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Tuesday, March 13 2018 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Kelli Cruciotti: Like Mother, Like Daughter

Kelli and Hadja Van Orshof

By Dani Moritz-Long

Portraits by Shawna Simmons

Kelli Cruciotti’s life could be wrapped up in a well-known saying: Like mother, like daughter.

While Kelli is the daughter of Serenity Farm’s Cindy Cruciotti and is following in her mom’s footsteps, she is also quickly coming into her own. The ambitious young rider is gaining national acclaim for her impressive transition from her illustrious junior equitation career, which culminated with winning the USEF Pessoa Medal Finals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to earning the spotlight in her professional career.

Kelli and Zidante

In 2016, she medaled on the Young Rider Nation’s Cup Team, won the Artisan Farms Under 25 series in Wellington and captured the blue ribbon in the Encana $50,000 Under 25 Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows. With her achievements continuing to mount, there’s no telling how far Kelli’s success will take her.

While her accomplishments are vast, you’re not likely to catch the 19-year-old budding superstar boasting. Kelli maintains a down-to-earth attitude and relentless dedication to improvement. Training under the watchful eye of her mom, Cindy; godmother, Kelli Clevenger; and Peter Wylde, Kelli keeps busy by working hard at her family’s facility, Serenity Farm, where she doubles as the farm’s associate trainer and resident grand prix rider, and traveling the country for competition.

 A Family Affair
“Growing up with my mom and my godmother, Kelli Clevenger, who is also an extremely successful professional and part of our team, I always have and still do look up to them and strive to one day have the success and compassion that they do for the horses and sport,” Kelli said.

While others may find training with parents or other family tiresome — too much of anything can cause trouble — Kelli says she’s appreciative that her equestrian career has remained a family affair. “Every day that I have the opportunity to continue to work with my mom is a privilege,” Kelli said. “I feel very fortunate that I can learn from someone as knowledgeable and talented on a daily basis and still get to experience it together as mother and daughter.”

Cindy’s perspective echoes her daughter’s. “Training Kelli has been the most rewarding, amazing, wonderful and challenging experience of my professional career,” Cindy said. “We have shared so many incredible experiences, like winning the medal finals and the Devon Grand Prix, but our relationship has been so much more than just the successes.

Kelli enjoys a moment with Hadja Van Orshof in Wellington, Florida

“Based on a mutual respect for one another, Kelli and I have managed to build an amazing friendship few mothers and daughters will ever have the joy to experience,” Cindy continued. “We’ve laughed and cried together, we’ve struggled and argued, we’ve shared each other’s hopes and dreams, but, no matter what we’ve experienced, we’ve always loved each other and admired the other for her talents and dedication.”

Keeping Busy
Currently, Kelli is developing nine horses, including her “horses of a lifetime” Chamonix H, whom Kelli partnered with to become the youngest rider in history to win the Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon, and Monterrey, with whom Kelli clinched the USEF Hunt Seat Medal Final in 2015.

Favoritism aside, all nine horses, she says, have incredible potential and unique qualities that will likely prove pivotal in her ascent to the top of the sport.

Of course, maintaining Kelli’s rigorous training and show schedule can prove challenging — but it’s nothing the energetic rider isn’t up for. While long days at the barn leave little room for hobbies —unless, she says, you count binge-watching Netflix — Kelli is more than content with her busier-than-usual young adult lifestyle.

She’s especially grateful to experience the ups and downs, early mornings and long nights with her family — whom Kelli says will forever be her greatest inspiration.

Kelli competing Zidante
Photo courtesy of Kelli Cruciotti

“Sometimes it does get difficult to balance life and horses because we’re doing horses 24/7,” she explained. “We’re always on the road preparing for the next big show or planning on where we’re going next. But regardless of what we’re doing, I always make time for family, as that’s the most important thing. Even something as small as a meal together — you always have to make time for that.”

As someone who’s been in the saddle since she was 5 years old, though, the eventful, sometimes chaotic life of a professional is exactly what she’s been dreaming of. “She made up her mind a long time ago about what she wanted to do with her life, and nothing has stood in her way,” Cindy said. “Kelli has always loved animals, but her horses are the love of her life. She has a very special connection with each one of them because, whether she’s riding or taking care of them, they know what’s in her heart and love her for it.”

Kelli and Hadja Van Orshof

Dream of the Future
Looking to the future, anything is possible for the rising star. Toward that end, Kelli is diligently working toward representing the U.S. in international events.

“My goals for the coming years are to continue to develop and educate the horses I currently have to the highest level of the sport,” she said. “My long-term goals would be making the team for the Olympic Games, as well as having the opportunity to participate in other championship events such as the World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games and the World Cup Finals.”

Photos by Shawna Simmons, SAS Equine Photography, www.shawnasimmons.com, unless noted otherwise

 

 

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Tagged under: cindy cruciotti, dani moritz-long, kelli cruciotti, serenity farm, shawna simmons

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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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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

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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...

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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
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