, she said, “My frst job was with Alison Sherred to whom I will
always be grateful for teaching me so much about equitation. At
that time I was still riding Stormy in the children’s jumper division,
which had given me a pretty good start, however Stormy was
limited. So when the well-known grand prix rider, Ali Nilforushan,
offered me a riding job, I jumped at it. It was quite a contrast to
riding Stormy in the children’s jumper division and was my frst
step to fulflling my dream as a professional rider!”
Ali eventually put Nicole in touch with Paul Haunert and his son
Reyhan, who were looking for a rider. That was when everything
really changed! Not only was she offered jumpers for the higher
divisions; but it came with good help on the ground from Paul.
Nicole began to show heavily in both the jumper and hunter
divisions and six months into the job Paul told her it wouldn’t be
long before she would be showing in grand prix classes.
Thinking it was merely a compliment, she didn’t put much stock in
it; but one year later he offered Nicole a ride in her frst grand prix at
Del Mar under the lights. On Parole had eight faults that night and
competed in 30 more classes before being rested for a year due
to an injury. (He is back strong and showing again.) Nicole credits
Paul’s positive attitude and support to her success. “He always told
me I could do it and I couldn’t have done it without him!”
Another change came in 2010, when Nicole and Reyhan got
married. Now all three Haunerts jointly hang the TriStar banner.
“The three of us have completely different roles. Paul is the
boss and does the training, while Reyhan manages absolutely
everything and I do all the riding,” Nicole said. “It works out
beautifully and we all get along. I couldn’t do it without them! I’m
so fortunate, not only do I feel a sense of protection; but I can
Nicole and Ninja competing.
Photos courtesy of Nicole Haunert
Nicole in her
modeling days.
Nicole tackles
a derby.
totally focus on my riding. We really have a great relationship, as
our individual roles all complement each other.”
When it comes to preferring jumpers or hunters, Nicole said,
“I want to be a good rider in both the jumper ring as well as the
hunter ring. I have always loved the jumpers; but now that the
derbies have been introduced I fnd that I love the challenge they
offer. I have a wonderful derby horse named Ninja that I have
been bringing along and we have been growing together. I hope
he never gets sold! I would be really sad if I couldn’t ride him in
a derby, it’s so much fun. It’s a whole different rush. In the grand
prix you walk in thinking, ‘I hope I survive,’ and in the hunters you
think, ‘I hope I don’t miss’!”
Holly Hugo-Vidal is Sidelines California correspondent and writes the “West
Side Story” column. Holly is based at Alicia Saxton’s Oceancrest Farms in Rancho
Santa Fe, California. Holly specializes in hunters and equitation as well as adults.
She is an “R” USEF judge, clinician and an author. Her most recent book is Build
Confdence Over Fences.