By Britney Grover
Portraits by Sophia Donohue
To say Cisy Zhou had a successful trip to Pony Finals this year is an understatement. She started day one with a blue ribbon in the Small Green Pony Hunter National Championship under-saddle phase, and finished the final day by winning the Marshall & Sterling Pony Medal Final in a field of 184 riders—with a Small/Medium Pony Jumpers gold in between.
It should come as no surprise: Cisy, who is turning 11 this fall, has also been champion at Capital Challenge and Harrisburg, reserve champion at Devon and WIHS and took individual gold at Pony Jumper Finals. She was awarded Best Child Rider at both Devon and Harrisburg, and the Stewart Warner Award—given to the Pony, Children’s and Junior riders who showcase the best riding style on a hunter over the course of the competition—at Capital Challenge.
“Cisy makes teaching exciting,” said Patricia Griffith, one of Cisy’s trainers at Heritage Farm. “She’s extremely dedicated and always trying to learn and improve. She treats this as a real sport versus a hobby, with hours in the saddle as well as in the barn. She enjoys the whole process and understands each pony as an individual. The Pony Medal Final was a goal and something we were really working towards. I’m so proud of her!”
Caroline Passarelli, another Heritage trainer following her own successful pony career, added, “I have had the pleasure of both assisting in Cisy’s training and in the development of many of her ponies. Getting to witness firsthand how much she has grown both in and out of the saddle throughout the years has been incredible. What I think really sets her apart is that she’s not just dedicated to the riding aspect of the sport, but also to the horsemanship side. She wants to know the preparation that goes into producing the final product; she’s looking for ways to be hands on, to learn the animals better and their different personalities. It’s been a very rewarding journey, and I can’t wait to see how far she goes.”
Where do you live?
I live in New York City, where I go to school and ride. It’s a beautiful and busy place, and I love calling it home!
Did you grow up in a horse family? If not, how did you discover horses?
No, I did not grow up in a horse family! I was introduced to riding by a family friend, and the moment I started, something clicked and I fell in love with it.
How long have you been part of the horse world?
I have been part of the horse world ever since I was 3, so I have pretty much known horseback riding all of my life.
How did you choose your discipline?
When I first started riding, my mom was too scared to let me do jumpers and we didn’t know that much about the equitation, so we chose the hunters. Now, I am a pony rider who’s transitioning to horses. I’ve started to do the jumpers and equitation, and I just love competing in something different, as well as the new challenge of it!
What was your riding life like as you grew up?
I started in the walk-trot division, but thanks to my trainers, I quickly got better and started showing in the Pony Hunter division when I was 6 or 7 years old.
What do you like about the different disciplines and divisions you ride in?
All the divisions have unique challenges, like in the hunters you really focus on the basic skills of being accurate, and the equitation really focuses on your position and how you solve the course’s problems. Additionally, the pony jumpers prepared me for the horse jumpers because in the pony jumpers I really focus on being accurate and not having a rail, so when I do the horse jumpers I know exactly how to do it, just higher.
Who do you train with and what’s it like?
I’ve trained with Heritage Farm for such a long time. They’ve been a huge part of my journey. They excel at pushing me to learn as much as I can and always being so supportive and encouraging. Training with Heritage has made me feel like I have a second family at the barn and I love it!
What did winning at Pony Finals this year mean to you?
Winning the Pony Medal at Pony Finals made me realize just how much hard work pays off. I got to look back on my first time at Pony Finals four years ago, and the advancements I’ve made both in my riding and in the mental aspect of delivering consistent rounds.
What are your goals, both for your riding life and for your personal life?
I really hope to compete in the Olympics and go to an Ivy League school!
Where do you go to school?
I go to Brearley, an all-girls school in New York City. I’ll study there from kindergarten through 12th grade, so school’s a big part of my life besides horseback riding.
What’s something interesting or unique about you?
I’m American-born Chinese and I speak mostly English outside of home, but when I’m home I speak Mandarin since my mom can’t understand that much English.
What is the best thing about your life?
The best thing about my life, in my opinion, is my family and my riding family!
Follow Heritage Farm on Instagram @heritagefarm
Photos by Sophia Donohue, sophiadonohuephotography.com
