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Sunday, December 17 2017 / Published in Weekly Feature

Christopher Webb: Hot Horsemen Finds Happiness in Virginia

Christopher Webb

By Britney Grover

Photos by Shawna Simmons

Though Christopher Webb was born into horses, it was a completely different world from the warmblood hunters of Virginia that now occupy his life. “I’m from Alabama, so I grew up in the Western end of the circuit,” he said. “My mom and dad didn’t compete, they just leisurely rode. Then I met a lady in Alabama who was very proactive in my riding career.”

Christopher Webb with Easy Money, owned by Laura Cramer of Upperville, Virginia

Carla Shoemaker is a nationally competitive barrel racer whose support changed the course of Christopher’s riding. He became a farrier, and Carla taught him how to break and start young horses. “I moved out when I was about 17,” Christopher remembered. “I finished high school on my own, then I went to college on my own, without my parents’ support. I broke horses and was a farrier, and did the National Barrel Horse Association and International Barrel Racing Association circuits.”

While working with Carla, Christopher also started riding in a “flat saddle” and got hooked. He started actively pursuing English riding, participating in low-level hunter and jumper shows. He was perhaps one of the only cosmetologists to ride and break horses on the side while working in a hair salon, but a difficult breakup made him realize that he wanted more — he was unhappy and something had to change.

Christopher is happy to now make his home in the beautiful state of Virginia.

Christopher called a friend who worked for Olympic event rider Stephen Bradley over 700 miles away in Middleburg, Virginia. “She said, ‘If I can get you a job, it’s going to involve you moving.’ I was like, Well, I’m only 23 — let’s see what happens.” His friend came through: Christopher got a job with Olympic show jumping rider Ramiro Quintana and moved to Virginia. “I came up here to be a working student and groom, and I never went back.”

When he arrived in Middleburg, Christopher set out to expand his knowledge of the hunter world. “Being from Alabama, there weren’t that many hunter riders that were very good. When I came here to Virginia I really didn’t have a clue,” he admitted, but his fascination helped him learn quickly. “You really just click with something, and for me it’s the old hunters — I love the old-fashioned hunters; the tradition of it and the people here are just so amazing.”

Now Christopher’s 28 and trains horses and clients at Winterfell Farm alongside grand prix rider and hunter breeder Charlie Evaskov — who Christopher says taught him everything he knows about hunters. Co-owner Kristen Cyron breeds warmbloods and Thoroughbred-warmblood crosses, which go off to get started and then Christopher puts the extra training on them and gets them going in the show ring.

Christopher and Easy Money enjoy a quiet moment by the lake

Though he’s left his Western riding in the past, his experience with horses has proven universal. “It takes a very special person to be able to break and start young horses, and to just have the mindset to deal with a young horse,” Christopher said. “It takes a special kind of feel, because so many things could go wrong.”

Just like so many things could have gone wrong with leaving his lifelong hometown and moving across the country. But Christopher has finally found where he belongs — where he’s happy. “You know how sometimes you’re born somewhere, and then you move somewhere else and you’re like, ‘This is home.’ I consider Virginia home, for sure.”

And Virginia has brought more than a home to Christopher: It’s brought family. His heart is filled by three rescue dogs: pitbull crosses Jakk and Bruno, and Miss Trixie, a Yorkshire terrier mix. “I got Jakk five years ago at the SPCA in Winchester. I’m not a fan of little dogs, but most of what they had was little dogs. Jakk was the last dog in the kennels. He was sitting there, and I looked at him and he jumped up and put his paws on the door — like ‘I’m picking you,’” Christopher said. “I took him home that day, and he’s been with me, by my side, ever since.”

Breaking and training young horses is Christopher’s passion

Christopher and Jakk adopted Bruno as a puppy, and Trixie joined the family just two years ago when Christopher’s big heart saved her from being taken to the pound. “They all go to the horse shows with me; they all stay in one crate together — because that’s how they prefer it, all three in one big crate — and they stay on the road with us. They all three sleep in the bed, and they’re just the best dogs.”

From a competition perspective, Christopher’s goals for the future might not seem ambitious. But his priorities are something that not just horsemen should take to heart. “I never really wanted to be a superstar,” he said, “I always just wanted to be acknowledged and respected in the sport. I think my goal is to just keep going along, keep improving myself and improving the horses, really help the business take off and just enjoy what I’m doing — that’s really the goal, and to keep enjoying it, not get sour and bitter. It’s so easy in this sport to do that. I aspire to be a great horseman, and just try to enjoy life and enjoy what I do, and do it as long as I can.”

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

 

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Tagged under: britney grover, christopher webb, sawna simmons

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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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