By Laila Edwards Portraits by Kacy Brown Eventer Nicole Nair knew from a young age that horses weren’t just a hobby, they were her destiny. Attracted early in life to the thrill of eventing, she quickly became captivated by the electric energy of the start box and the unique, unbreakable bond between horse and rider.

By Diana Bezdedeanu Portraits by Elyse Bullard Madison Bonamarte wholeheartedly believes that being an equestrian means following your intuition—whether it’s the horses you connect with or the variety of training techniques you bring into each ride. “When I was little, my dad took me to a barn and said, ‘You can have any pony you

By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Kacy Brown Longevity: That’s the hallmark of husband-and-wife duo Ken and Jen Krome’s K2 Show Stables in Westminster, Maryland. Based out of Ken’s mother, Carolyn Krome’s Persimmon Tree Farm, K2 has become more than just a training facility for their customers—it’s become a second family. As Ken is following in

By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Lauren Ann Wagner During the Sacramento, California, flood in 1998, Michele Vaughn, a dressage professional, drove around the area with her truck and trailer helping rescue and relocate horses from the storm-ravaged area. Michele didn’t know it at the time, but one of those rescues would spark a lifelong passion

By Helen Townes Portraits by Lauren Ann Wagner When she was 7, Heather Beachem Bell attended the 1996 Summer Olympics equestrian events in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family and insisted on wearing her paddock boots and stirrup earrings. “I wanted everyone there to know that I was an equestrian!” she laughed. Heather was riveted by

By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Kirsten Hannah “Can I ride?” That was one of the first questions Eva Crowley asked when she learned she had Hodgkin lymphoma in February 2024. Eva not only rode after her cancer diagnosis, she scheduled her chemotherapy rounds between her horse shows. Horses were part of the remedy for Eva.

By Diana Bezdedeanu Portraits by Maddy Falkowitz Ashley Henry’s love for horses began in the Bahamas as a child and has only deepened over time. Now the director and head coach of equestrian programs at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Ashley has shared that passion and expertise with hundreds of equestrians in