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Thursday, March 05 2015 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Heart and Soul

Ki-Juan and Matana (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

Ki-Juan and Matana (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

The Musical and Equestrian Pursuits of Ki-Juan Minors

By Katie Navarra

Bermuda native Ki-Juan Minors never passes up an opportunity to grab a microphone or ride a horse. “Horses are my heart and music is my soul,” he said.

A passion for both horses and music started when he was a young child. “I’ve been riding since age 2 and my mom used to sing in a group that’s very popular and famous on the island,” he explained.

He began formal riding lessons at 4 and by 12 was a competitive rider in pony jumper events. At age 16, he also began competing in hunter events. “Back home, riding was a hobby, not a professional thing,” he said.

During a show that featured judges from the United States and Canada, one judge recognized his potential. “The judge said to me, ‘You have a lot of talent. If you want to do this as a career, you need to move abroad,’” he reminisced.

Always up for a challenge, he acted on the judge’s advice and moved to Europe for three months. Once there, he decided Europe was too far from home and instead relocated to Wellington, Florida, where he could ride with the best of the best year-round. “I’m an island boy so the warm weather works for me,” he laughed.

As the judge from his youth predicted, his riding career flourished after leaving his home country. He credits his current horse, Matana, for putting him on the map. “In a short amount of time, she has taken me to a place I didn’t think was possible,” he said. The 10-year-old Oldenburg mare has carried him into the ring to compete against the world’s best riders. “It’s incredible; I’m being recognized by top international riders who I’ve always looked up to!” he said.

Ki-Juan Minors (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

Ki-Juan Minors (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

Ki-Juan had a successful show season in 2014, resulting in several top finishes. A second-place finish in round one of the South Florida Hunter Jumper Association Show in the $10,000 National Derby was the highlight of the season. “I was riding another horse named Beso — it was a really, really big deal for me,” he said. He was also thrilled to finish second behind Peter Wylde in a meter-40 speed classic. “He beat me by tenths of a second. It was close; I almost had him,” he said.

The current season has gotten off to an equally good start with a seventh place finish in Nona Garson’s Grand Prix in late January.

Even with a determined focus on a riding career, he never let his love of music fade. Riders and spectators often hear the rider singing in the barns or as he walks around the show grounds. It was a chance meeting with Molly Ashe Cawley that landed him his first official performance in the United States. “I was belting out the National Anthem and when it came to the last line, I sang ‘land of the free and home of the braves,’” he recounted.

Molly informed him the last word is brave, not braves, and promptly arranged for him to sing the National Anthem at the horse show they were attending. “It’s become a long-standing joke between us, whenever she sees me she reminds me of my mistake,” he chuckled.

Since then he has performed the National Anthem at the Trump International, the Hampton Classic, the Dover International Speed Way NASCAR race and numerous charity events.

Ki-Juan singing the National Anthem at the Trump Invitational. (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

Ki-Juan singing the National Anthem at the Trump Invitational. (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

Despite his natural talent and comfort on the stage, he hasn’t had formal voice training.

“My mom was in a well-known group, and she always had my sister and me singing,” he said. The family would practice harmonizing along with songs playing on the radio.

He and his sister formed a group and together they entered competitions, sang at weddings and even opened for Patti LaBelle when she came to Bermuda in 2001.

“Whitney Houston was my mom’s favorite singer. When she sang the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, it stuck in my head and it’s something I’ve always wanted to have the opportunity to do,” he said.

Ki-Juan, a 2013 Sidelines Magazine Hot Horsemen, with his wife Courtney at the Trump Invitational. (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

Ki-Juan, a 2013 Sidelines Magazine Hot Horsemen, with his wife Courtney at the Trump Invitational. (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

Though he hasn’t been invited to sing at the Super Bowl just yet, his singing has impressed many.

In 2008 he was crowned the EQUUS Equestrian Idol. The event, hosted in support of The Equus Foundation, was a fundraiser to help the foundation raise public awareness of the valuable role horses play in modern society. Following the event, Robert Dover, the U.S. Dressage Team chef d’equipe, encouraged Ki-Juan to pursue a career in singing. “He said to me, ‘I don’t know why you ride horses. You should be a mega-star and then come back and buy horses,” Ki-Juan said.

Since then he devotes as much time to practicing his vocals as he does to riding. In January 2015, Robert Dover called to personally invite Ki-Juan to participate in the third annual Equestrians Got Talent, an East Coast fundraiser to benefit USEF High Performance Dressage programs through the USET Foundation.

Ki-Juan in the third annual Equestrians Got Talent singing competition. (Photo by Phelps Media Group)

Ki-Juan in the third annual Equestrians Got Talent singing competition. (Photo by Phelps Media Group)

“Robert was one of my first supporters; when he called and asked if I’d participate and explained it was a charity event, it was an easy decision for me,” he said. His participation in the event was last minute, leaving little time to prepare. Ki showed up, did a sound check and wowed the crowd with his incredible performances of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” and Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man.”

Celebrity judges, including Mason Phelps Jr., founder and president of Phelps Media Group; Tim Dutta, CEO of The Dutta Corporation; and Lisa Wilcox, Grand Prix dressage competitor and Olympic medalist, were awestruck by his rendition of the song.

At the end of his performance, Lisa commented, “Ki-Juan, you are killing me softly!” Once again the judges and many spectators even suggested that the professional rider — also an ambassador for Tuff Rider — take advantage of his amazing musical gifts and make a career shift.

As the audition winner, he earned a $500 prize sponsored by PSdressage.com and a spot in the lineup for the March 15 finale at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival show grounds, where he’ll square off against the other weekly winners for a shot at the $5,000 grand prize sponsored by Robert Ross, P.A., Luxury Equestrian Realtor for Keller Williams.

Earning recognition for both his musical and riding talents is bringing him closer to his goals. “My dream has always been to represent my country,” he explained. His sights are set on competing in at least one of the international competitions, be it the Central American and Caribbean Games, the Pan American Games, the World Equestrian Games or the Olympics.

“It was my grandmother’s last request, so for her, I’ll do whatever I can to take my country to the next level,” he said.

Ki-Juan at the Winter Equestrian Festival with Matana. (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

Ki-Juan at the Winter Equestrian Festival with Matana. (Photo courtesy of Ki-Juan Minors)

He’ll continue to campaign Matana until the mare, who is currently for sale, is sold. “I plan to compete her until we have to part ways. Hopefully, I’ll pick up other rides too,” he said.

His goals for his singing career are equally impressive. If given the opportunity, he plans on taking it to the next level. “If I get a record label, I’m signing on the dotted line,” he emphasized.

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Tagged under: bermuda, Equestrians Got Talent, EQUUS Equestrian Idol, Katie Navarra, Ki-Juan Minors, Matana, The Trump Invitational

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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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 🦄

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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! 🦄
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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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