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Friday, December 18 2020 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Ash Atkinson: Horses, Jets, Yachts and Adventures in Between

By Tafra Donberger

Portraits by Melissa Fuller

Ash Atkinson was born for adventure. One look at the tall, good-looking Brit sporting his dark shades, and thoughts of James Bond pop into your mind. Ash has had almost as many adventures as Bond traveling on yachts and jets — many of which have taken him across the globe, all for the sake of horses.

From horses to yachts, jets and exotic cars, Ash’s life is full of thrills. With an unwavering commitment to his various pursuits and unstoppable energy, Ash has collaborated with Jack Coppola to offer high-end concierge services to different clients, including many in the equestrian world.

“Jack has been in the concierge business working on jets, yachts and estates for a number of years. He also worked for large private families, so he had the existing infrastructure,” Ash explained. “It was a case of me plugging into that. The relationships I created within the equestrian community have enabled me to provide these types of services to my friends and partners.”

As COVID-19 changed the equestrian scene, it also changed Ash’s concierge services. Yacht charters were put on hold and the majority of the population looked to avoid public airplanes for travel. On the other hand, the number of private charter flights soared, mimicking Ash’s life, which always seems to soar to varying heights.

Across the Pond

Ash grew up in a small town around 60 miles north of London, where rural met industrial in quaint countryside full of livestock and commerce. At 12, he hopped aboard a pony, discovered the thrill of riding and began taking lessons at a local riding school.

A few years later, Ash was aboard his own cob named Amy, and the pair tried it all together — English hunting, foxhunting, cross-country, show jumping. He found that jumping was what he loved the most, and his next horse, Dirak du Don Jon, or Joey, was a former grand prix show jumper who taught Ash confidence in showjumping. 

“He was the school master type, the horse that really taught me how to be an effective show jumper,” Ash recalled. “Joey was the horse that accelerated my love for the sport.”

Joey and Ash began competing in shows throughout Europe, and that’s when Ash knew college wasn’t his next stop in the journey of life. “I made the decision to take a year to try and figure out if I had a chance at making it in the horse world,” he said. “I took that year and traveled a lot, competing a lot all across Europe. I wanted to pursue this as a career and to go as high as I could.”

Traveling the World

Ash’s next step was a move to Germany, where he worked for Paul Schockemöhle Stables — one of the world’s most prominent producers of show jumping and dressage horses. The opportunity presented hundreds of horses and numerous ways to learn the ins and outs of a horse business. This gave Ash an in-depth experience on how to produce young horses, show them and sell them.

After two years of learning, networking with clients and riders from all over the world, Ash was ready to move on. “A friend I worked with in Germany called me and said, ‘Hey, come check out Mexico!’” Ash said.

He flew over and found himself at another large enterprise, La Silla, located in Monterrey, Northern Mexico. For the next 18 months, he continued in the same vein, producing young horses and continuing to learn as much as he could about the industry.

“I enjoyed my time in Mexico, but it’s a tough country to be in,” Ash said. Another friend he worked with in Germany had returned to the United States and invited him to California for a bit of a vacation. “I flew over and spent a couple of weeks and I loved it.” He ended up staying, and that’s when he began learning about American hunter-type horses.

Sensing an opportunity, Ash began looking for horses through his worldwide connections that would suit the hunter market in America. Though never an official business, Ash had some success working with others bringing in the right horses. Perhaps most special of the horses was Chacco Latté, whose quick rise through the 1.40m – 1.45m brought him quite a bit of attention, and the gelding sold quickly. 

Florida Bound

Ash’s series of successes set him up for his next move — Wellington, Florida.

“I felt like I’d end up in Wellington at some point,” Ash said, and he wasn’t wrong. Yet another contact convinced him to visit and showed him around. “That first winter there I spent catch riding, going to three or four different barns a day.” 

All that riding led to a mixed bag of contacts and opportunities, and soon he realized that perhaps riding wasn’t where his future was.

Honing his business skills and taking advantage of the network he’d built, Ash put riding to the side and began a partnership with Andrew Bourns, investing in sales horses. He and Andrew are in business with Blackwatch Farms, whose owner is one of their most supportive investors. 

“Ash is very good with people,” explained Andrew, who has the team’s prospect, Belgian Warmblood stallion Menko VD Wellington, owned by Blackwatch Farms, in his barn. “He relates to a lot of different clients very well, and he’s quite savvy in the horse business.”

Though Ash’s main job is client and investor relations, he jokes that it’s more stressful watching the horses he’s involved with compete than it was to ride himself. “Andrew is a phenomenal rider,” Ash said. “But you get nervous because you want the horses to do well!”

Ash isn’t above stepping in to help out, no matter how down and dirty it gets. He proved his team spirit this past July, when Andrew found himself without any grooms just hours before one of the biggest grand prix events of the year.

“Ash was able to jump in and take the lead with it, and he did as good or better a job,” Andrew said. “He was completely unfazed by it, and between myself, Ash and my girlfriend, we had seven horses. The horses went on and jumped in the grand prix and no one would have noticed anything was wrong!”

No matter where he is in his adventures, you can bet that Ash won’t ever be without horses in his life, even if it’s searching for the next big hunter horse or chartering and brokering services for his equestrian friends and clients. The horses remain an important piece in his busy life, and Ash is thankful for the many opportunities he’s had through his place in the horse world.

“Honestly, it’s hard to put into words what horses have done for me,” Ash said. “If it wasn’t for horses, I ‘d still be in the same town in England I grew up in. I would have gone to college and most likely got a job in some office. But being involved in horses allowed me to explore the world, compete all over the planet. I’ve met so many phenomenal people, and it never would have happened without horses.”

Photos by Melissa Fuller, msfullerphotography.com

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Tagged under: ash atkinson, show jumping, warmbloods, yachting

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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