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 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, October 09 2018 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Archie Cox: His Own Brand of Success  

Archie Cox

By Doris Degner-Foster

Portraits by Kristin Lee

Archibald Cox III’s grandfather was a law professor who was also a special prosecutor during the Watergate scandal, and his father is an international financial and management expert. If he’d followed in his forerunners’ footsteps, Archie would be in politics, law or international business — but he chose a very different career.

Archie with Boss, owned by Laura Wasserman

Archie Cox has excelled in the horse world as a rider and trainer. As a junior rider, he placed in the AHSA Medal and ASPCA Maclay finals before riding for the equestrian team at New Jersey’s Drew University, where he won numerous awards in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. As a trainer, Archie has coached over 40 students to national championships and has sat on the board of directors of several different national shows.

His grandmother, Phyllis Ames Cox, may have had something to do with his choice of a career with horses. “Some of my earliest memories involving horses are at my grandparents’ farm in Wayland, Massachusetts, and also in Brooksville, Maine. My grandmother was an avid horsewoman and was very involved in the horse industry in New England,” Archie said. “She had Morgans and saddle horses and I remember how important the manes and tails were, and that she would use an old method that is still around today to keep them in good condition — applying Listerine to horses’ manes and tails to keep them from rubbing. I remember distinctly thinking, I don’t know what it is but it smells terrible.”

Location, Location, Location

Another reason that made it inevitable horses would be a part of Archie’s life was where his family lived on Long Island. “People asked me how I became so involved with horses and I’d tell them, ‘Well, I lived across the street from Susie Humes, who’s a judge, a professional and well-respected horsewoman, and I lived up the street from Tracy Topping, who was an avid equestrian, and I lived down the street from Bunny French,’” Archie said. When asked if the choice of that neighborhood was made intentionally to be among the horse community, he answered, “No, that was just where we lived in Locust Valley, New York, on Long Island. We kept our horses for a long time at the Humes’ barn and, of course, horses were in my blood.”

When Archie began riding, his family encouraged his interest in horses as he worked to improve his skills, attending clinics with top trainers. He spoke fondly of starting his show career with a Quarter Horse named Mr. Hippo and how the small horse’s naturally shorter stride taught him to ride forward to make the striding on courses.

Lessons with John Strump and Robert Hoskins, who were both based nearby on Long Island, gave Archie a solid base to his riding, and something more. “John and Robert taught me a real passion for teaching,” Archie said. “It’s only been in the past five years that I’ve come to really appreciate the hours that Robert spent explaining things and doing things correctly. He rode very correctly and that’s a good visual for me still to this day.”

Archie considered becoming a teacher or lobbyist, but has excelled in the horse world as a rider and trainer.

Much of Archie’s equestrian education as a junior came from doing. “My mother and I would frequently go to shows by ourselves when I was 15 and 16 and I would get input from various trainers such as Gary Cunsman, Jack Trainor and John French,” Archie remembered. “I was very lucky and we had great times going to horse shows on Long Island and in New Jersey at the indoor facilities in the winters. My mother is without a doubt my number one support, and my father is extremely proud of me in what I’ve accomplished, as was my grandmother.”

As a junior rider, Archie focused on equitation and placed in the Medal and Maclay competitions. He was the first male in 10 years to win what was then the USET Gold Medal — now the U.S. Equestrian Federation Talent Search Medal — but he chose to step back from riding as he began classes at Drew University in New Jersey.

Broadening His Horizons

Although Drew University is located in the New Jersey area that’s very much in the horse world, Archie chose to focus on college as he began his freshman year. “I stopped riding for maybe a year and did school and other things, and I lived in London for five months doing a semester abroad,” Archie remembered. “I’m a strong advocate for higher education. When you’re doing business in the horse world with intelligent, successful people, I think a college education puts you on a better footing.”

Archie with Need I Say, owned by Katherine Dash

Archie later joined the college’s Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team and won several individual and team championships, and in 1989 he won the IHSA Hunt Seat Equitation National Championship. After becoming a successful trainer, Archie was inducted into the Drew University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.

Archie had considered being a teacher or lobbyist, but after he graduated in 1991 with a degree in political science, he began working for trainer Emil Spadone. Archie is known for being able to assess a horse’s abilities and match a certain rider with the right horse, and he credits Emil with helping him gain the insight needed to spot those abilities in a horse.

In eight months of working with Emil, Archie gained valuable experience and was ready to branch out. After years of the winters in the Northeast, he decided that California would be a good place to work and sent out some letters of inquiry with his resume.

Starting His Career

Karen Healey, the iconic judge and trainer whose riders have won over 100 medal finals, was among those to whom Archie sent an inquiry about employment. The timing was right since she had someone leaving her barn, and she responded to Archie’s letter. He had known Karen as a junior rider and must have made a good impression because she offered him a job. “Most often, the harder you work, the luckier you get,” Archie said. “I didn’t coin that phrase but it’s very true. I got in my car on Memorial Day 1992 and I started the drive to California.”

Working for Karen for a limited time was part of Archie’s initial plan before going out on his own, but the time with her stretched out to over eight years. Karen had injured her back and Archie was able to help her by riding more horses for her as she recovered. She said on several occasions that Archie cared more than one would expect of someone who was not the business owner, and the arrangement worked out well for them. “We had a great business; it was a super time for both of us, great successes all along,” Archie remembered.

Archie, with Boss, owned by Laura Wasserman, at his farm Brookway Stables — which he named as a tribute to his grandparents’ farm — at Middle Ranch in Lake View Terrace in the Los Angeles area.

As his time working with Karen extended, Archie felt like he needed to continue with his original plan to open his own business, and he decided that it was to the point of “now or never.” “I thought I had to bite the bullet and do this or I’d remain there for a lifetime,” he said.

But with all his experience, he was ready. “Probably the most important thing I learned was that I was lucky to work for the people that I worked with,” Archie said. “That’s something that should be remembered by everyone — your mentors are your most important people. Emil was awesome to work for and so was Karen. Probably the best thing I can say is that I would do it again in a heartbeat, and that’s the highest compliment.”

Rewards of Teaching

In December 2000, Archie opened his own business, Brookway Stables — which he named as a tribute to his grandparents’ farm — at Middle Ranch in Lake View Terrace in the Los Angeles area. With two assistant trainers, Jenny Ross and Karlie Postel, Archie now runs a stable of 40 horses with 15 clients ranging from pony riders to older amateur adults.

Archie said, “The best thing about teaching is the reward of seeing people understand and learn, and the horse learning the communication between horse and rider — and being successful, that can be at any level.”

Archie attended Drew University and was inducted into the Drew University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.

Known for stepping up to get things done around the barn and braiding a horse himself when necessary, Archie said, “Nothing is above you, nothing is below you.” He credits his parents for his down-to-earth personality. “I had fantastic parents: They taught me things that are so taken for granted. They taught me manners and to respect the people around me and the animals that I’m working with, and to have a joy for life.”

The pride in his family connection was apparent in Archie’s voice as he said, “I was appointed to the board of directors of the USEF in 2007. I sat on the board for one term and what was unique about that was that in 1977, my grandmother had been on the board, and 30 years later I was on it. We had a 30-year gap of Coxes on the Board.”

Archie’s back-to-basics style of teaching that he adapts to the individual horse and rider has resulted in dozens of national champion wins, but he never brags. The phrase, “I’m very fortunate” is one he says often. An example is when he attributes success to “great customers who have confidence in the choices I make.”

Outlining his life philosophy in a few words, Archie summed up the following points: Try harder; a prepared man can do the work of two; and, the more skilled a man is, the less reliant he is on others. “I get up every day just excited for the day to start,” he said. “Whether it’s just going to the gym or planning my day, I’m always planning toward the future.”

Photos by Kristin Lee Photography, www.kristinleephotography.com

Double D Trailers Info

Tagged under: archie cox, brookaway stables, karen healey

What you can read next

From Patient to Powerhouse: Lauren May Woodruff & RecoverEase
Hannah and Zach Ketelboeter: Building Their Dreams and TerraNova 
Molly Ashe Cawley — Life, Love, Family & Horses

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
Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! W Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.
 
Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.
 
Kaiman (Dark Pleasure x Gribaldi) earned high scores at his stallion testing and in the young horse classes. He's also the sire of a Licensed Oldenburg stallion. Kaiman's first North American foal crop is arriving now and they are gorgeous!
 
If you're looking for top international bloodlines please check out our 2023 stallion collection, now available fresh, frozen, and by the dose.

Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.

Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.

https://www.ironspringfarm.com/biolink/

@iron_spring_farm 

#stallion #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #equine #dressage #pferd #equestrianlife #mare #hengst #horseriding #instahorse #cheval #pferde #equinephotography #horselove #dressagehorse #pony #horselover #caballo #foal #quarterhorse #aqha #arabianhorse #showjumping #photography #caballos #horseofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
#horseshow #horses #horse #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #horselove #horsestagram #instagram #showjumping #equestrianlife #equine  #horsebackriding #dressage #horselife #pony #of #horserider #horseshoe #horsemanship #horseshowlife #riding #instahorse #horseaddict #horseofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
🖥Ryanpedigosporthorses.com
🖥Ryan.p.f@hotmail.com
☎️(714) 357-2714

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

@ryanpedigosporthorsespf_

#stallion #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #equine #dressage #pferd #equestrianlife #mare #hengst #horseriding #instahorse #cheval #pferde #equinephotography #horselove #dressagehorse #pony #horselover #caballo #foal #quarterhorse #aqha #arabianhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • Advertise in Sidelines by Dec 3 2021!
    Email advertising@sidelinesnews.com

    [Read more]

  • Tara Stone | eXp Realty
    Equestrian & Luxury Properties 908.209.9277/ Tara.Stone@exprealty.com www.TheStoneTeamNJ.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
  • Longines Global Champions Tour of New York Returns to Governors Island
  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • 2023 Upperville Colt & Horse Show Presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Returns for 170th Year on June 5-11
  • Will Coleman Retains Yanmar America CCI4*-S Lead in Dramatic Show Jumping at Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International
  • First edition of the World Sport Horse Sales was a hit with $410.000 for the most expensive horse

Category

Recent Posts

  • April 2023 – Table of Contents

    Subscribe for just $9.95 or Order Individual Is...
  • Building a Bond With a New Horse

    By Margie Sugarman I just bought a new horse. I...
  • Developing Healthy Relationships With Your Barnmates

    By Rob Jacobs The purpose of this month’s colum...
  • The Value of Self-Coaching

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp The sport of eventing is ...
  • Unbridled With Annette Longenecker

    By Britney Grover  Annette Longenecker wasn’t j...

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!