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Friday, October 06 2023 / Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature

Zachary Brandt: Keeping His Eyes on the Future

By Jenna Young

Portraits by Melissa Fuller

Hard work, determination, an elite-level mindset and balance: These attributes are what Zachary Brandt credits his successes to in the equine world. After a long journey, Zach, aboard Direct Advance, sailed to the finish line at the CCI5*-L at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Along with completing this elite-level competition, Zach also earned the James C. Wofford “On the Rise” Memorial Trophy. Finally, having completed his goal of a five-star finish, Zach is ready to look toward his future goals. These goals had to start somewhere, and like most equestrians, for Zach it started with a lesson.

As a young child growing up in California, Zach had no interest in horses. His mom, on the other hand, loved horses and took lessons at an eventing barn. “I played baseball, basketball and football; basically, anything but horses. I had no interest in horses, but my mom would drag me to the barn with her every day,” Zach said. “Eventually, I sort of caved and agreed to a lesson.” This first lesson turned into a lifetime love for horses and eventing as a sport.

After his first lesson at age 11, Zach continued to grow as a rider. At 13, he competed in his first USEA-recognized show. “I grew up eventing and haven’t done anything else,” Zach said. “I was immediately drawn to cross-country, and while I do show jumping along with eventing, I can’t imagine giving up cross-country. I’ve loved this sport since I jumped my first jump.”

A Blossoming Career

Throughout his Junior career, Zach worked and rode with Gina Miles. “My Junior career had its ups and downs,” Zach said. “While I had a bit of competitive success and got a taste of the upper levels, it wasn’t until Gina helped me find my mare, Cavallino Cocktail, also known as Skotty, that my upper-level career really kickstarted.”

Zach and Skotty were very successful during the early years of their partnership. In 2012, the pair placed second at the Galway Downs CCI4*-L. In 2012, they competed in the Twin Rivers CCI4*-S and Jersey Fresh CCI4*-L, placing second and 10th, respectively. Their prosperity at the four-star level indicated that Zach and Skotty were ready for the five-star level.

To make this dream a possibility, Zach had a decision to make: move east and take his eventing career to the next level or stay in California and continue pursuing a college degree. Zach’s decision ended up being fairly easy for him to make. “I figured at the time that school is always there, and I could go back,” Zach said. “But I had a sound four-star horse, and those don’t come around very often. So, I figured I would give it a shot and move east. I ended up building a life for myself.”

When Zach moved east, he made his home base with Jon Holling in Ocala, Florida. “He’s been a true friend to me and become a mentor over the years,” Zach said. “Without Jon, I would not be where I am in my riding or my career so far.” When Zach moved east, he took Skotty with him, hoping for the chance at a five-star.

In 2014, Zach entered the CCI5*-L at Land Rover with Skotty. Unfortunately for the pair, Skotty suffered an injury that prevented her from competing that year. Coming back strong from the injury, Zach and Skotty entered the five-star at Land Rover again in 2015. Luck was not on the pair’s side this go around either—during their last practice run before the event, Skotty fell going into a water combo. “Since then, it’s taken a long time to get back in striking distance of a five-star,” Zach said. After having to scratch in 2015, Zach focused on bringing up some of his younger horses, waiting for the one that would make him a five-star rider.

A New Partnership

In 2016, Zach got a horse named Direct Advance. Little did he know that this horse would change the trajectory of his career. Direct Advance, better known as Rosco, came to Zach when he was a 4-year-old. Zach has worked with Rosco up the levels of eventing. “He’s probably been one of the most difficult horses I’ve ever had to produce and ride,” Zach said. “But he is such an incredible athlete, brave and talented.” Competing in plenty of events up to the four-star level with Rosco, Zach and his team decided to give the five-star level another shot.

The first five-star Zach entered with Rosco was the Maryland 5-Star at Fair Hill in 2022. Everything was going well for the pair after dressage and Zach and Rosco were breezing through the cross-country course when they got held up. Rosco got a sudden nosebleed and Zach decided to retire. Though this competition didn’t go as planned, Zach kept his eyes toward Land Rover in 2023.

It’s hard to treat Land Rover like a normal competition. Everything that the riders have been working toward depends on one weekend where anything could happen. Some riders, like Zach, work for years to get to ride at Land Rover. “Getting to Kentucky was so special,” Zach said. “But the whole time I was there, I tried to treat it like any other event. At the end of the day, it is just like any other event.” Being grounded with this knowledge, Zach was able to go into the weekend strong and determined.

Crossing the finish line at Land Rover was a monumental moment for Zach, who was thrilled to win an additional award as well. “I was truly honored to have received the inaugural James C. Wofford ‘On the Rise’ Memorial Trophy,” Zach said. “I had taken a clinic with Jimmy years ago and it was one of the coolest learning experiences I’d ever had. Jimmy was a legend, a true ambassador of the sport and a world-class horseman. To have the privilege of winning that award was awesome!”

The sport of eventing is just as mentally tough as it is physically tough and horse-and-rider pairs must have complete trust in one another, especially when competing at the five-star level. “It’s an incredible feeling, being able to put your trust in a horse that you’ve worked with and produced for years,” Zach said. “I’ve also learned over the years that more important than almost anything is your mental game.” Zach works hard every day to keep up his and his horse’s physical and mental health.

Changes Ahead

Zach has a wonderful team behind him that has helped him through the ups and downs of his career, and one of the team members is his wife, Audrie. “I met my wife years ago when she worked for Leslie Law and I was riding with him,” Zach said. “We’ve been together for almost five years and got married last May. We have the two best dogs in the world and three awesome cats.”

While Zach loves competing and plans to continue doing so, he’s also involved with training young horses with Audrie. The couple runs a business together in Morriston, Florida, at their Cavallino Farm named after Skotty, Zach’s most influential horse. “We have horses in training, competition horses and horses for sale. I also teach lessons and clinics,” Zach said.

Outside of the barn, Zach enjoys spending time with his wife and their close family and friends. “My goals over the next few years are to build my string of horses and really focus on my competitive goals, while still growing our business,” Zach said. “In 10 years, I’d like to think I’ll be in my prime and achieving the competitive success I work so hard for every day. Hopefully, Audrie and I will be settled down and have a kid or two.”

That week in Kentucky will be one Zach will forever remember. However, Zach won’t be focusing on his accomplishments at Land Rover. “While I’m proud of all my competitive accomplishments and successes so far, I’m always hungry to be better, to work hard and up my game,” Zach explained. “Sometimes it’s nice to look back on past accomplishments, but I tend to keep my eyes looking toward the future and put all my focus toward how to be better.”

 

 

Follow Zach on Instagram @zachbrandtequestrian

Photos by Melissa Fuller, melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com

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Tagged under: CCI5*-L, Jersey Fresh CCI4*-L, Maryland 5 Star, melissa fuller, Zachary Brandt

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Hot horseman takeover day 6️⃣!!! 🔥Jorge Va Hot horseman takeover day 6️⃣!!!

🔥Jorge Vasquez🔥
Between his polo career—from groom to coach—and a love of travel, Jorge Vasquez has been to 60 countries, all seven continents, all 50 states and seen all seven wonders of the world—some of them twice. “I’ve been to China, Egypt, India, Dominican Republic, Argentina, a lot of places to play polo,” Jorge said. “I wish travel was my full-time job!”
Jorge is originally from Santiago, Chile, where his dad was a racehorse trainer and his uncle played polo. “I was too cool for school,” Jorge joked, “So I ended up having to do polo.” But Jorge isn’t complaining. There are “a million things” he loves about polo. “Obviously the 
adrenaline, and then the horses—the horses are very special,” he said. “They’re very well trained, and there’s something really special about a polo pony that can read your body and take you wherever you want to go—most of the time without asking any questions!”
Now living in Lexington, Kentucky, Jorge coaches the University of Kentucky polo team, is the U.S. Polo Association midstates circuit governor and is the polo manager at Gainesway Farm, 
where he also recently became the official tour guide. “I stay busy when I’m at home—that’s why I travel!” Jorge laughed, a common occurrence with his easygoing personality. “I like to think I’ve lived a pretty good life, and I get rejuvenated by teaching the game and teaching 
young horses how to play polo. That’s my favorite thing about the sport—teaching horses to play.”

With over 30 years in the industry, Jorge’s biggest takeaway from horses is, “The nicer you 
ask, the easier you’ll get results.” With all his experience, Jorge hopes to pass on the gifts of patience and understanding to those within his sphere of influence. “And that if you pay it forward long enough,” he added, “it will eventually pay you back.”
📸Photo by Kacy Brown
Hot horseman takeover day 5️⃣!!! 🔥Jet Rusi Hot horseman takeover day 5️⃣!!!

🔥Jet Rusidovski🔥
It wasn’t horses that took Jet Rusidovski from his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to where he lives now in Austin, Texas, in 2008. It was the weather. “I came down to visit family down here and it was negative 30 degrees in Wisconsin and it was 60 degrees here, and that was the end of it,” Jet said.

He grew up braving the cold on horseback in Wisconsin, riding and showing hunter-
jumpers from the time he was 4 all through his Junior career. “When adult life started, I had to juggle adult life and horses, and then it became my profession,” he said. Jet now works for Kelly Lorek at Southern Way Farm, training both horses and clients and traveling to shows all over the country. “Our program has been growing by leaps and bounds in the last year, and that says we’re doing something right!”

Jet hopes his experience as part of a successful program will help instill in others that everyone deserves a chance. “There were definitely times in my career I was not given a chance, and Kelly is the one who really gave me that chance,” Jet shared. “She didn’t judge me for mistakes I made in the past, she didn’t hold anything against me—she saw that I had the potential and she gave me the chance to actually show it. She gave the right coaching and the right guidance to get me where I am today, and I feel I’m in a really great place with unlimited opportunities at this point in my career.” When not traveling to shows, Jet travels to Wisconsin to visit family (weather permitting, of course) and would love to revisit childhood vacation spots in Greece and Europe, or check out the weather in Hawaii. He also prioritizes catching up with friends outside of the horse world. “If people see me around at a horse show, don’t be afraid to say hi!” he said. 
“Sometimes I’m so concentrated it looks like I want nothing to do with anyone; I’m actually just deep in thought or something. But I love to say hi to everybody.”
📸Photo by Kristie Scholten
Day 4️⃣ of our hot horseman takeover! 🔥Jo Day 4️⃣ of our hot horseman takeover! 
🔥Jonathan Cohen🔥
Most riders aren’t born into professional equestrian families; some lucky ones, like Jonathan Cohen, end up spending so much time at the barn they are practically adopted into them. 
Jonathan fell in love with horses at a friend’s birthday party while he was growing up in downtown Chicago, Illinois. At 16, he began riding with Alex Jayne—and now works for Alex’s Our Day Farm. “I’m sandwiched right between his three children in terms of age, so apart from missing their earliest years, we’ve basically grown up together,” Jonathan said. “I’m incredibly fortunate to work for a family that treats me like family.”
Jonathan’s title is barn manager. “But the job description is very loose—that’s what keeps it interesting,” he said. After he gets done riding in the morning, he starts on whatever needs to be done around the farm—which perfectly suits his love of “projects.” Outside of work and horses, Jonathan puts that passion for building into home renovation; when he’s completely renovated one home, he sells it and moves on to the next. “I love building stuff, especially when it’s something that meets a very specific need and can’t just be bought,” he said. “I’ll see things I can make better, I start working on the idea in my head, and more often than not I end up building it.”

Our Day Farm splits its time between Elgin, Illinois, and Wellington, Florida. When in Illinois, Jonathan spends much of his time building jumps. “I like to replicate some of the more interesting things we see over the course of the season, as well as anything our horses might need to practice,” he said. Clearly, Jonathan loves what he does. “I’m super lucky that when I wake up every day, I don’t have to go to work. I just go to the barn. It’s my job, and it’s definitely a lot of work most days, but really I’m just going to the barn like any other day.”
📸Photo by Melissa Fuller
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