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5
Tuesday, February 19 2019 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Sam & Libby Edelman: From Horseshoes to Horses and Shoes

Sam and Libby with their Jack Russell Terrier Squeex

By Britney Grover

Portraits by Shawna Simmons

There’s not much about Sam and Libby Edelman that’s ordinary, from their dynamic personalities to their 40-year partnership in marriage and business. They’ve been through highs like the creation of the timeless and iconic Sam & Libby bow ballet flat and lows like suffering a life-altering injury. Through it all, their relationship, charisma and business aptitude have not just endured but blossomed — as has their passion for horses.

Shoes and horseshoes: the Sam Edelman “Winona” bootie available at samedelman.com

“I think it’s rare — very rare,” Sam said about the opportunity to work with Libby so closely in both life and business. “We’ve found a wonderful balance in everything we do. When Libby rode horses she loved showing, and I loved developing show jumpers for sale purposes, so we had different interests. We’d always get together on Sundays for the grand prix and enjoy it together. It’s the same in business: I’m motivated by commerce and Libby is driven by people and by styling, so it’s very complementary.”

Starting Out

Now equal counterparts of one cohesive unit, Sam and Libby seem to have been meant for each other. Both took riding lessons as children — at the same stable in eastern Connecticut, they realized many years later. Horses became a major part of Sam’s life, as did fashion. Specifically, shoes. “I started my career alongside my late father with a company called Horseshoes, taking the equestrian influence and applying it to fashion — we thought equestrian fashion was a trend that was coming,” he said. “Horseshoes had little paddock boots and equestrian-inspired details just as Ralph Lauren was starting. We immediately got picked up by Ralph Lauren, and that set the stage for everything that I’ve done in fashion.”

It also set the stage for meeting Libby: she was working for Seventeen magazine and reporting on Horseshoes. There, she fell in love with shoes — and with Sam, which led to picking up riding, foxhunting and showing again.

Sam Edelman “Felicia” ballet flats

After co-founding Kenneth Cole Productions and creating the shoe division at Esprit, Sam decided he and Libby would create their own footwear brand. They launched Sam & Libby in 1987 and found instant success with their bow ballet flats, selling over 7 million pairs and setting a trend that has never gone out of style. Sam & Libby was sold in 1996 and its creators chose to focus on their family — and on horses. They moved to Palm Beach in 1999, close to their 20-acre S&L Farms in Wellington, and Sam turned to breeding, training, buying and selling horses full time.

Then in 2001, another challenge faced the Edelmans: While riding near their Wellington farm, an alligator spooked Sam’s horse and Sam was thrown. He woke up in the hospital with his leg badly broken. Although it took two years to get back in the saddle, he was able to turn tragedy into opportunity. While Sam was recovering, he noticed a trend toward fashionable yet affordable clothing in magazines, without equally affordable and trendy shoes. In 2004, Sam and Libby launched the Sam Edelman brand creating high-quality and trend-on footwear at an attainable price.

Huge Success

Once again, Sam and Libby found success in the fashion industry. In 2010, Caleres (called Brown Shoe Company at that time), an American footwear company that owns and operates a large global footwear portfolio, acquired the Sam Edelman brand and helped Sam reach new heights — even buying back the Sam & Libby label in 2012. Now, the Sam Edelman brand has hundreds of millions of dollars in sales on the books and is only growing.

Libby, in Connecticut, wearing a Sam Edelman tweed jacket (available at Nordstrom.com), floral ruched dress, and “Hilty” bootie  (available at samedelman.com)  

The brand expanded into lifestyle in 2017 with the addition of denim, dresses and outerwear under Sam and Libby’s creative direction. With Sam acting as the driving force behind the business with the support of Caleres, Sam Edelman expanded internationally and opened four shops within Lane Crawford in China. “Moving into China was a big accomplishment for Sam Edelman shoes,” Sam said. “We also moved into London, so it was a really gratifying year.”

It was a good year for S&L Farms as well, which Sam and Libby have continued to operate for the last 40 years. Now, they primarily operate out of Belgium developing young show jumpers. In 2018, S&L sold several grand prix horses including S&L Carlos Z (in partnership with Tom Tisbo), as well as having success with other horses they owned: In April 2018, S&L Just a Cobbler won the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with Liza Boyd riding at the Winter Equestrian Festival. “We have our personal horses, some trail horses, at our farm in Sherman, Connecticut,” Sam said. “Libby is retired from riding; she’s taken up yoga and other pastimes. I continue to participate in the development and sales of hunters and jumpers today and enjoy trail riding with our neighbors.”

Sam Edelman “Penny” riding boots in whiskey and black leather

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, Sam and Libby’s main objective is to continue growing the success of the Sam Edelman brand, while finding ways to give back. “We have a very successful fashion business, and we’ve had a marvelously successful year with our show jumpers,” Sam said. “The goal for the future is to continue on, but maybe have a little better balance in life — to find more philanthropic opportunities for our involvement both in the equine and fashion businesses.”

This past December, on behalf of Caleres, the couple and their son Jesse Edelman co-chaired the Two Ten Footwear Foundation gala – the largest philanthropic event in the fashion footwear business. “Together, as a family and a company, we set a record in the amount of funds raised and completely changed the aura, spirit and approach to philanthropy within our industry,” Sam said.

No matter what comes for Sam and Libby, some things seem certain: They’ll continue to find success, they’ll do it together and they’ll do it with horses.

“Horses are a part of my life, and they’ve been part of my life since I was 7 years old,” Sam said. “You know, it’s like Winston Churchill said: ‘There’s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.’”

For more information, visit samedelman.com

Photos by Shawna Simmons, www.sasequinephotography.com

Sam Edelman “Loraine” bit loafer

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Tagged under: britney grover, s&l, sam and libby, sam edelman, shawna simmons, shoes

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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
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

#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
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
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