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Wednesday, March 08 2017 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Jennifer Sims: Equestrian Ambassador, Riding Double and Fashionista

Jennifer Sims, who recently became a U.S. Equestrian Ambassador for the USEF, is wearing Litex For Riders Swarovski crystallized show shirt and matching Litex For Riders show jacket, Madewell black skinny jeans and heels by BCBG.
Photo by Kristin Lee

By Susan Friedland-Smith

Equestrian fashion influencer Jennifer Sims — known in the Instagram world as @styledequestrian — bought her first horse with money earned modeling Levis. In addition to her Instagram presence, the former DJ and mother of a budding horse girl is a model for numerous equestrian brands. Along with her horse, Rocket, they showcase the latest trends from life at the barn to life in the show ring. A Los Angeles resident, Jennifer will be making her stunt double debut this year in the upcoming Katherine Heigl movie “Unforgettable.” She is also teaming up with the United States Equestrian Federation as a U.S. Equestrian Ambassador where she will promote fashion on social media and in print. Jennifer met with Sidelines’ writer Susan Friedland-Smith during the Las Vegas National Horse Show and shared her story.

Jennifer in an EQUO champagne and horses pullover, Voe blue bomber jacket and Voe Rein Clutch, Madewell boyfriend jean, Treasurie Jewelry necklace, Caracol Silver bangles and Adidas sneakers.
Photo by Kristin Lee

 Congratulations on being a US Equestrian Ambassador. What is your role as an ambassador? How will people connect with you as an ambassador?

I am really honored to be partnered with them. I’m the only ambassador to join the team in the realm of equestrian fashion. I will be contributing to their social media as well as their print magazine so I am really excited about this venture. The rebrand they are doing right now is really cool and is emphasizing the joy of the equestrian lifestyle, fashion included of course! Hence their new slogan “Join the Joy.”

You’re obviously really into fashion. When you started the @styledequestrian Instagram account, were you thinking it’d really take off or was it just for fun?

I started doing my @styledequestrian Instagram for fun. I didn’t expect it to be as big as it’s become. I thought it might be fun if I got a cute T-shirt here and there. I didn’t really have high expectations, but I enjoyed the clothes and putting together the outfits, and I ride every day anyway, so why not? Then I started getting a lot of positive feedback and followers, so I thought, “I think I’ve kind of tapped into something here. This is really fun!” With my background in modeling, I have some connections with photographers, so I asked them to take a couple of professional pictures for me in addition to the selfies on my horse. I think that’s what helped push it to the next level and draw in some of the bigger brands to want to work with me and want to see me in their breeches or show jackets.

What are some of the brands you work with? I saw you on the cover of the fall Romph catalog.

Yes, Romph, Alessandro Albanese (AA Equestrian), Asmar Equestrian and several others.

Jennifer wearing a For Horses lace show shirt under Calvin Klein leather motorcycle jacket, Madewell black skinny jeans and dark green suede boots by Boden.
Photo by Kristin Lee

Do you have a lot of closets at your house?

I’ve taken over my husband’s closet. Luckily he’s not very materialistic, so he only needs a tiny section.

How did you get cast as a riding stunt double for Katherine Heigl’s upcoming movie?

Warner Brothers came to our barn to use it as a location and they asked the owner if he had any tall, blond, good jumper riders who might be interested in riding as a stunt double. He called me to ask if I’d be interested. They introduced me to the crew while they were scouting out the location and they said, “Perfect! You’re the exact same height as Katherine Heigl.” At that time, my hair was blond. They only thing they had to do was stuff my bra — that was a whole thing in and of itself which was funny. I explained to them that I do an equestrian fashion Instagram, and told them if they needed any tips on dressing Katherine and myself for the riding scenes, I’d like to help out because I knew that their fashion stylist didn’t know much about the equestrian world. So that was fun, too.

Does Katherine ride in real life?

She rides dressage and has a few horses. Katherine actually came and took a lesson on my horse, Rocket, to walk, trot and canter a little bit to make sure that she was comfortable on him and that he was okay with her. Then, for the actual filming, she rode around at the walk, trot and canter and then I got on and did more riding and jumped a course of fences as her double.

Katherine Heigl and Jennifer on the set of the movie “Unforgettable”
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Sims

What’s the movie about?

“Unforgettable” kind of has a “Fatal Attraction” theme. Katherine’s the ex-wife, and she and the new wife don’t get along. There’s drama between them and she’s supposed to be conniving and maybe a little bit evil, which is so out of character for Katherine because she always plays these romantic comedy girls. So it was kind of neat to see her in that character. Her character and her character’s daughter ride as well, and that’s how the equestrian scenes come in.

Jennifer adds a Manor Tote by Tucker Tweed before heading out.
Photo by Kristin Lee

In addition to being involved in the acting world as a stunt double, you used to be involved in the music industry as a DJ for night clubs. How did you get into that?

I’ve always really been into music and I’ve been collecting vinyl since I was about 14, so I have a pretty extensive vinyl collection. When I moved to California from New Jersey, I had a couple of friends who were deejays and they knew I was really into my records. One said, “Why don’t you come out when I’m spinning and you can bring a box of records and hop on the turntables and start spinning.” I said, “I don’t know how to deejay and I have only one turntable.” At that time there weren’t really any girl deejays, especially one who was modeling, so it was really easy for me to book gigs.

Did you have a DJ name?

DJ Gelfling, from the Dark Crystal. Totally nerdy, but that’s me.

What kind of music do you listen to?

I’m kind of all over the place; it depends on my mood. I really love punk rock, classic rock, metal — I also love old hip hop.

Tell us about your husband.

Todd and I have been together for 13 years. We met while I was a DJ and he was selling tickets for nightclubs, concerts and DJs. Todd’s mom is into horses as well, and when he and I started dating, I was a working student for Mark Watring out in Thousand Oaks. Todd came to see me at the barn and he called his mom and said, “You’re not going to believe this! The girl I’m dating is a horse girl and she’s riding with Mark Watring!” And she immediately said, “Put her on the phone. I need to talk to her right now!” And Todd was like, “Mom, just wait. Pace yourself.”

Jennifer on Summertyme owned by Jordan Lee
Photo by Bret St.Clair

Your daughter Hannah shows and has a pony. Did you brainwash her into becoming a horse person?

She comes from a long line of horsewomen. I’m a horsewoman, my mother-in-law is, my sister-in-law is, and I think it’s just in her blood. And when I was pregnant with her, I’d gotten a horse and come to the barn I’m riding at now — San Pascual — and so she’s been born and raised at the barn and has always been around the horses. She thinks everybody has horses; that this is everybody’s lifestyle.

She started riding and taking lessons when she was about 5 or 6, but she wasn’t that into it. Then when she was about 8, she said, “Okay, I want to start lessons again,” and so she started out with one lesson a week and then after six months she said, “I want to ride every day.” So she started riding the school ponies, and then we half-leased a pony for her, and then about a year ago we bought her a pony.

We told her she had to get straight As on her report card — she’s in fifth grade now — and then we’d consider buying her a pony. The pony she’d been leasing came up for sale before we got her report card, so I bought her the pony but didn’t tell her I’d bought the pony. When the report card came out I was like, “Phew! Okay, now I’ll tell you that you have the pony.”

Do you go to shows together?

We’ve done a couple of shows together, which was too stressful for me and I don’t get to enjoy and support her as a mom because I was running off trying to learn my course as well as make sure she knows hers, so we’ve been alternating shows. I did this show (Las Vegas International) and I did Del Mar, but before that she did Thermal and the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. So we just go back and forth for now. I don’t know how long it’s going to last. If she’s going to want to start showing all the time, it might be time for me to pass the torch and retire.

Rocket and Jennifer
Photo by Kristin Lee

What are your riding goals?

I train with David Sterckx and right now I’m competing in the meters and 1.10s, and eventually I’d like to move up to the meter-20s and maybe even -30s. Not in the next month or two — I’m not there yet — but that’s my long-term goal. I’m not necessarily looking to become a grand prix rider because to do that you’ve got to be able to compete two and three times a month minimum, and I just can’t do that. I can’t leave my daughter and my husband for that amount of time.

So when you’re riding or just schooling, do you have a favorite outfit you like to wear?

Like the music, it depends on my mood. When I come back from a horse show because I’ve been dressed up every day, I don’t want to dress up again, I don’t want to tuck my shirt into breeches, I don’t want to wear a belt. I’ll just wear riding tights, which have become really big right now — all the riding leggings that are like LuLulemon riding pants — and I wear those with a comfy T-shirt or sweatshirt, just go very casual. But then, when I go back into the lessons with my trainer, I’ll put on my Tailored Sportsman breeches and wear a nice polo shirt or show shirt to look a bit more professional and less casual.

About the writer: Susan Friedland-Smith of North Tustin, California is a middle-school teacher and equestrian lifestyle blogger at Saddle Seeks Horse. Check out her blog saddleseekshorse.com and follow on Instagram @SaddleSeeksHorse.

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Tagged under: fashion, jennifer sims, Katherine heigl, styledequestrian, us equestrian

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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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