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Wednesday, November 18 2020 / Published in Weekly Feature

Carly Taylor-Smith: Victorious in Great Britain and America

By Ruby Tevis

Portraits by Kristin Lee

For British transplant Carly Taylor-Smith, dressage is more than a sport — it’s a way of life.

Born into a horse family in Kent, England, Carly was riding before she could speak a complete sentence. Carly’s passion for dressage led her to compete internationally as a young rider, then find success in the United States with her horse of a lifetime, two-time USDF Horse of the Year Rosalut NHF.

Carly grew up in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, a picturesque country village in the northeastern corner of the country — a stark contrast to her home today in sunny Somis, California.

“It was so cold and rainy there, but I never seemed to care much as child. Now that I’m older, I don’t think I could survive!” Carly laughed.

Carly Taylor-Smith

Carly’s mother is an avid equestrian, judge and a trainer at Twinwood Equestrian in Texas, her sister rode for several years and her father was happy to be along for the ride. “My dad doesn’t really understand why I do what I do, but he’s happy if I’m happy,” Carly said, thinking back on her childhood.

Carly was gifted her first pony, Hudson, on her fifth birthday. 

“I showed up at the riding school with my mum and sister, but there wasn’t another soul in sight. I walked around the corner to the main courtyard and there was a little grey pony with my purple halter on,” she said. “I threw a crying fit because I thought someone had stolen my halter and was using it on their horse, and that’s when everyone jumped out and shouted surprise!”

Despite the pony testing Carly’s patience, dumping her countless times and dragging her through the bushes, she gives Hudson credit for making her ride tactfully and fearlessly from a young age. Carly was hooked on riding and dedicated her junior years to succeeding in Pony Club and completing her prestigious ‘A’ level certification.

Young Rider Adventures

After many years of participating in the East Aberdeenshire Pony Club’s after-school rallies and horsemanship lessons, Carly branched out to compete in recognized competitions. She competed in both eventing and dressage, and was offered positions on Great Britain’s Junior/Young Rider Squad for both disciplines. With competition dates overlapping, it came time for Carly to make the choice between her two passions.

“I ended up choosing dressage because I thought it was a more practical and safer option,” Carly explained. “I’m a pretty brave rider, but if you see some of those fences at the top level, you’re going to think twice!”

With her mind made up, Carly and her horse Neo traveled to Addington, Hickstead and Roosendaal, Holland, to represent Great Britain in CDI competitions.

“We had some great successes and some disasters, but that’s just how it went with Neo. He was an absolute fruitcake, and anyone who knows him knows how difficult he was,” Carly said.

Despite the mix of results ranging from 705 scores to 50% scores, Carly was grateful for the experience. “Neo still remains by my side as an old retiree and he will forever hold a very special place in my heart,” she said.

In 2007, after graduating high school, Carly took a gap year to become a working student for Hannah and Becky Moody of Moody Dressage in England. “They were lovely and treated all of the apprentices like family,” she said. Her daily duties included mucking and stable management, but also included lessons on her own horse. 

After some time, Carly earned the opportunity to learn on schoolmasters and eventually warm up the competition horses. “In some way, it kickstarted the idea that perhaps training horses is what I wanted to do as a career,” she said. “I’m very thankful to them for everything they did for me and I still keep in contact.”

Living the American Dream

In 2010, Carly chose to move with her family to the United States, following her father’s job transfer. “I never thought I would ever leave my home and England, but here I am — now a United States citizen,” she said.

Carly made the decision to attend college and study graphic design and English, though she never left the horses behind. Of course, Neo made the move overseas, too. “It was quite tricky balancing college life and riding, but I made it work,” Carly said. “My mum mostly helped me with the training, but I did do the odd clinic here and there.”

Three years later, Carly officially started her own training business and venture into the life of professional riding. At first, she was shocked at the differences between the dressage community in the United States compared to her experiences in Europe.

“In Europe, everything is a lot closer, and there are more events and shows to attend. The international circuits are happening all the time, pretty much all year round, which makes competing and qualifying a little easier,” she explained. “In the U.S., things are more spread out because the country is so big and thus traveling becomes a big, expensive commitment.”

With the support of her sponsors, Carly has been able to navigate America’s unique equestrian landscape and find success with Rosalut NHF, known around the barn as Ludo. The talented gelding was purchased from Maggie Neider of North Hill Farm by Carly’s mother, Nikki Taylor-Smith. Carly started riding him when he was 3 and has trained him all the way up to Grand Prix.

Together, Carly and Ludo captured the championship title at the USEF National Young Horse Championships two years in a row, as a 4- and 5-year-old.

Carly Taylor-Smith

“He was the first 4-year-old to ever score over 90% in the Young Horse Championship. That was definitely the start of something epic with this horse,” Carly said. Since then, Ludo has been named the USDF Horse of the Year in both Second and Third Level, and is already confirmed in the Grand Prix at just 10 years old.

Over the winter, Carly spent her first season in Wellington, Florida, competing Ludo at Grand Prix. “We had a few setbacks in the beginning, but Ludo did win his first Grand Prix at the Season Kick Off show with just a hair shy of 72% and then went on to win his first try at the Grand Prix Special the following week,” she said. 

“The shows in Wellington felt much more like what they do in Europe, with finesse, great hospitality, more qualifiers and good footing in all of the arenas,” Carly continued. “The people were all lovely, especially the ones I spent time with at the barn.”

Working for the Future

Carly is looking forward to the future with Ludo, remarking on his exceptional work ethic. “He shows so much talent for the Grand Prix — I’m hoping one day it may take us to some of the really big international competitions, but you never know. He’s only 10, so there’s no rush.”

Carly Taylor-Smith

Back home in Somis, Carly boards her horses at a private stable nestled between rolling hills of lemon and avocado orchards, then trains and teaches at other local farms. While Carly doesn’t have a self-proclaimed training niche, she does emphasize her love of training a horse through the levels.

“I’ve never been able to afford a made horse, so that’s just how I’ve always done it,” she said. “I’m not one to want a ready-made horse, to just sit there and push buttons; I enjoy the training process and the partnership you can form over time.”

On occasion, Carly has to use the pony-wrangling skills she acquired in her junior years.

“Difficult, naughty and challenging horses seem to come my way quite often,” she said. “I’ve ridden countless tricky ones through my career and that’s given me a lot of experience to be able to ride anything. A sticky bum and long legs, that’s the secret!”

Hacking has always been a critical part of her training program, and Carly takes advantage of her close proximity to the beach to go swimming with the horses. “Every now and again, I’ll take them to the beach with a good friend of mine. They love to splash in the water and it just gives them something different to do,” she said.

Finding balance for herself is just as important to Carly as it is for her horses.

“Anyone doing the sport knows how much of an emotional rollercoaster it is. Horses can bring you so much pleasure and joy, but they can also bring you heartbreak and an empty wallet!” Carly remarked. “It’s expensive to campaign a horse at the top level, and us riders who don’t have financial backing are always looking for sponsors and owners to help us succeed. I’m so thankful to my sponsors for their continued support.”

With World Equestrian Games, Olympics and World Cups on her bucket list, Carly continues the daily grind, working hard with Ludo as a member of the USEF Dressage Development program in hopes of someday making the United States Team.

“Life has a funny way of never going according to plan,” she said. “I’ve learned to just go with the flow.”

For more information, visit www.carlytaylorsmith.com

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Tagged under: california, Carly Taylor-Smith, dressage, festival of champions

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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
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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! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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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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