By Britney Grover
Photo by Sportfot
Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, Rob Bielefeld knew early on that he wanted to have a career in horses. “I started teaching the lesson program at the stable that I started at when I was 16. I taught probably over 100 lessons a week after school and on weekends,” he said. “And I was always intrigued with the judging portion. I would sit on the sidelines when I was a kid and see how close I could come to the results from the actual judge. So I knew early what I wanted to do, not that I knew that I could make a living at it. But the passion for the horses—and for horse people—was there.”
At 19, Rob answered a classified ad looking for a trainer at a new local barn in Upstate New York. He flew out to give a clinic and was promptly offered the job, which he took. “That was the best thing I ever did,” Rob said. “I built a lesson business there from scratch, and that started into local showing, and then grew into showing at higher levels. Within five years I had people qualifying for indoors. It was a great opportunity, just by pure luck and hard work.”
Along with running his successful RSB Farms, Inc., as a hunter rider and trainer, Rob pursued his fascination with judging. From judging schooling shows as a teenager, he received his ‘r’ judge’s card at 21 and his ‘R’ at 25. Today, Rob travels frequently from his home in Wellington, Florida, to judge. “I’m 60 now—not that that’s ancient, but I feel a little bit ancient! I’d still like to ride and train at some level, and I do some, though it seems now my path has turned to more judging,” he said. “But I certainly am not retiring from training, riding and teaching. I have a couple of lovely clients that like to ride and learn. And still the best time for me is on the back of a horse. I don’t want to give that up. Not yet, anyway.”
How did you get involved with horses?
I was very lucky that my parents didn’t know what to do with me. They saw riding lessons advertised in the yellow pages, and they said, “Well, let’s try this.” One of the reasons they did that was because there was a bus that would pick me up after school and then take me home after the barn, and they both worked. Fortunately, I took to it really well. That’s where it all started—I owe my parents a lot for making that phone call.
What’s your favorite thing about being part of the horse world?
I always felt very comfortable at the horse shows. I felt very comfortable being around horse people. I felt like I fit in. I went to school, I did my schoolwork, but I wasn’t very good at it; I had friends, but not like a horse friend. Those were my people. I could relate to the adults even when I was a kid; I was more comfortable around that than I was kids my own age that didn’t ride horses.
What’s something that you’ve done that not many people have?
I was really lucky that I got to judge Madison Square Garden at a very young age, before it left Madison Square Garden and that was probably the biggest thrill of my judging career.
Do you have any horse moments that still make you laugh?
I have a picture of me getting left behind at a 3’6” oxer showing in two feet of mud. Of course, I probably shouldn’t have been jumping that big, but I was young and dumb and I wanted to do it. I still have that picture—I had to have it to remind me that this is a humbling sport. And that was a pretty funny moment. You’ve got to be able to laugh at yourself.
If you could tell every rider one thing, what would it be?
Be compassionate with your horse. Remember, it’s not about humans; it’s definitely about the horses. Put the horse first before anyone’s wants or needs; we’ve got to do what’s right for them.
Outside of horses, what do you like to do?
I like to train at the gym almost every day, and I love classical music. My mother is a musician, and that was my other passion when I was growing up. It goes a little bit hand-in-hand with riding because you have to have a lot of feeling with music, as you do with horses. You’ve got to feel it. Sometimes you can’t explain it, and you can’t teach feel. Good horses can help you develop it, but you have to be sympathetic with it.
What’s something that people don’t know about you?
The music part is the biggest thing, I think: I play the trumpet, but I wasn’t good enough—my mother got all the talent. She was a flutist, 50 years. Part of my teaching I developed through her because she taught out of our home six days a week and we had kids coming in and out of there like there was no tomorrow. She was a popular teacher, and that influenced my teaching with the business end and also helped me learn organization and the importance of being on time.
What are three things that can always be found in your refrigerator?
Oh, that’s easy: lemons, yogurt and water. The lemons go in the water, and anyone who knows me knows I don’t go anywhere without them.
What’s something that everyone should try at least once in their lives?
Take a chance.
Photo:
Rob Bielefeld competing Jackman, owned by Britain Bailey and Bailey Mews, at WCHR in Wellington, Florida.
Photo by Sportfot
