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Wednesday, January 29 2020 / Published in Weekly Feature

Lillian Heard: Skipping Law School and Finding Success

Lillian at her farm in Cochranville, Pennsylvania

By Tafra Donberger

Portraits by Adrienne Morella

Lillian Heard hadn’t intended her life to turn out this way — as an eventing professional working her way up the ranks of the five-star roster. Her original adult-life plans included law school, but a twist of fate in horse form led her to the point she is now, and she wouldn’t change a thing.

That horse was Share Option, or Whitey, whom she found in England on her first horse-shopping trip overseas with Jan Byyny, for whom Lillian worked during her college years at the University of Virginia. It wasn’t what you’d call an ideal first meeting when Lillian first met Whitey; when she tried him, the horse became scared of her jacket and tried running off with her.

“The woman showing him wanted me to get off,” Lillian recalled. “But I bought him. I thought, I’m buying this wild young horse! But he was totally not what I thought I was buying.” Whitey would prove his worth in spades as he propelled Lillian through the levels of eventing into the pro ranks and helped her to achieve a dream. But her equine adventure didn’t start there.

The Journey to Eventing

Horses became part of the Heard family due in part to her parents, who moved out of New York City to a small acreage outside of D.C. with its own barn. “There was a barn on it, not really meant for horses,” Lillian laughed. “They decided to get horses, and got two from the classified section of the Washington Post. One was an unbroken Quarter Horse, and one was an unbroken Tennessee Walker. That was my start!”

Lillian Heard and LLC Barnaby standing in the water on cross-country.

Lillian Heard and LLC Barnaby standing in the water on cross-country.

The horse bug bit the kids in the Heard family, which included Lillian and two older sisters, Jessica and Lauren. A local trainer, Julie Hagan, gave the girls lessons and encouraged them to get involved with Pony Club. Lillian was part of the Seneca Valley Pony Club and there, found herself surrounded by eventing enthusiasts.

In addition to the barn being full of young eventers, Lillian’s older sister Jessica rode, which meant that once Jessica was ready to graduate from a horse, it would move to Lillian. It turned out to be an advantage for Lillian, who was able to grow up riding horses that had experience and could teach her the ropes.

Once Lillian finished high school, she landed a job at Jan’s Surefire Eventing, and those years spent working and riding for Jan were formative for Lillian. She had the desire to ride at the top levels and had two horses that were going well, but still her plan was to enter the “real world.”

“I planned to go to law school,” she explained. “But I had Whitey ready to go intermediate, and I couldn’t give up on him. I paid to store the law school letters of recommendation in the database, graduated and thought, I’ll go ride for a year.”

The Wonder Pony

That year was when Whitey showed the ability to go to the advanced levels and Lillian wasn’t about to miss that opportunity. In a heart-wrenching turn, Whitey got hurt, but rather than give up and hit the LSATs, Lillian waited to see if she could bring him back to the advanced level when he recovered.

It was a longer recovery than she anticipated. The veterinarians told Lillian that Whitey would never go back to eventing, but she gave him a long two years off, then started the road of rehabilitation and training. The pair found themselves back on the circuit, and Lillian’s patience paid off: Whitey took her to her first five-star event, then continued on to five more five-star level competitions in the next five years.

Lillian and Barnaby. Barnaby had no eventing experience when Lillian purchased him in 2015. They have now competed at the Rolex CCI4* consecutively from 2016 to 2019, finishing competitively in the top 15 several times.

“He’s been kind of a wonder pony for me,” Lillian said. “It’s a funny thing; they said he wouldn’t event again, and at 17 he’s done more than many horses and still going!” Whitey is retired from the five-star level but is a beloved lesson horse in Lillian’s barn.

Now, she and her current star, Barnaby, have been at the five-star level for several years, competing overseas at the recent Burghley Horse Trials. It isn’t Lillian’s first overseas foray; she lived in Ireland for eight months in 2015, training with Carol Gee of Fernhill Sporthorses. She followed up with time in England, gaining experience in the international eventing competitions.

Barnaby had no eventing experience when she purchased him in 2015, but Lillian has successfully brought him through the levels. They competed at the Rolex CCI4* consecutively from 2016 to 2019, finishing competitively in the top 15 several times.

“When I do a successful cross-country round, the feeling I have is incredible,” Lillian said. “Coming off a five-star cross-country round I did well gives me a feeling of total elation. That’s where I get the most excited!”

Mentors and Business

Much of Lillian’s time training with and working for talented and well-known riders like Jan Byyny and Boyd and Silva Martin gave Lillian the drive to make a career in eventing. She operates her own barn, Lillian J. Heard Eventing, from a farm she rents from Boyd, who continues to coach her as well as push her in progressing her business.

Lillian, enjoying a ride on the farm.

“She’s been very hardworking, almost scrappy in her approach in her business,” Boyd said. “She’s an excellent coach. A lot of younger, talented riders are starting to train with her. A large part of her business is the up-and-coming riders, and she does a wonderful job producing these riders.”

“Boyd’s pretty intense, and awesome at the sport. He was tough on me, but I needed that,” Lillian said. “It’s been an awesome long-term mentorship for me. Boyd knows my riding better than anybody. He can tell when I’m doing something wrong. He and Silva have been really critical as far as shaping me.”

Lillian’s eventing career began when a local trainer suggested Pony Club. Lillian was introduced to the Seneca Valley Pony Club where she found herself surrounded by eventing enthusiasts.

With continued support from her family, including her “momager,” Jaqueline Whalen, and her boyfriend, Ryan Wood, Lillian brings a rounded approach to her riding and her business. She manages to conduct clinics, train and sell horses, teach lessons and compete. “I never want to turn a business opportunity away,” Lillian explained. “You’re never above any horse job. I think it leads to opportunity and growth.”

Though one might say she’s already found success, Lillian’s ongoing goal is to build a barn full of five-star horses, and she’s on her way to doing so. That small thought — that she could make a career out of riding horses — has become a successful, if challenging, career.

“My brain knew it was silly, but I couldn’t make myself stop riding,” Lillian said. “I’m glad I didn’t. I’ve been able to form a very cool life doing this.”

For more information, visit www.lillianjheard.com

Photos by Adrienne Morella, www.adriennemorella.com

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Tagged under: adrianne morella, boyd-martin, eventing, Lillian Heard, tafra donberger

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
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Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

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 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

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