158 SIDELINES APRIL 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Heather Gillette
Eventing’s Jersey Girl
By Kim MacMillan
Heather Gillette is everything positive you would expect from a
“born and raised Jersey Girl.” She’s genuine, approachable, hard
working, loyal to her family and friends and passionate about life
and her horses.
Looking at her website or visiting with Heather in person will
clue you in to just
how
important each and every horse that
has touched her life has been to her. From her first pony Holy
Smoke to her first advanced horse Pickle Road to her two newest
prospects Boris O’Hara and Pie – and all of the horses in between
– she’s loved and nurtured each of them.
Heather, 44, a Morristown, New Jersey, native, began riding at
age two when their neighbors gave the Gillette family Holy Smoke.
Heather’s father had grown up with horses on a Pennsylvania
farm, so the idea of owning a pony wasn’t unfamiliar. The family
moved “Smokey” into their garage and Heather’s equestrian
career was launched. “I rode Western until I was in second grade,
then I joined the Spring Valley Hounds Pony Club where Marilyn
Payne was one of the instructors. That is where I was introduced
to eventing and I have been doing it ever since. I rode through
college and for fun while working in the corporate world. I met
Pickle Road in 1995 when he came off the track. I had already
decided I had little tolerance for corporate culture, so I started my
own barn. It has gone from there,” explained Heather.
True to her “Garden State” roots, Heather has tenaciously
fought to achieve her goals. Coree Reuter, a working student for
Heather from 2005 to 2008, characterized her by saying, “I have
always admired how hard Heather works and how dedicated she
is even though she’s had some really disappointing days. She has
never let that stop her from continuing to fight to be a better rider,
horsewoman and competitor every day. She’s also one of the best
teachers I’ve ever had. She has this vivacious, positive energy
when she teaches. She pushes you, but she’s so supportive and
encouraging, no matter what your goals. She taught me so much
Members of the field, Heather and “Smokey” stand ready to
follow the hounds with the Spring Valley Hunt.
Photo courtesy of Heather Gillette
A young Heather is all smiles posing with her first pony Holy
Smoke in the backyard of the Gillette family home in Morristown,
New Jersey.
Photo courtesy of Heather Gillette
Heather and Our Questionnaire splashing through the water at
the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*.
Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
Continued on page 160
