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Saturday, May 15 2021 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Take the Opportunity to Ride as Many Horses as Possible 

By Nicki Shahinian-Simpson 

Nicki Shahinian-Simpson had a successful career as a junior rider in the East, where she won both the ASPCA Maclay National Championship and the U.S. Medal Championship. After moving to the West Coast Nicki continued to place well in major Grand Prix events and has competed in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Europe with major wins and placings, culminating in nearly 35 career Grand Prix victories thus far. Some of her career highlights include: winning the U.S. Trials for the 2010 World Equestrian Games; being a member of the U.S. Team at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain; being short-listed for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team; and receiving a Leading Rider Award at Spruce Meadows in Canada. Throughout her career, Nicki has competed in seven FEI World Cup Finals.

Nicki currently offers personalized training and care from the barn to the ring through her business, Riffle Hitch LLC, while competing at the highest level herself. Riding Silver Raven Farms’ Akuna Mattata, Nicki rode to top finishes throughout 2020, placing in nearly two-thirds of the classes they competed in and winning the 2* Welcome in Split Rock and 3* Grand Prix in Tryon.

How did you adapt to different horses so quickly as a young catch-rider?

What I learned is that you have to really adapt at that moment you get on a horse for the first time — you meet them at the ring, get on, jump a few jumps to figure them out a little bit and then go show, so there isn’t time to transform them into your style. A lot of these horses were sale horses or needed points to qualify for their owners, so there was a lot of pressure. What I took most out of that experience is that it’s our job to get on and help a horse perform at their best, and I definitely worked to transform more to what they needed than the other way around. That simple realization was really beneficial growing up, and still to this day I’m more apt to adjust to a horse rather than have the horse adjust to me.

How have you applied the skills you learned as a catch-rider into your career as a trainer?

I think my experiences go a little bit hand in hand with teaching and training. My students may know their horse well but every time you go in the ring it’s a new venture, a new class, a new day — you’re riding an unpredictable animal, so the idea is to ride the horse that you have that day, that class, that moment. I find myself saying that often. That also brings it back to the basics: When students get nervous or dwell on what happened three classes ago, I remind them to just stay present and ride the horse that they have today. Always rely on your basics — your feel, your ride and your horse. That goes for all the way around the course: Things change and you have to know what’s happening under you in order to get to the jump.

What would you say to someone without a lot of money looking to get their foot in the door?

I am the most comfortable on a horse, and it was that way from day one. That helped a lot in developing my natural talent. I had horses growing up but not a lot of money, so I mainly did catch riding although I did have my junior hunter, Ghostbuster. He either won or was misbehaving, so I think my drive, determination and commitment really helped to get me noticed. Emerson Burr gave me my very first catch ride on a pony, which was quite special. Shortly after, Leslie Howard saw me competing at Fairfield Hunt Club where she trained, and talked to my mom about having me go under her wing, and that’s really how it all started.

I went on to catch ride for many amazing people in the industry and was fortunate enough to earn the title of “The Catch Riding Kid” for all of my accomplishments. I ended up getting the opportunity to ride something each year at indoors, where I won both the Maclay and Medal in Harrisburg, in addition to retiring the Best Child Rider trophy several times. I had a very fortunate Junior career and I’m very thankful for it and all the people that trusted me to do so.

To be able to have the opportunity to ride so many different horses — whether they’re difficult or easy or hot or cold or big, small — I think that was always my draw to the horses and the sport. It really comes back to the horses — what you’re doing and the animals you’re dealing with. It has always been very special to me.

Photo:

Nicki Shahinian-Simpson

Photo by Four Oaks Creative

Double D Trailers Info

Tagged under: catch riding, hunter-jumper

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
AI only and EVA negative
Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

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 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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