FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES JANUARY 2013 73
Over the last 20 years, Andre has witnessed changes in the
show world, especially in the horses. The trend has shifted from
Thoroughbreds to Warmbloods in the show ring. Hunter derbies,
popular with exhibitors and spectators, have added new life to
the hunter shows.
“We’ve gone from Thoroughbreds to Warmbloods,” he said.
“The horses I like to see in equitation are real athletes. They jump
well, could almost be a hunter, and move with enormous stride
and scope. They’re even on leads, have good temperaments –
they’re our unsung heroes. A really good equitation horse could
do a lot of other jobs. Most of my Eq horses have excelled in the
hunter derbies, too. One of my students, Lillie Keenan, won the
derby fnals in 2011. At the time she was 14.”
The year-round circuit happens to be a hot topic with many
professionals, including Andre, who takes as many as 75-100
horses to a show. “I’d love to see us have better quality events,”
he admitted. “We’ve lost the higher end levels of showing. We
bring every level of rider to AA shows. I wish we had more shows
like the Hampton Classic. I’d like to see us show less. I like
breaks between shows so I can go home and teach. Florida –
we used to go down for the weather, now it’s months of shows.”
With success after success, with the pressure on for both
students and trainer, in all the photos Andre appears cool, calm
and collected. You can’t help but wonder if he ever suffers from
nerves. “I’m incredibly calm, pretty good in a crisis,” he said. “I
have a very even temperament, which has served me well with
my teaching. I’m a Virgo, very organized. I don’t go anywhere
without my toothbrush.” [He laughed, but he meant it.]
Last year Andre and the Heritage Farm team earned accolades
as the Chronicle of the Horse Show Hunter Horseman of the
Year. Lillie Keenan piloted Madison to earn the USEF Horse of
the Year (large junior hunter, 15 & under). Heritage Farm keeps
racking up the honors: the question is what’s left to accomplish.
“I had a huge bucket list when I reached my mid-30s – owning
my own farm, winning all sorts of accolades, but now my biggest
goal is to make sure I’m truly happy in my professional life and
personal relationships,” said Andre. “All of the things I thought
were truly important in my mid-30s, I realized I had done most
of them. It gave me great joy to be able to look after my parents
after they had looked after me. A year and a half ago, I lost
my mom. My goal has always been to live my best life and that
continues to serve me well.
“I live in New York City and Westchester County, and I have
a very full life away from work – I like to work out, shop, go to
the theatre, travel,” he added. “We take trips and get away, no
shows on a holiday. I like to refresh and go back to work. It keeps
me inspired and I still love my job.”
Andre and Patricia Griffth discuss the course with Jacob Pope
and Lillie Keenan at the 2012 USEF Medal Finals.
Photo by Michael Dignelli
Heritage Teamwork: Lillie Keenan on Clearway and Jacob Pope
on Uno walking together at the Maclay Finals.
Photo by Michael Dignelli
Andre with Allie Toffolon, Jacob Pope and Victoria Press walking
the course for the Sam Edelman Equitation Challenge at the
2012 Hampton Classic.
Photo by Michael Dignelli
Awards Photos! Thanks to his talent as a trainer, Andre (right)
has appeared in countless award presentation photos like this
one of Allie Toffolon winning the 2012 Sam Edelman Equitation
Championship.
Photo by Michael Dignelli