By Laura Scaletti
Portraits by Alex Scribner
Growing up on her family’s farm in Bedford, New York, hunter professional Jennifer Bliss lived out every horse girl’s dream. “Our 
barn was literally attached to our house. I would go out in my pajamas every night to check on my ponies,” Jennifer said. “It was a really fulfilling and fun lifestyle.”
With a grandfather who was an avid foxhunter and a mother, Robin Berol Bliss, who showed very successfully in the hunter-jumper divisions throughout her childhood and young adult years, it was only natural that Jennifer would be encouraged to continue the family tradition. Today, Jennifer is sharing her love for horses with her 4-year-old daughter, Lulu. “I’m trying to give her the opportunity to experience it in a fun and safe way. We will see where she takes it,” Jennifer said.
Mother-Daughter Bond
While Jennifer’s career path led her to be a professional equestrian, it took her a bit to warm up to the sport. “As a little kid I was quite terrified. I had a timid personality to begin with in many ways, and my parents naively chose some pretty spicy ponies at first,” Jennifer said. “Between those factors, it took some pushing to stick with it initially.”
Luckily, Jennifer’s love for the ponies and her desire to figure out the sport was stronger than her fear. “As I started to get on more seasoned ponies, things really changed and I fell in love with the sport,” she said.
By having her ponies at home, Jennifer not only had a lot of fun growing up, but she also gained some valuable life skills. “I learned work ethic, time management and organization without really realizing it. I also learned to see a goal through from beginning to end and despite setbacks,” Jennifer said.
Throughout the ups and downs of the sport, there was always a constant: Jennifer’s mom was right beside her every step of the way. “My mom and I did everything together, from caring for the ponies before and after school to traveling to the shows. As we gained more experience, we started to do things on a higher level, picking better ponies, seeking out more professional help, etc.,” she said.
Together the duo was able to find a lot of special green ponies or ponies that needed a bit of a fresh start, and they developed them to some big wins. “I learned to love the process of bringing those ponies along. It was such a complete experience, between gaining so much hands-on experience in the ponies’ day-to-day care and program, to gradually becoming a confident rider and competitor who could be a winning partner for them in the show ring,” Jennifer said.
In 1999, after years of developing her mounts Hillcrest Blue Wishes and Believe In Magic, Jennifer had a fairytale weekend with them at the Huntfield’s/AHSA Pony Finals in Culpeper, Virginia. Hillcrest Blue Wishes finished as the large and grand champion, while Believe In Magic earned the medium and reserve grand championship, a feat never before accomplished by a rider. “We started them at the very beginning, and it took a long time to get where we ended up—them, me, us together. Truly it took years of work. They were both quality ponies, but they were hard,” Jennifer said.
Like every other show Jennifer and her mother attended, they shipped the two ponies there and did all the care themselves. While that made for some long days, it also gave them the advantage of knowing the ponies like the backs of their hands. “It was just a magical show where everything came together. I was still kind of a timid, nervous kid and it really gave me a boost of confidence and helped me to believe in my dreams,” Jennifer said. “It was a tangible reward for me and my mom, after all of the effort we had put in.”
Harris Hill
Fast forward to 2008: Jennifer was a professional and opened her Harris Hill Farm. Today, based year-round in Wellington, Florida, Jennifer operates a boutique business catering to a relatively small group of horses and riders. As she grew up being hands-on in every aspect of her ponies’ care and training, she didn’t want to stray from her roots once she turned professional.
“My real passion is developing and showing hunters. I just love the process and that began in my childhood, bringing along ponies at my home stable with my mom and working to be competitive at the biggest shows,” Jennifer said. “Some of the horses that I’ve developed have stayed with me long term, while others have gone on to successful Junior or Amateur careers.”
Jennifer’s biggest show ring achievements have come from horses that she developed herself including the 2014 WCHR Developing Pro National Championship, top 10 finishes in the Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and USHJA Green Incentive Finals.
One of these special horses Jennifer has developed is her partner of 12 ½ years, Poker Face, aka Pokey. Imported as a young horse, Pokey is now a seasoned Hunter Derby winner and Jennifer’s heart horse. “Every young professional needs that horse to make them feel like they can do it and be competitive in that new space, and he was that horse for me,” she said.
Truly a member of the Bliss family, Pokey and Jennifer are more than just horse and rider, they’ve been there for each other through life’s ups and downs. “Professionally, Pokey has helped me trust my instincts in letting the horses be individuals and striking that balance between training them for the job we ask them to do, while also making some accommodations for each horse’s quirks and personality. He tries so hard and I think we both appreciate and trust each other completely,” Jennifer said.
“Personally, he’s been a constant for me through many life changes; a friend in a way that only a heart horse can be,” she said. “He’s just so important to me.”
Pokey is also a friend to Lulu. He’s the only horse Jennifer will let her brush and ride. “I do joke that Lulu is my barn manager because she can go down the aisle and tell you about every horse. Someday Pokey may end up being hers,” Jennifer said.
Pony Mom
Things have now come full circle for Jennifer as she’s earned the title pony mom. “It’s a slightly different beginning chapter than what I had, a little less ‘seat of the pants’ and a little more controlled. I’d like to think that I’m coming from a more educated and connected place than my mom was able to, thus I can provide some softer edges for Lulu, so to speak,” Jennifer said.
To this end, Jennifer has enlisted the services of Charlie Moorcroft to get Lulu started in the sport. Under Charlie’s watchful eye, Lulu and the other kids not only learn how to ride, they also have fun in the process. “I always tell Charlie that he does an amazing job, because he takes kids and ponies, both often sassy and unpredictable, plus intense parents—many are professional riders who trust him with their kids but know, as he jokingly puts it, ‘too much’—and somehow everyone leaves with a smile,” Jennifer said.
Where Jennifer was naturally timid, Lulu is bold and brave. That’s why at this point, Jennifer’s just enjoying being a mom rather than a trainer, and taking a quiet, more supportive role. “I don’t want to take her bravery away from her. I’m really trying to put her with a professional that I trust, on ponies that I trust, and allow her to gain experience naturally. My instinct is to wrap her in bubble wrap every time she gets on, but that’s just not possible or beneficial in the long run,” Jennifer said.
Charlie has Lulu riding Strawberry Hill, owned by Montoga Inc., who has brought along many other young riders. Together with Strawberry and some of her riding buddies, Lulu made her walk class debut at the Winter Equestrian Festival this past winter. “It was so cute; they were all so proud. Lulu had asked to do one last leadline earlier in the season, on Pokey of course, and then told us she was ‘ready to get set free in there.’ She smiled the whole time,” Jennifer said.
Balancing Act
So far, one of the hardest aspects of being a pony mom for Jennifer has been resisting the urge to have a barn full of ponies for Lulu. “I don’t want her to feel like she has to do it. I want it to be her decision, if she chooses to pursue this sport seriously,” Jennifer said. “If she gets really into it, then of course I will help and support her in every way I can.”
While Jennifer isn’t going to push Lulu to go the pony route, if she does choose that, Jennifer would love to develop some young ponies together like she did with her mom. Most importantly, she wants Lulu to learn the life skills that come from being around the barn. “I want her to gain from horses and riding the strength of character that it requires: the resiliency and dedication; the compassion and selflessness towards the animals; the close-knit, often lifelong friendships formed,” Jennifer said. “Because all of those things will serve her well in all parts of her life.”
As a pony mom herself, Jennifer values her own childhood and time spent with her mother at the barn and on the road to horse shows even more now. “I have a whole new appreciation for my mom at this stage in my life. We still have a very close relationship, and I cherish those special times that we had together in my pony days,” Jennifer said. “I don’t think that anyone truly realizes the love that a mother has for her child, the worry for their happiness and growth that she carries around always, her willingness to sacrifice for them, until you have your own child. I know that I didn’t truly understand the depths of those feelings until I had Lulu.”
As Jennifer shares the world of ponies and horses with Lulu, she’s mindful to encourage her to explore all the world has to offer. In addition to hanging out with Strawberry and Pokey, Lulu enjoys tennis, dance, swimming and playing with her friends. “I love horses and riding, so of course I would love to share it with Lulu long term, but this world is hard. You really have to love it and want it deeply in order to sustain the ups and downs,” Jennifer said.
As a pony mom, Jennifer is going to let Lulu lead the way, while providing support and guidance. “While she’ll always be exposed to the horse world, because it’s what I do, if she chooses to pursue it seriously I hope I can help her understand the many facets of it in our modern world—horsewoman, rider, athlete/competitor, trainer, businesswoman, etc.—all without losing the love of the animals and putting them first,” Jennifer said. “I hope that I can be an example to her of working hard, chasing dreams, but doing it in a fair and kind way.”
For more information, visit harrishillfarmllc.com and follow Jennifer on Instagram @harris_hill_farm
Photos by Alex Scribner, www.MipsyMedia.com and on Instagram @mipsymedia
