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Friday, July 16 2021 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Reviving a Farm to a Sport Horse Haven

Aleco Bravo-Greenberg

Rutledge Farm, Middleburg, Virginia

Businessman

How long have you been part of the horse world? 

I’ve been involved with horses my entire life. I rode my first horse, a Shetland pony, at Pegasus/Meadowbrook in Washington, D.C. when I was 6 years old. When I was 16, I had the privilege of training with an up-and-coming young rider, now a lifelong friend and Olympic gold medalist show jumper, Will Simpson. My love for the sport only grew from there when I picked up polo the following year. My late stepfather, Hermen Greenberg, was an avid Thoroughbred owner and breeder. A prior president and long-term board member of the Washington International Horse Show, he was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2009. Plus, my wife, Sandra, is a show hunter.

Aleco Bravo-Greenberg, right, at Rutledge Farm with lifelong friend and Olympic show jumper Will Simpson. Photo by Rebecca Walton

What part do you play in the horse world?

In 2015 I took over my late stepfather’s Thoroughbred racing and breeding operation, known as Rutledge Farm, whose main house was built in 1740. We converted it to a sport horse facility and made a number of improvements, while making sure to preserve the farm’s deeply rooted history. We opened up our property to local hunters and show jumpers, and we have five barns, 35 stalls, indoor and outdoor arenas, a lunging arena, a derby field, a polo field, and 19 paddocks, all located just minutes away from Middleburg’s historic city center. 

Tell us about the Rutledge Farm Sessions. 

Will Simpson visited me at Rutledge Farm in 2017, and shortly after arriving, we decided it would be fun to host a clinic for a few local riders. Everyone had a great time, and that was the day the Rutledge Farm Sessions were born. 

We expanded in 2018, when my friend Mike Smith introduced me to McLain Ward in Wellington, Florida. McLain was planning to be at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show and agreed to host a clinic, as a part of our series, while he was in Upperville. We finished up our first full year of the Rutledge Farm Sessions with Leslie Burr-Howard, Phillip Dutton and Will Simpson. In 2019, we expanded to offer clinics for more disciplines, including dressage and equitation. We hosted Peter Wylde, Will Simpson, Phillip Dutton, Debbie McDonald, Ali Brock, Stacia Madden and Boyd Martin that year. It turned into a really amazing experience, being able to include so many Olympic medalists, top athletes and trainers to teach equestrians of all ages and skill levels. 

This past year was a challenge, as it was for everyone within our community. We adapted the Rutledge Farm Sessions to offer virtual training with Boyd Martin, and we were fortunate enough to be able to safely host two sold-out clinics in the fall with Anne Kursinski and Sandy Ferrell. So many wonderful relationships have made the Rutledge Farm Sessions possible over the years. We are so grateful for all of our partners, like US Equestrian, and our local five-star equestrian resort, Salamander Resort & Spa.

What’s your biggest achievement?

Taking Rutledge Farm to the next level, being able to convert it into a top sport horse facility and putting it on the map internationally. We are very proud that everything Rutledge Farm offers is always and only first-class and at the highest level. When we designed footing for our arenas, we even hired Attwood Equestrian and consulted with Will Simpson, to ensure that our footing would make any Olympic gold medalist happy. It was also fun to revive and use Rutledge Farm’s polo field, which hadn’t been used for over 50 years.

What are your goals for the future?

To play more polo! I also want to refocus my energy on a few consumer-packaged goods that I am a part-owner in.

What’s the best thing about your life?

My wife, my family, my friends, my horses and my dogs. I am astounded by how amazing my friends are, and I feel privileged that they consider me their friend. Having welcomed my son, Maverick Preston James last July, I watch him playing in his nursery and it awes me to consider how many children have called Rutledge Farm their home since 1740, and how different life must have been for them. I hope that they looked around the farm and felt as blessed as do my wife and I.

Best-kept secret about you?

My wife says I’m a great singer. Another fun fact is that my best man, the late Preston Madden, was 43 years my elder and bred the 1987 Kentucky Derby winner Aly Sheba.   

Cover photo:

Aleco, right, talks with Olympic eventer Phillip Dutton during a Rutledge Farm Session.

Photo by Allyson Lagi 

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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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