12 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Lindsay McCall
Hope Glynn is the epitome of a female role model for young
equestrians. She’s strong, confident and has worked hard to get
to the top of the equestrian industry. As a mother, a wife, a trainer
and a champion hunter professional, Hope is a wonder woman
at keeping everyone on the right schedule. She may be based in
California, but she racks up the miles traveling around the country
showcasing her multitude of talented horses. Sidelines caught up
with the talented rider who keeps it upbeat by sharing her love for
the sport with her family and young clients.
When did you start riding?
I started riding when I was five-years-old in my backyard. My
mother had ridden Western growing up and wanted to share her
passion for horses so she went ahead and graciously bought me a
fat Welsh cross. That was until that fat pony ended up not fat, but
pregnant! So we soon had two ponies.
Did you have a junior career?
I didn’t have a glamorous junior career, but I had a great time
growing up with horses in my backyard. I broke ponies and learned
from a lot of different great horsemen. I rode a lot of ponies and
horses for local barns, which gave me a really good foundation and
a great feel for horses. My mom regrets that she couldn’t afford to
send me to Pony Finals, but I don’t have any regrets about it. I was
lucky. I loved horses and had them at my house. When I was 16, I
was badly injured in a riding accident and couldn’t ride for my last
junior years. So, I played a lot of tennis and gave riding lessons.
What is life like in California?
My husband, Ned, and I own and operate Sonoma Valley
Stables in Petaluma, California. It’s about an hour north of San
Francisco. We have a good mix of hunters, jumpers and equitation
horses. I show the hunters and my husband shows the jumpers.
We have an eight-year-old daughter, Avery, and she shows the
smalls. We have 50 horses in training, and own and live on the
property.
How did you meet Ned?
We knew each other from seeing each other at the shows and
we had both gone to the University of California at Davis. One day
he needed help hooking up his new trailer and I volunteered to
help him because I drove the same type of trailer at the time. The
rest is history.
What is your favorite equestrian industry trend?
I think the derbies are the best trend for the industry right now as
it is showcasing hunters and putting them back into the spotlight.
However, I am very excited about the pre-green incentive program
and I am hoping California horse show managers will get behind it
so we can encourage owners to buy pre-green horses.
What do you love about the $25,000 Franktown Meadows
Hunter Derby in Reno, Nevada, which you continue to show
at every year?
I love everything about it. The facility is beautiful, the grass
is amazing, and the jumps are perfect. They also have a great
accommodating staff on hand. It’s such a great derby, and they
do it all for the Food Bank. It is the only stand-alone derby on
the West coast and it gives you a feel of the type of jumps, and
courses, you see at Derby Finals. It also is just fun, they have
great participation bags, great prizes, great parties, and everyone
who attends has fun.
What makes the hunter derbies special?
At every derby I have done this year it seems the jumps
are getting bigger and more beautiful. The courses are more
challenging and the riders are pushing themselves more in the
handy rounds than ever before. I think even jumper riders would
find the handy rounds fun to watch.
When you aren’t riding or showing, what’s your favorite
pastime?
I love doing anything with family. My favorite hobbies, to most
people’s surprise, include fishing. Fly fishing, deep-sea fishing,
bone fishing. You name it; I’ve probably fished for it. It is something
my dad and I have always enjoyed doing together. In my spare
time, I want to have a fishing show on television about fishing and
travel, but I haven’t exactly found the time yet. I also enjoy picking
a few sprint triathlons to do during the year. They are fun and a
great way to motivate myself to stay in shape. I do love horses,
and I am truly thankful and blessed to ride so many animals that
try so hard to give me 100 percent.
Hope Glynn: Keeping It Upbeat
e
Hope Glynn, Jenny Karazissis, Jessie Lang and Kost Karazissis
at the Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby rider’s reception in
Carson City, Nevada.
Photos by Lindsay McCall
Hope and C.R.
Haribo, owned by
Emma Townsend,
at the $25,000
Franktown
Meadows
Hunter Derby.
Hope and C.R.
Haribo earned
the reserve
championship
in the $25,000
International
derby.
