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Tuesday, December 12 2017 / Published in General

Colleen Acosta: Hard Work Pays Off

Colleen Acosta

by Meagan DeLisle

Despite life’s many twists and turns, Colleen Acosta used her determination and passion for the sport to help her grow. Through hard work and sacrifice, she has worked her way through the ranks in the equestrian industry. With grand prix dreams, Colleen went from riding whatever horse was thrown at her to running her own facility and seeing her dreams unfold thanks to her never-ending dedication to the sport.

Like many equestrians, Colleen began riding at a young age with her mother, a trainer. She bought her first pony, Sprinkle, for $100 from a sale yard. “He was as mean as he could be,” Colleen laughed, “but he taught me so much.” As she grew up, she had many opportunities to ride the sale horses that came in and out of her mother’s barn. “I was never as fortunate to have the horses I have now in my barn; I didn’t have horses like that growing up at all,” she said. Colleen began showing in walk/trot at the age of 5 and continued showing in the local arenas, eventually moving up to A shows.

Diamond in his grand prix victory gallop at the Brownland Music Festival

After graduating from high school, Colleen began selling horse trailers to make money and continued to ride, dreaming of the day she’d ride in the grand prix. “I idolized every single person who was competing at that level,” Colleen recalled. “That was all I ever wanted, so I rode everything I could.” It was at that point in her life when Katie Young of Coriander Farm in Jacksonville, Florida, took Colleen under her wing. To this day Colleen attributes her further riding-skill development to her time with Katie.

“I’m a very ambitious person,” said Colleen, as she spoke of all of the hard work she put in during her formative years as a rider. “I am where I am just because I’ve been so hungry for it.” That hunger, and a marriage of now 17 years, took the young couple to Texas when her husband, Tracy Acosta, reenlisted in the Navy to help better support their small family. There, she began working for Jim and Joan Henson of Foxglen Farms for a few years before moving on to work with Matt Cyphert for five years.

Great Opportunities

After many years of building up her resume, the opportunity came along for Colleen to run Showtime Farms in Southlake, Texas, owned by Dale Binder. “That step was quite scary. I’m a firm believer in hard work and doing things correctly and fairly, and I think everything comes back 10 times more if you do that,” said Colleen. Five years later, the decision has paid off and Colleen is grateful to Dale for the opportunity.

After moving to Showtime Farms, Colleen acquired several talented grand prix horses, including a special horse Diamond who was purchased for a student to show in the 1.30m classes. After an incident that bruised the rider’s confidence, Colleen encouraged them to allow her to show Diamond and the father of the rider suggested she try him in the grand prix.

“I still tell him to this day that I thought he was crazy,” Colleen laughed. “I knew the horse was willing, so I gave it a shot and he ended up winning his first two grand prix.” Diamond continued to impress, ribboning in many classes winning two weeks in a row at Brownland and once at Gulf Port.

Unfortunately, Diamond passed away last February due to a bowel rupture, a devastating blow for Colleen. “That really set me back quite a bit emotionally,” she said tearfully, “and I just wasn’t sure if I could do it again.” Knowing how heartbroken Colleen was, her equestrian family rallied around her and her good friend and fellow horseman Richard Cheska helped her find some quality imports from Belgium to help get her back into the show ring. “He was really trying to help me find another horse. Of course, another horse would never replace Diamond, but we were looking for a quality horse similar to him that would keep the program progressing.”

Colleen, competing in Texas, is a firm believer in working hard.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Reaching Goals

While Colleen is striving toward marking off some bucket-list items such as riding in Europe, she appreciates the place she is now in her career. Colleen is quick to acknowledge that the strength and support of her hardworking team at Showtime Farms has definitely helped her in achieving her goals. Looking back on her past and remembering the hard times along the way, she has one piece of advice to her younger self and other young riders out there.

“Hard work pays off. Being honest and fair pays off,” Colleen said. “Stick to the grindstone and stay motivated. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Even now when things are really good, you know something bad is going to happen and you have to be OK with it. Brush the bad things off and keep going.”

Photos courtesy of Colleen Acosta, unless otherwise noted

 

 

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Tagged under: colleen acosta, meagan delisle, showtime farms

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We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
AI only and EVA negative
Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
Don't get caught without your green on today!🍀🍀
 
In today's featured article, we have Jessica Howington, who is dressed for the occasion in her green shirt! Jessica is the Owner/Rider at CrownView Dressage, a Realtor with Showcase Properties of Central Florida, and a Nurse Practitioner! Jessica has been involved with horses since she was a little girl. Everything from bareback to eventing she tried until she found her love for dressage.

Today, she and her family own CrownView Dressage, a 157-acre training, boarding, and breeding facility in Ocala, Florida. Jessica started training and teaching but felt as if her life was still missing something. Until Jessica focused on horses full-time, she didn’t realize how important the healthcare field was to her life. Jessica missed seeing patients and being in the medical field. Jessica is now back to working again as a nurse practitioner while also focusing on training her five competition horses, including her Grand Prix mare Cavalia. 

Jessica feels lucky 🍀 to have two amazing parents who have supported her in all of her endeavors and instilled the importance of work ethic, morals, dedication, and sacrifice. 

You can read all about Jessica and how she's finding fulfillment in her busy lifestyle in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine! Click the link in our bio for more 

✳️Tag us in your “lucky” photos for a chance to be featured on our story! Happy st. Patrick’s day everyone!🍀🍀

📸Photos by Melissa Fuller, msfullerphotography.com 

#stpatricksday #irish #stpattysday #green #ireland #luckoftheirish #stpaddysday #shamrock #happystpatricksday #lucky #saintpatricksday #leprechaun #stpatricks #stpatrick #kissmeimirish #clover #paddysday #march #potofgold #stpattys #love #beer #guinness #shopsmall #handmade #stpatricksdaydecor #stpatricksdayoutfit #fourleafclover #stpatricksdayparade #luckycharms
Like many equestrians, eventer Devon Tresan is no Like many equestrians, eventer Devon Tresan is no stranger to balancing a busy schedule. From serving as president of the Pony Club South Region Youth Board to working on her online high school courses and modeling gigs, Devon has nearly every minute of her time planned out. And with her horses right in her backyard in Ball Ground, Georgia, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Devon’s fast-paced lifestyle stems from growing up around her parents’ animal casting business, Animal Casting Atlanta, where they train and provide animals for projects in the film industry. Devon’s parents, Carol and Greg, took her on her first film job at just two weeks old; both parents pushed Devon toward acting when she was younger. While Devon didn’t want to be an actor herself, she did follow in their footsteps with her love of animals, especially horses. 

“My parents’ company has provided animals for ‘The Hunger Games,’ ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Suicide Squad,’ a majority of the Marvel TV shows, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and so many more,” Devon said.

Devon started her equestrian journey when she was 9 years old. Initially, the Tresans bought a flashy gray Welsh pony, I Am Superman, for Devon to take in the hunter ring. However, Superman lived up to his name and proved to be too speedy for the job. 

“He was super cute and just a great little ride,” Devon said, “but he was still a pony! He made me work hard for everything we accomplished together. I was lucky enough to ride with a trainer who did both hunters and eventing, so we were able to switch disciplines pretty easily. Those eventing lessons together kickstarted my love for the sport.”

Read all about Devon and her busy life in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more
@TrDevon Lane Tresan  @Devontresan

📸Photo by Carol Lane Tresan
📸Photo courtesy of Devon Tresan
📸Modeling photo by Sara Hanna, @atlphotos 

#model #fashion #photography #love #style #instagood #photooftheday #beauty #instagram #beautiful #like #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #Sidelinesmagazine
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