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Monday, April 25 2016 / Published in Sidelines Feature

From Summer Camps to the Step by Step Foundation — Cuqui Hazoury is Helping on Horseback

Cuqui in her Step by Step Foundation jacket. Photo by Isabel J. Kurek

Cuqui in her Step by Step Foundation jacket.
Photo by Isabel J. Kurek

By Sydney Masters Durieux

Portraits and Photographs by Isabel Kurek

When Lizbeth Marie Hazoury, aka Cuqui, makes up her mind to do something, there’s no stopping her. The 21-year-old rider from the Dominican Republic began her equestrian endeavors at age 8. She quickly excelled and was competing in the .80m Pony Jumpers in no time. She had a few detours along the way when she focused on her studies, tried other sports and took time away from training to assist others, but she’s now firmly on course and setting a winning pace.

“My dad, who’s not a horseman, always told me and my sibling that we have to try every sport before saying we don’t like it,” she recalled. “When we were younger he took us to dance classes, soccer and other sports but I decided to stay with the horses.”

Today Cuqui has found her stride and is successfully competing in the Amateur Owner Jumpers and Under 25 Grand Prix, all while championing the Step by Step Foundation charity in competition and helping to raise funds and awareness for those in need.

Helping Liliane Stransky’s Florida-based charity isn’t the first time that Cuqui has jumped on board to offer her aid. “I started a summer camp by myself when I was 16 in the Dominican Republic,” she said with a smile. “I wanted to encourage kids my age to get involved and to help others. I used to visit an orphanage and spent time with the kids there and decided to do this camp during the summer since I was free. Nearly 70 kids, up to the age of 15, attended the summer camp. There was pool time, dance class, art classes and of course, horseback riding.”

Cuqui and Cassino Photo by Isabel J. Kurek

Cuqui and Cassino
Photo by Isabel J. Kurek

Finding Her Passion
“When I first started competing, I had a couple of ponies. My favorite was named Cappuccino. I used to win everything on him. He was a tiny Paint and he just knew his job. He wouldn’t hesitate to help me out no matter what and he was one reason I became a competitive rider. We don’t have hunters or equitation in the Dominican Republic. Now that I’m in the United States, I realize how important it is for a rider’s formation but I still find the jumpers more exciting.”

During the early part of her career, Cuqui remained close to home, honing her skills in the saddle, but made her U.S. debut at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in 2008. “While I was in high school, I had two horses that stayed at WEF while I flew back and forth,” remembered Cuqui. Her senior year, she decided to take a break from riding. “Many students decide to go to college in the U.S. or Canada and they tend to drop riding.”

She first attended college in Boston but didn’t return to show jumping until her sophomore year. “In the beginning, I went back and forth from Boston and Wellington during WEF, but it was too crazy. I realized I wasn’t fully committed to school or riding and so I decided to move near where my horses were based most of the time,” she said, adding that she enrolled in nearby Lynn University and began to focus on her show career in earnest. At the moment she lives in Wellington but travels during the year. “Since I’ve graduated, I can dedicate more time to riding,” she said.

Initially Cuqui trained with Andres Rodriguez, whose tragic death at the beginning of this year’s WEF devastated the equestrian community. “I admired him more than anyone. No matter how many victories he had, he’d always stay humble and work to keep improving,” Cuqui said. “Andres came from a country where riding is not a popular sport and he worked his way up to compete against the top riders in the world. He knew everything about the sport: how hard it hits you at times and how hard you have to work to overcome the barriers. No matter what, he always came out of the ring with a smile on his face and knowing next time it would be better.”

In 2014, when Andres went to Europe, he recommended Cuqui train with Brian Walker. In October of that same year, Cuqui was paired with a new horse, Cassino, who would become her favorite. “Once I got him, I started doing the 1.45m within the month. I remember during WEF last year when I was first in the High Amateur Owners with Cassino, some people didn’t believe I was able to do the height since I was just getting back into the ring. It was nice to prove them wrong! When someone tells me that I’m not able to do something, it just makes me work harder to get it. Since then we’ve been in Wellington, Kentucky, Tryon and Europe.”

Marky Bluman, who rides for Liliane Stransky’s Mission Farm, Cassino, Cuqui and Liliane, the founder of the Step by Step Foundation.  Photo by Isabel J. Kurek

Marky Bluman, who rides for Liliane Stransky’s Mission Farm, Cassino, Cuqui and Liliane, the founder of the Step by Step Foundation.
Photo by Isabel J. Kurek

Riding for a Cause
It was during college that Cuqui met Daniela Stransky, who was also a student at Lynn University and competed in the same show divisions. “I knew who Daniela was, but we became really close friends recently,” she said. “I’d always see her wearing her Step by Step jacket and learned about what she was doing. I found it interesting, that riding could be a way of helping others. I talked to her mom, Lily, about what she was doing and about the team of riders who are lending their support and I didn’t hesitate to join.”

Since then, Cuqui has been sporting her own Step by Step jacket and riding to ribbons on behalf of the charity. “I have two horses now and they have totally different personalities. Cassino is a big and slow horse with a lot of power and Chablis is small with more blood. I think they’re really different and they both help my riding in different ways.

While she’s not from an equestrian family, horses seem to have become a mainstay in their lives. “After being around horses for so long with me, my father started an equestrian community back home, Los Establos at Cap Cana. This is a way to promote the sport in Latin America and the Caribbean and hopefully bring top international shows to that area.

“Next year, I’d like to make the team for the Bolivarian Games and if we qualify, then go to the Central American Games, the Pan Ams and the Olympics!” she explained of her equestrian goals.

The one thing that won’t change is her efforts on behalf of others. “I love getting involved and making a difference,” she said. “Coming from a Third World country, I know how important this is, giving a helping hand.”

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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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