SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
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.

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: bermuda, Equestrians Got Talent, EQUUS Equestrian Idol, Katie Navarra, Ki-Juan Minors, Matana, The Trump Invitational

What you can read next

Cynthia Hampton: Getting Young Horses on Course
Devon Tresan: Cast Into a Busy Role
My Ride with the Law (at Rolex!)

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Unbridled with Joe Norick! 🐎 Joe Norick stays Unbridled with Joe Norick! 🐎 Joe Norick stays busy with not one but two full-time jobs with companies that span the nation. The first is as a senior vice president for equine, farm and ranch clients with Alliant in West Palm Beach; the second, which he took on in October of 2022, is as the chief customer officer for HITS Shows. But Joe doesn’t care about titles. “I more consider myself the architect of what we’re creating here in the new HITS,” he said. Along with CEO Peter Englehart, Joe oversees all HITS Shows across the country—which is why he says lately it feels as though his home base has been American Airlines, traveling to each of the six unique HITS venues. “I love the fact that in Ocala we have so many beautiful paddocks, and over 500 acres that you can ride on and the horse can be a horse, and a horseman can be a horseman,” Joe said. “I love the beauty and charm that we have at our Chicago facility. I love the family aspect of Vermont. I love the high level of competition we have at both Del Mar and Saugerties, which we now call HITS Hudson Valley because of the amazing Hudson Valley. I love the tradition that we have in Virginia at our Culpepper facility. They all have something special.” Get to know Joe in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine! and never miss an unbridled by subscribing for just $14.95 A YEAR! Link in bio! 📸Photo by ESI
Growing up, Zayna Rizvi put fashion ahead of funct Growing up, Zayna Rizvi put fashion ahead of function when it came to her riding attire. “I would only ride my first pony, Buttons, in a princess outfit. I refused to wear regular riding clothes and only wanted to ride in my tutu,” she said. The 2021 Maclay Finals winner has since shed her tutu and these days can be found sporting breeches and boots as she tackles the jumper ring in the High Juniors, U25 series, the FEI classes in the two-star and three-star divisions and occasionally makes her way back into some equitation classes. Immersed in the equestrian life from the start, Zayna can be found, if she isn’t doing schoolwork, in the barn trying to refine her riding as she aims to move up the ranks in international competitions. To read more about Zayna head on over to our website. Link in bio! 📸Portraits by Melissa Fuller
Check out Biostar US for innovative supplements to Check out Biostar US for innovative supplements to support your horse’s gut health! With specific plants found in old English hedgerows, Hedgerow GI supports GI tract homeostasis, microbes, immune cells, metabolites, and the tight junctions of the gut. This exclusive blend provides dimensional support for gut homeostasis. ⏩Link: https://www.biostarus.com/products/hedgerow-gi #biostarus #wholefoodforhorses #horses #equestrians #horsecare #equinehealth #hedgerowgi #hedgerows #horseguthealth #horsesupplements
Olivia Williams, who started her riding career in Olivia Williams, who started her riding career in a town with a population of less than 200 people, has now competed at some of the top equestrian destinations all over the country. A sophomore in college, she grew up in San Francisco where she spent the majority of her career riding with Holly and Elizabeth “Lumpy” Kilham at Kilham farms in Nicasio, California. She competed up and down the West Coast, showing everywhere from Desert International Horse Park to the Silicon Valley Equestrian Festival. While living in San Francisco, she got the ride on Irocco Blue S, barn name Rocco. Little did she know at the time that she and the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood would travel the country together. Olivia and Rocco’s partnership has grown over the years, and she said that no matter where her career takes her, she can’t envision going into the ring without him. When they first met, Rocco and Olivia were both a little green and still learning the ropes of the 1.40m classes.But just a few years after Olivia starting riding Rocco, they now boast an impressive resume together, including competing in the North American Youth Championships (NAYC) and finishing 10th in the Prix des States. At the NAYC, Olivia’s team finished with a bronze medal, and she finished in sixth place individually. After the championships, Olivia had a lot of decisions to make. She graduated from high school in 2022 and had to decide between two very different life paths: a career in horses or a college education. She managed to find a path that has worked for her throughout her freshman year. While she moved away from home to go to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, Rocco moved to Florida to live with Andrew and Alex Welles. Every other week, Olivia flies to Florida to compete her horse. Dying to read more??? Head on over to our website. Link in bio! 📸Photos by Melissa Fuller, melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com #Sidelines #sidelines2023 #sidelinesmagazine #magazine #forhorsepeople #abouthorsepeople
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • SALLY EDELMAN SLATER

    Specializing in Luxury & Equestrian Properties

    Servicing Westchester, Duchess and Putnam Counties in New York and Fairfield County in Connecticut Douglas Elliman Real Estate 914-584-0137/sally.slater@elliman.com www.elliman.com/newyork/associate/612-a-563-w2295/sally-slater

    [Read more]

  • BED & BARN FARMS
    Lodging/Overnight Stabling Forest City, NC/Tryon Area 828-248-4463 www.bedandbarnnc.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • Woodside Recognizes the Best in the West
  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
  • Longines Global Champions Tour of New York Returns to Governors Island

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Conor Swail Was the Best Bet in $15,000 CSI2* Markel Insurance Welcome at San Juan Capistrano International
  • Lillie Keenan Leads in CHF68,000 South Coast Plaza Welcome Speed at San Juan Capistrano International CSIO5*
  • McLain Ward Wins CSIO5* Longines Grand Prix at San Juan Capistrano International

Category

Recent Posts

  • Zayna Rizvi: Horses from Family to Finals

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...
  • Samantha Wolfram: Finding Success in America and Overseas

    By Juliana Chapman Portraits by Kirsten Hannah ...
  • Cedar Potts-Warner: At Liberty and Beyond

    Story and Portraits by Jennifer DeMaro   P...
  • Jordan Melfi: Turning a Secret Horse Life Into a Career

    By Veronica Green-Gott Portraits by Shelly Cart...
  • Olivia Williams: From University of Notre Dame to European Dreamin’

    By Veronica Green-Gott Portraits by Melissa Ful...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!