48 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Cecilia Lang-Ree
Ever since Henrietta Hall swung her leg around a pony for the
frst time, she’s been in love. She remembers being four years old
and getting a visit from a local photographer who traveled door-to-
door with his paint pony to take pictures of children. She still has
the black-and-white photo of herself posed on the paint and will
unquestionably declare that her devotion to horses started with
that little pony.
Henri Hall has come a long way since then. As an equestrian and
philanthropist, she’s a fxture on the national circuit and has made
a successful name for herself in the show world. Henri currently
owns several retired and competition horses, from her veteran
27-year-old to her brand new fve-year-old hunter. She’s based
in Santa Fe, New Mexico for half of the year and in Louisiana for
the other six months; but rides all year long with the help of some
of the areas’ best facilities and trainers. As Henri puts it, riding
lessons are an “all day, every day” type of affair!
Although Henri has an enviable show record, with wins from
coast to coast on all of her horses, she’s an exceptionally avid
competitor at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show in Katy, Texas.
The show, an annual philanthropic event that supports charities
in Texas and beyond, has given Henri some of her favorite riding
memories. At Pin Oak 2011, she won Leading Adult Hunter Rider
with her hunter Ramano. Although she laughingly claims that “if
I leave him alone, he wins,” it’s clear that Henri is much more
than a passenger – she’s a dedicated competitor with a great
enthusiasm for Pin Oak’s “pristine facilities, hospitable services
and people that can’t be beat!”
Last year, Henri’s dedication to Pin Oak took a leap forward
as she and her husband became sponsors of the event through
Superior Energy Services, Inc. As she puts it, the decision to
become a patron of Pin Oak was easy, because she’s “just so
crazy about the whole event!” Henri’s support paid off as it was
Pin Oak’s most successful to date, with over $125,000 raised for
charities including the Texas Children’s Hospital. Henri added that
Pin Oak also fourishes thanks to the support of Pin Oak President
Lynne Walsh. “Lynne has been instrumental in the daily success
of Pin Oak. Not only is she a rider; but when she is not on a horse
she can be seen working every facet of this two week event in her
tan breeches and starched white shirt.”
Although Henri has had great success in with all of her horses,
she still considers her greatest accomplishment in the saddle the
simple fact that she “can get out and ride!” Currently, Henri is
working on moving up to the 3’ classes and achieving the same
competence there as she has in the 2’9” divisions. According to
her, if she could achieve that goal, she’d “die a happy camper!”
Henri’s dedication to the sport is amazing and she’s truly a role
model for the involved, competitive amateur. When asked if she
had any words of wisdom for Sidelines reader’s who look up to her
success, she exclaimed, “If I can do it, you can do it! Just go to the
barn every day!” An addiction to riding seems to run in the family
as well; Henri has two young grandchildren who are just starting
on ponies. For Henri, the more the merrier and as she puts it,
“If I’m not riding, [they’re] riding, so I’m always around horses in
some form!”
From the show ring to the sponsors’ table, Henri Hall has
made her indelible mark on the equestrian world. She’s a role
model who has created a life around her sport. Henri is a force
of commitment, optimism, patronage – and a blessing to the
equestrian community.
About the writer: Cecilia Lang-Ree lives in Los Gatos, California and
has been riding since she was six years old. She currently rides with
Avalon Hunter/Jumpers and is having the time of her life with Holly, an
affectionate, sarcastic and athletic Oldenburg mare. The two ride hunters
and equitation and love hanging out with their awesome barn “family.”
Henri Hall winning the Modifed Adult Hunter Leading Rider in
2011 at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. Left to right: trainer
Sarah Williams, Henri, Caroline Invicta Stevenson, master at
Invicta Farms in Santa Fe, New Mexico where Henri also rides.
Photo courtesy of Henri Hall
Equestrian
and
Philanthropist
e
Henri and Ramano at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show.
Photo by Shawn McMillen