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Monday, July 30 2018 / Published in Weekly Feature

Brooke Giacin: Focusing on Equitation and Photography

Brooke Giacin and Cassis
Photo by Bridgette Ness

By Alannah Castro

For 17-year-old Brooke Giacin, life is about embracing your passions, and her passion is the equitation ring. While she was born into a horsey family, her beginnings were decidedly Western. When first teaching Brooke how to ride, her mother, Page, wanted her to learn something simple with an easy pattern to memorize, and Western riding was abundant in their community of Southwest Ranches, Florida, so Brooke began her equestrian career turning and burning around a barrel pattern. However, a serendipitous meeting would lead to a career change early on for the young equestrian.

“My mom went to a baby shower, and she ran into someone who worked for Tiffany Morrissey, owner and head trainer at East Wind Farms, LLC, whom I ride with now,” Brooke said. “She told my mom, ‘Brooke should try jumping just for a little bit to see how she likes it and ride with Tiffany.’ My first lesson with her was at my house, and we went from there.”

Brooke gives a kiss to Shannaghmore, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse that Brooke competed in the Children’s Hunter Over Fences 15-17 during the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival.

All in Equitation

These days, Brooke is a regular at A-rated shows around the country, showing in all three rings: hunters, jumpers and, her favorite, equitation.

“I fell in love with the short stirrup equitation class,” Brooke said. “From there, I told my mom and Tiffany that I wanted to do the equitation. Equitation is a lot of time in the saddle, and a lot of time at the barn in general.”

The added time at the barn has created a special relationship between student and teacher, and Brooke now counts Tiffany as a member of the family. It’s her influence that has guided her to top finishes at Capitol Challenge and the Winter Equestrian Festival, among others.

“I would spend weekends and all day with Tiff and we would have lunch together,” Brooke said. “I would sleep over at her house during horse shows, and we became really close.”

Brooke’s main mount is a 10-year-old Irish Sporthorse named Shannaghmore, affectionately known around the barn as “Marty.” His playful personality is a perfect match for the vivacious young equestrian, and his versatility has proven to be invaluable. The duo’s strongest asset, however, is their partnership, made stronger by the fact that up until last year, Marty lived at Brooke’s house and she was his main caregiver.

“We went to the Pessoa Medals finals together,” Brooke said. “It was his first time going to an indoor, and my first time going to a Big Eq indoor. It was my first time doing the 3’6”. I didn’t realize schooling that morning at 5 a.m. how intimidating the ring was, but when everyone’s silent and all you hear is the electricity of the lights, it’s really nerve-wracking. Walking into that ring with him, it was kind of like, ‘Well, it’s just you and I.’”

This spring, Brooke took the reins on a new ride after searching for a jumper to add to her show string: Doo-Ri, a 2002 gelding by Acrobat owned by Andy Kocher, whom Tiffany organized the ride on. Riding hunters and jumpers has helped her continue to develop her equitation skills.

“Jumpers give you a sense of needing to use your aids and how to be speedy with finesse,” Brooke said. “When riding jumpers, sometimes your position can suffer, but Tiffany is strict on always being an equitation rider whether you’re doing the hunters, jumpers or equitation. The hunters have taught me to have a consistent rhythm all the way around the ring instead of just going to the line.”

Picture Perfect

When she’s not riding, Brooke is an avid photographer who’s started developing her portfolio by working with show photographers whenever she has the opportunity.

Brooke working with photographer Kathy Russell
Photo by Annie Patterson for Kathy Russell Photography

“I have to thank Catie Staszak. She’s been my mentor through everything,” Brooke said. “She got me every single job, and she’s helped me with anything from writing my school essays to helping me perfect editing on a photo. She’s like the big sister I never had, but now I do have.”

This past show season in Florida, Brooke worked with Anne Gittins and Kathy Russell, and in the past, she’s worked with ShowNet providing livestreams to viewers around the globe. For her, photography is a way to freeze special moments in time.

“I’ve always had a passion for photography and I feel like a picture says it all. You may not remember the horse show, but you always remember the picture,” Brooke said. “My little saying is, ‘Focus on the moment and capture it.’ Every year I make Tiffany an end-of-year book for her birthday, and I take pictures of everyone showing. She’ll have a collection when I go off to college.”

In college, Brooke plans on majoring in biology with a minor in photojournalism and hopes to ride for an NCEA team — a format she became familiar with while competing on an Interscholastic Equestrian Association team in middle school.

“I feel that broadening your horizons is the best way to go. When I go in the ring, I don’t care about my placing and my score,” Brooke said. “I care about laying down my best round and that Marty and I are going to have fun, getting every distance, staying straight, getting our leads, and using the end of the ring.”

Brooke behind the camera at the Palm Beach Masters show in Wellington, Florida.
Photo by Annie Patterson for Kathy Russell Photography

Brooke’s passion for horses has always been at the forefront of her riding career, and she treasures the moments she’s shared with Marty and her past mounts.

“Even if I’m having a bad day or I chipped in a class and come out really upset, Marty has the softest nose, so I’ll give him a kiss on his nose and it’s all better,” Brooke said. “I always graze him, and even if I can’t take him out of the stall because I have to run, I hang out with him. I always bring my camera to the barn, and after riding him, I always take weird pictures of his face at different angles. I love giving him a bath because he loves drinking out of the hose. I just think he’s the cutest.”

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❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
#horseshow #horses #horse #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #horselove #horsestagram #instagram #showjumping #equestrianlife #equine  #horsebackriding #dressage #horselife #pony #of #horserider #horseshoe #horsemanship #horseshowlife #riding #instahorse #horseaddict #horseofinstagram #sidelinesmagazine
It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
🖥Ryanpedigosporthorses.com
🖥Ryan.p.f@hotmail.com
☎️(714) 357-2714

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 🦄

@ryanpedigosporthorsespf_

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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! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
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