SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
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

 

 

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: colleen acosta, meagan delisle, showtime farms

What you can read next

Christine Traurig on Riding & Dressage
roving Versatility Coast to Coast – Valerie Ashker Took Her Passion For OTTBs On The Road With A 3,300 Mile Journey
Daisy Farish and Sassafras Creek Garner Grand Pony Hunter Championship at the 54th Washington International Horse Show

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • Tenney's Custom Saddlery
    OUTFITTING BOTH HORSE AND RIDER FOR OVER 27 YEARS! Tenney's Custom Saddlery has an extensive line of Hunter/Jumper Equipment, Horse Care, and Premium Riding. Apparel. We are your "Go To Place" for expert Saddle and Tack Repair, Custom Chaps and Half Chaps. Our exceptional Team hopes to work towards your Success in the Equestrian Lifestyle!

    [Read more]

  • Isabel Kurek Photography
    Award-Winning Photographer Isabel J. Kurek Available for Private Shoots PUBLICATIONS & PRESS: • American Express Black Ink • Sidelines Magazine • In and Around Horse Country • Chronicle of the Horse • The Equiery People Magazine • Horse of the Delaware Valley • Virginia Gold Cup • Maryland Hunt Cup • Maryland Steeplechase • Washington International • Puissance Magazine • Equestrian Life • USEF Network • The Irish Field Magazine • Mid Atlantic Thoroughbred • Virginia Thoroughbred CATALOGUES,

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Steffen Peters: Grateful to Pursue the American Dream 

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Lori Ovanessian ...
  • Taylor Land: A Positive Outlook on Show Jumping

    By Cheyenne Lord Portraits by Kristie Scholten ...
  • Unbridled With John Roper

    By Britney Grover     John Roper absolutel...
  • Unbridled with Bev Bedard

    By Britney Grover     Other than leaving f...
  • Katie Duerrhammer: Driven by Love and Respect for Horses

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!