By Jessica Grutkowski
Portraits by Kacy Brown
At just 4 years old, Ryan Baldwin and his family moved to America from his native Puerto Rico. They settled in the Bronx, the northernmost borough of Manhattan, where he traded the tropical Caribbean climate for a proverbial concrete jungle. Luckily, Ryan’s family made sure he never lost touch with his beloved culture, which eased the shock of acclimating to his new life as a city kid.
Ryan’s mother, Martha, volunteered for Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Stables in Brewster, New York, just north of the city in Westchester County. “She insisted I would love horseback riding,” he said. “I took her word, but I was admittedly petrified.”
To Martha’s credit, Ryan instantly fell in love with the barn and enjoyed just being around horses. “For whatever reason, I got a pit in my stomach when it came time to canter,” he said. “My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader. She helped me work through my nerves until something finally flipped.”
One day, Ryan cantered—and, to his delight, the nerves became pure joy and excitement. “I was hooked,” he said. His newfound love of adrenaline translated to other extreme sports such as skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing, many of which he still enjoys today.
Seven years later, Ryan’s family relocated to Putnam County, New York, for work and school. Ryan began riding at Zephyr Farm in Mahopec, New York, with professional Carla Sacco. “My mom taught lessons at Zephyr and wanted me to get a nice pony to do the hunters on, but I only had interest in the misfits,” Ryan said. “I had zero interest in riding anything fancy; I wanted the ‘fire-sale pony’—the one deemed unfit for kids.”
One day, a large grey pony mare named Bella arrived at the barn. “After I put my foot in the stirrup, she bolted,” he said. “It wasn’t a dead run, but I could tell she had just the right amount of spice. I knew she was the perfect pony for me!”
Bella was far from perfect—just how Ryan liked his mounts. “Most people would have passed after that first moment at the mounting block,” he said. “Bella was also missing a front tooth. She didn’t have a lead change, and barely knew how to jump.”
For Ryan, he knew from the very beginning that Bella would teach him the most. “I learned to be sensitive and cautious—both important skills for any ride—because I had no other choice,” he said. “Getting to ride her at a young age was invaluable.”
Over the next several years, Ryan and Bella competed in the hunter and jumper rings on the local circuit. “It wasn’t easy to get her quiet enough to be competitive in the hunters. We had to fake it a bit; she was more of a natural in the jumpers,” he said. “I loved to sneak off on the trails behind the barn and jump natural logs. She made me brave.”
When Carla suggested that Ryan make his debut in the equitation ring, he felt something he hadn’t felt in years: nerves. “I knew that the Big Eq was a necessary building block in my riding foundation, but I truly didn’t enjoy it,” he said. “My family didn’t have the budget for an equitation horse, so I relied on catch rides. It took me a while to realize that the better you do, the less time you have with the horse.”
In his last Junior year, Ryan qualified for ASPCA Maclay Finals after making it through Zone 2 Regional Finals, only to find out that his catch ride had sold. “It was disappointing,” he said. “But it meant I had given the horse a great ride. That’s the business.”
Ryan didn’t let his lack of horsepower get in the way of his goals. He sought out opportunities to learn and grow his skill set by working for local professionals, including Eric Hasbrouck of Kascade Enterprises. Ryan considers Eric a lifelong mentor, and someone he credits for his love of working with young horses.
Eric is an international course designer and show jumper, with multiple Grand Prix wins on his resume. “He taught me that if you want to bond with a horse for its development, you must plan to do everything—the horse’s grooming, tacking up, ground driving,” he said. “Every little detail is important. That first impression of you stays with the horse forever.”
From the beginning, Eric saw promise in Ryan’s ability. “Ryan was always excited to be around horses, and you could tell he had the talent and persistence to make himself into a professional,” Eric said. “He’s good with people and horses, and knows how to work hard.”
Reminiscing on some of his fondest lessons, Ryan recalls learning the building blocks of reading a course. “Eric would set a line and walk it. Then, I would turn around and close my eyes,” he said. “After he told me to open my eyes and turn around, I had to guess if he changed the length of the line, or not at all. It’s all designed to help sharpen a rider’s eye.”
While he may not have been able to attend Maclay Finals, his dream of walking under the clock tower at Spruce Meadows came true when Eric asked Ryan to groom and ride for his team.
Spruce Meadows, a famous Canadian show jumping venue, is one of the last competitions that takes place on grass turf. “I never had the privilege of watching any international competitions in person,” he said. “I learned so much just from watching them school their horses over the duration of the circuit there. I was definitely starstruck seeing Grand Prix riders, including Steve Guerdat and Maikel van der Vleuten!”
While at Spruce Meadows, Ryan enjoyed some riding opportunities as well. “I rode a horse named Quattro, by Heartbreaker, my favorite stallion,” he said. “I learned a lot about what I love, and what I don’t enjoy as much. I really enjoy jumping on the grass, and I love small, sporty mares.”
Ryan would have stayed in Canada indefinitely working at Spruce Meadows, but it was important to his mother that he pursue a college degree—especially since he had the opportunity for a free education. “My mother was working as a psychology professor at Manhattan College in Westchester County,” he said. “I was able to work full time and take classes two days a week.”
During the winter, Ryan worked for professional Angelo Danza of AD Sporthorses in Brewster, New York, while Eric was in Florida for the season. Angelo is a talented hunter and jumper rider who has competed up to the Grand Prix. “Angelo taught me that if you do a good job with the young horses, you can compete in the big classes on a budget,” he said. “You have to be a jack of all trades to succeed in this industry.”
There was a period of time when Ryan enjoyed school a little ‘too much,’ and he found himself wanting to come to the barn less. “One day, Angelo came to my house and said, ‘Get in the car.’ He told me he had some exciting horses right now, and that we were going to go back to the barn to jump them.”
Ryan credits Angelo for reigniting that spark. “He believed in me, and I am forever thankful to him,” Ryan said. “Angelo gave me full-time work and always promised me good horses to ride.”
After graduating from college, Ryan traveled to The Netherlands to work for FEI show jumper Loewie Joppen. “It was an amazing experience; I rode up to 10 horses a day, and showed often at Peelbergen,” he said. “There are lots of budget-friendly opportunities to show young horses in age-appropriate classes in Europe. I would urge anyone interested in becoming a professional to spend time overseas.”
When Ryan returned home stateside, he became a professional and purchased a mare named Bella Nosa Z, a 2014 Zangersheide by Baloubet Du Rouet, off a sports auction sales video. “I knew she was a bit difficult but wasn’t too concerned, as I had been riding a ton of young, quirky horses,” he said. “When she first arrived in quarantine, I was instantly humbled. Even getting on her was a challenge I had not expected.”
Ryan had his work cut out for him, but his partnership with Bella began to improve and he decided to try an open 0.80m jumper class, as the Young Horse classes were still too high for Bella. “We left the ring disappointed, but were fortunate to meet people willing to help,” he said. “We learned groundwork to increase our bond and help her relax. The increased trust redefined our story.”
Ryan and Bella’s hard work is paying off. Recently they competed in Grand Prix at Saratoga and HITS Vermont, and they continue to excel in the jumper ring. “I’m thankful for every experience with Bella, and the people she has brought into our lives. She is my soul mate,” he said.
Ryan believes that being a “jack of all trades” is critical for success. “Whenever Junior riders ask me for advice, I tell them to diversify their skill set,” he said. “If you learn to ride a young horse well, you will always have a job.”
Throughout his young career, Ryan has been disciplined to take his own advice, while keeping in mind the words of his mentors. Currently he develops young talent for McKenna Sport Horses in Ocala, Florida. “I own five young horses, and owner Natalie Laschewski is providing me with young talent to help produce,” he said.
Ryan primarily works with 3- and 4-year-old horses. They range from being only “halter broke,” to having been “backed” sparingly. “Our goal is to keep it simple until they are about 6 years old,” he said. “Our horses never have back-to-back training days. We try to stay out of the ring and get them broke. Every other day is a trail ride day on the buckle.”
Being the first person to ride a horse is still a thrill for Ryan. “I still get a little sad when they sell. I hope the impression I leave on them lasts forever,” he said.
Ryan still loves to skateboard, but not as often. “It’s a lot like horseback riding: If you’re off your board for a while, it can be pretty unforgiving,” he said. Instead, Ryan is saving himself to fulfill his dream to one day represent his native Puerto Rico on a Nations Cup Team.
Follow Ryan at @PelhamParkLLC on Facebook or on Instagram @ryantbaldwin and @pelhamparkllc
Photos by Kacy Brown, kacybrownphotography.com
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