By Laura Scaletti
Portraits by Melissa Fuller
Natalie Dean has always felt like she was playing catch up in the equestrian world compared to her peers. Although she fell in love with horses the first time she put her foot in the stirrup at summer camp, it would be several years before horses were a regular part of her life. “As soon as I rode for the first time, I knew that this was what I wanted to do. I begged my parents to let me take lessons for years. Finally, when I was 11 years old, they let me start taking lessons once a week and it all went from there,” Natalie said.
While her peers were already jumping around courses, Natalie was learning the basics. However, time would show that although Natalie started later, once she set her sights on her goals, she was able to catch up to her peers in the show jumping ring.
Unlike many equestrians who eventually ride for Team USA, Natalie did not grow up in an equestrian family. “My parents didn’t have any experience with horses, but over the years they’ve learned a lot alongside me and have been so supportive of me every step of the way,” Natalie said. “I wouldn’t be able to compete at the level I do if it wasn’t for them.”
Finding Her Path
Growing up in Palo Alto, California, Natalie was lucky to have a trainer, Jennifer Kallam, who made her fall in love with horses. “I had a black and white Paint horse, named Tuxedo, that I showed in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. We didn’t go to very many shows, maybe four or five a year, but I learned so much there,” Natalie said.
As a child, Natalie was also a Pony Club member and very hands-on with her horse. “I really believe that doing my own grooming, when I first started, made me appreciate the horses in a deeper way. It also made me have more appreciation for the grooms who help me now,” Natalie said. “To this day, I still enjoy spending time in the barn and helping out with the care of my horses when I can.”
At age 16, Natalie moved to Willow Tree Farm. It was there that she began doing the jumpers more competitively. “When I was a Junior, I always wanted to do the big equitation finals; but when I started to do the jumpers, I found much more success in that ring, so my goals shifted a bit toward the jumpers,” she said. “I really admire the riders who won equitation finals, but that was never in the cards for my Junior career.”
The highlight of Natalie’s Junior/Young Rider years was competing at the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC). She competed in three FEI NAYCs, winning team bronze in 2017, team silver in 2018 and team silver and individual bronze in 2019.
“In Zone 10, as a West Coast rider, it’s really the first opportunity that a lot of us have to go and compete on the East Coast,” Natalie said. “I think it’s the goal of every Junior/Young Rider from California to make it to NAYC. That was my first glimpse of a team experience and I think it really prepares you for riding on senior Nations Cup teams.”
The first year Natalie was vying for a NAYC spot, Zone 10 had a series of trials where you could earn points to try to qualify for NAYC. “The first year I did Young Riders, all the spots were determined by your results from the trials. Now they have a dual system where two spots come from the trials and two spots come from money won,” she said. “While we do things differently from other zones, I do think having the trials builds camaraderie among the Zone 10 kids while also helping to prepare you for the finals.”
Finding What Matters
While Natalie knew horses would always have her heart, she also realized it was important for her to experience the “real world” outside of horses. “I always knew that I would go to college. Education is something that my parents always emphasized,” she said. “I went to UC Santa Barbara my freshman year and I was actually a mechanical engineering major.”
A week before Natalie started her sophomore year, the unexpected happened: She fell off her horse and ended up with a bad concussion. The concussion meant Natalie would have to take an eight-week hiatus from the classroom and the saddle. “I had to take medical leave in fall 2018 and I wasn’t sure I would be able to go back for the winter quarter, so we started looking into other options. I decided to take online business classes through UMASS Amherst with the plan of returning to UC Santa Barbara,” Natalie said.
However, Natalie quickly learned that by taking online classes, she was able to have a more flexible schedule, which allowed her to show more. “It sounds strange, but having the concussion made me reevaluate what I wanted to do in my life. All I wanted to do was ride,” she said. “I graduated in 2021 with my bachelor of business administration in marketing from UMASS Amherst.”
When she switched to online school, Natalie was able to go to Thermal for the entire eight-week circuit. “My riding really progressed with more time in the saddle. I then made the decision to move to the East Coast, because my parents and I thought it would give me more opportunities to grow in this sport,” Natalie said. “Even though I moved east, the West Coast will always have a special place in my heart, and it makes me so happy to see the growth in FEI shows there.”
Team USA
In 2021, Natalie had her first opportunity to represent Team USA when she was a member of the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team at the Spruce Meadows BMO Nations Cup CSIO5*, riding her mare Chance Ste Hermelle. Together the duo helped the team to a second-place finish. “The first time you try on the Team USA pinque coat is a really special moment in any U.S. rider’s career. Representing Team USA is a big honor, and I think anyone who has ever had the opportunity to wear the pinque coat would agree there is no better feeling than putting on that coat and walking into the arena to represent our country,” Natalie said.
Part of what made Natalie’s Team USA debut special was doing so with her beloved mare, Chance. “She’s a horse I’ve had a lot of firsts on—first Nations Cup, first five-star Grand Prix podium finish, first Grand Prix in Aachen. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big ring, small ring, grass, sand. I know I can jump any class anywhere in the world on her,” Natalie said. “She will be 16 this year, and doesn’t owe me anything at this point, but I hope we can continue to compete for another year or so. When she decides she’s ready to retire from the sport, I’m hoping to breed her.”
In addition to having her trusted partner underneath her, Natalie loves the support she gets from everyone associated with Team USA. “We always have a huge support team behind us, whether that’s Robert Ridland, Lizzy Chesson, Heather Sherman, Janus Marquis or any other members of the U.S. support team. They make it feel like a team event the entire week of the show, not just for the Nations Cup class,” Natalie said.
Over the past several years, Natalie has represented Team USA on several Nations Cup teams. “It’s always an honor to ride alongside McLain Ward, Laura Kraut and Kent Farrington. They’re the big guns, and for me to be in Aachen riding with McLain and Laura last year felt like a dream come true,” Natalie said.
The support and camaraderie doesn’t just exist ringside for Team USA. “We almost always have a team dinner the week of a Nations Cup show. I’ve grown closer with so many different U.S. riders because I’ve been on teams with them,” she said.
Strong String
While Chance Ste Hermelle has taken Natalie to many firsts, she also has a number of younger mounts who make up her string. “My current string of horses is probably the best I’ve ever had,” she said.
Acota M is Natalie’s “little pony.” “People never quite believe me about her size, until they stand next to her. I still laugh when I see her in the stall sometimes, because she looks like a pony,” Natalie said.
However, good things come in small packages. Although Acota M was quite difficult when Natalie first got her, their partnership has only gotten stronger as the years have gone by. “She is the most athletic horse I’ve ever ridden. I’d argue she’s one of the best horses in the world,” Natalie said.
Natalie has found it very rewarding to get Acota M as a younger horse and develop her up to the Nations Cup level. “She’s made so many dreams of mine come true already and she’s only 11. I really believe in her and I’d like to think that she believes in me. Developing Acota M into the horse she is today is something I’m very proud of,” Natalie said. “I hope I can give her the career and recognition I know she deserves.”
Two more horses of note on Natalie’s string are Nespresso Van’t Laekhof and Dotcom D’Authuit. “I got both of them as 7-year-olds and have developed them over the last few years. Nespresso jumped his first five-star Grand Prix in 2023 and this year will be ready to jump anywhere in the world. Dotcom is a winner; she has her own way of going, but I know I can win any 1.45/1.50m class on her if I ride her well,” Natalie said. “Both of them give me a lot of confidence.”
As a testament to her success, Natalie was selected to be on the inaugural 2024 Iron Dames Equestrian team for the Global Champions League. Iron Dames was created in 2018 to help women spread their wings in the world of motorsports. Although equestrian is the only Olympic sport where men and women compete on equal footing, Iron Dames is hoping to further elevate women to the top of the sport through their new team.
While Natalie still technically competes as an amateur today, she’s open to turning professional in the future. “I can’t imagine doing anything else other than riding,” she said. “Like most riders, I dream of going to the Olympics and representing Team USA at the highest level of this sport.”
Follow Natalie on Instagram @nataliedean12
Photos by Melissa Fuller, melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com
