By Jessica Grutkowski
Portraits by Sophia Donohue
RoseAnne Spallone-Nagle has built not one, but two successful careers—living proof that hard work and humility can turn passion into purpose. Throughout her adolescence, she leveraged her love of horses and an insatiable desire to learn as a pathway to the top of the equestrian ranks. Shortly after becoming a first-time mom, life took an unexpected turn when her son was diagnosed with a severe horse allergy—forcing her to reinvent herself.
RoseAnne discovered her passion at an early age when her father—an Army veteran with a playful sense of luck—won a racehorse in a friendly bet. “There was a catch: He had a broken leg,” RoseAnne said. Luckily, her first childhood home was next door to a farm that assisted with its rehabilitation. “There is a photo of me as a baby sitting on top of this horse with a huge grin on my face.”
Growing up an “army brat,” RoseAnne moved frequently and wasn’t able to ride consistently until her family settled in Farmingdale, New Jersey. At only 4 years old, she started at Nancy Bloom’s Best Chance Farm, following in her sister’s footsteps, and celebrated her 8th birthday there before beginning regular lessons. “My parents had since divorced, and my mom, Mary Margaret Myers, was working full time in Manhattan as a journalist for ABC News. She traveled the world on assignment and even covered Princess Diana’s wedding!”
With all the change she had seen in such a short time, Mary Margaret knew her daughter could use some sunshine in her life. “She encouraged me to get involved with horses, because she knew they made me happy,” RoseAnne said.
In middle school, RoseAnne took the bus to the barn every afternoon. “I spent all of my free time at the barn,” she said. “Nancy became a second mom, and I essentially moved in with her while my mother was working endless hours in the city to support our family.”
RoseAnne groomed, helped with barn chores and learned everything she could about horsemanship. “Nancy encouraged me every step of the way,” RoseAnne said. “She even nominated me for a sportsmanship award; I still have the letter she wrote.”
Her hard work earned her a half lease on a horse, and the chance to compete in a handful of horse shows. “I worked for every ride and lesson, and rose up through the ranks,” she said. “The farm covered most of my expenses, and my mom chipped in whenever possible.”
A few years later, RoseAnne contracted Lyme disease, which left her weak and exhausted for months. “It took a long time to rebuild my physical strength and mental focus,” she said. “Even reading became a challenge, but I learned to adapt. The horses gave me purpose, structure and something to fight for.” To continue her rehabilitation, RoseAnne’s family moved to Pawling, New York, and she spent her first two years of high school as a homeschool student.
Like most horse-obsessed girls, RoseAnne enjoyed the flexibility of hybrid learning as it allowed her more barn time. During her junior and senior years, she studied online and worked for Louise Muller and her daughter Courtney. “It was a private barn, famously known for breeding pony hunters and rehabbing horses, including Gem Twist. I loved working for the Mullers, but yearned for a position that would take me on the road—and help pay for college.”
After graduating from high school in 2000, RoseAnne was offered the opportunity of a lifetime as a groom for Olympian Anne Kursinski at Marketstreet. “Those years marked my professional entrance into the industry,” she said. “I spent several winters in Florida, soaking up every bit of knowledge. It was an amazing time in Anne’s career leading up to the PanAm Games, and I’m thankful to have been a small part of it.”
RoseAnne returned to the tri-state area to help care for her parents, both of whom were fighting cancer. “I decided to pursue my college degree and took night classes at Fordham University,” she said. “To finance my education, I worked a myriad of jobs, including at Claremont Riding Academy and Bergen Equestrian, and also taught lessons to Columbia’s Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association team.”
Her work at Bergen Equestrian led to a position with Joe Sorce and Leslie Ward, owners of Top of the Line Stables. “They taught me how to manage a show team and set up horses for clients through effective training rides,” she said. “In the end, I became a more well-rounded professional.”
Working for Joe and Leslie proved invaluable, but the commute quickly became impossible. Her parents’ illnesses progressed, and they needed around-the-clock care. RoseAnne decided to pause from full-time work. “That period deepened my sense of balance and purpose—lessons that continue to guide me today,” she said.
In 2008, RoseAnne met Wendy Pola of Ridgefield Equestrian Center and was offered a position to grow their lesson program as Wendy’s assistant trainer. The town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, is adjacent to the New York border, and a much easier drive from Pawling. “Wendy taught me that young riders need a strong foundation; structure and organization is critical,” she said. “It’s like school. If you only go one day a week, it’s going to take longer to graduate. You can accelerate with more lessons or a second pony, but you can’t skip steps.”
RoseAnne’s passion for education naturally translated into teaching the joys of horsemanship. “We had a great group of clients and ponies,” she said. “Our barn was recognized with several awards from the Fairfield Westchester–Professional Horsemen’s Association.”
RoseAnne was tasked with bringing a tricky horse to a clinic with show jumper Bernie Traurig at Old Salem Farm. At the clinic, Bernie mistook RoseAnne for one of Frank Madden’s riders from Capital Hill Show Stables. “I was flattered, but explained he was mistaken,” she said. “That’s when Frank and I began talking about a position at Capital Hill Show Stables.”
Soon after, RoseAnne was offered a role as assistant trainer. “I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I wasn’t your typical candidate for this position. It was a total miracle–an incredible chance to learn the business from one of the best.”
At first, RoseAnne was a bit starstruck. “The irony was that I grew up around celebrities thanks to my mom’s work, and my aunt is Sally Jesse Raphael, a renowned talk show host,” she said. “I had a bit of imposter syndrome. Old Salem Farm is an iconic facility and was home to the American Gold Cup. I rode well, but lacked the show experience of my peers.
“Capital Hill had many successful clients, all with very different goals,” she said. “I learned the importance of making a plan for every rider, managing their expectations along the way. Maybe it took longer to qualify for a final, or a horse got injured. It’s OK to readjust!”
In 2014, RoseAnne decided to start her own business, Spallone Sporthorses. “I did some freelance riding and teaching, and brought along a handful of young horses,” she said. “I loved teaching riders of all levels, and it was a welcome change to simply focus on the horses.”
One of the most difficult challenges she faced as a new business owner was convincing herself she was up for the role. “I often questioned whether I was capable, even though I knew I was!” she said. “I drew on my experience, and developed my own code of ethics.”
RoseAnne credits her success to building long-term, genuine relationships rooted in trust and respect. “The truth is, this business can be tough, and relationships matter,” she said. “I’ve always believed in doing business with integrity. It matters to me in the ring, in business and in life. It’s how you earn respect that lasts.”
Five years later, RoseAnne was ready to start a family, but shortly after becoming pregnant, she separated her pelvis and was forced onto bedrest. “It wasn’t even a riding injury!” she said. “I was in a wheelchair and in bed for nearly seven months.” RoseAnne carefully referred her riders to trusted professionals within her network while she recovered.
In 2020, RoseAnne found herself as a brand-new mom while navigating a global pandemic. “At first it was fine; I was able to stay home with my son, Van,” she said. “I couldn’t ride as I was still healing, so I sold my personal horses.”
When COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted, RoseAnne made the best of a difficult situation and taught clinics from her wheelchair. “I focused on the barns where my riders had gone after I was ordered on bedrest,” she said. One day, RoseAnne came home from a three-day clinic and gave her baby a hug. Within moments, she realized something was wrong. “It was terrifying. My son was having a serious allergic reaction to the horse dander on my clothing. When I realized there wasn’t a workaround, I knew I had to change my career. My life—and my work—were about to look completely different.”
Motherhood has changed RoseAnne’s life in more way than one. “Horses shaped who I am, but motherhood showed me who I want to be,” she said. “Being Van’s mom made me slow down, see clearly and understand how deeply families want to get this right for their children. I hope he grows up with confidence, compassion and strength—knowing his worth has everything to do with who he is, not what he has.
“Every parent wants that for their kids, regardless of circumstances. But I also know that worry—about providing, about protecting, about whether you’re doing enough—that’s universal, too,” RoseAnne continued. “It doesn’t matter what your situation looks like: The questions that keep you up at night are the same. Once you see the world through that lens as a parent, everything shifts. That’s what motherhood taught me to see, and it’s changed how I understand what families actually need.”
RoseAnne brainstormed with her trusted clients about a second career concept—and came up with a solution utilizing both everything she’d built in the equestrian world and her new perspective as a mother. “I studied at Fordham, and had always been drawn to problem-solving and helping people make sense of their goals,” she said.
In 2024, RoseAnne was introduced to New York Life and now works as a registered representative partnering with NYLife Securities LLC, where she is building her financial practice. “It gave me the structure to keep doing what I love—helping families,” she said. “I’ve never wanted money to be a barrier, so my initial conversations are always complimentary. It’s about understanding what’s possible and building the right plan together.”
The transition didn’t come without challenges. “I had imposter syndrome all over again,” RoseAnne admitted. “I had to remind myself that I had earned my success.” And earn it she did: In 2024, she qualified for membership in the Million Dollar Round Table, representing the top financial professionals globally, and in 2025 was nationally recognized by NAIFA’s “Four Under 40” for her leadership and impact.
Was the career change worth it? “Absolutely,” RoseAnne responded. “Here’s what surprised me most: I’m still doing the same work, just in a different form. In the equestrian world, I was helping families make strategic decisions about their goals, managing their investments in the sport, building multi-generational relationships. Now I do that for every aspect of their lives: college planning, retirement strategies, legacy building. The students I coached to equitation finals are now parents themselves, and I’m working with them and their parents, sometimes even their grandparents. That continuity, that trust across generations—that’s what makes this work meaningful.”
Van is now a happy, healthy first grader, and despite her busy schedule, RoseAnne makes time for her first love: horses. “The barn will always be my happy place,” she said. “I make it a priority to teach one clinic each quarter. That’s not just my ‘me time’—though every parent needs that—it’s my reminder that you don’t have to abandon one dream to build another. Van gets to see his mom stay connected to her passion while serving people in a completely new way.”
In her spare time, she serves on the Fox Hill Lake Association Board, supports local school initiatives through donations and volunteer efforts, and founded Ridgefield Residents for Safer Schools, an advocacy group focused on improving communication, safety and student well-being.
RoseAnne is also an active member of the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce, where she helps promote small businesses and community events. “Life has a way of asking us to start over—sometimes gently, sometimes all at once,” she said. “The horses taught me patience and resilience, but the people and the connections always reminded me I was never really starting from zero. That’s the real lesson: Every chapter, no matter how unexpected, holds the chance to rebuild something meaningful, something yours. That’s the power of resilience, and of connection.”
Follow RoseAnne on Instagram @spallone_sporthorsesllc
Outfitted by Dapper Horse, on Instagram @adapperhorse
Photos by Sophia Donohue, sophiadonohuephotography.com
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