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Wednesday, December 16 2020 / Published in Weekly Feature

Meredith Houx Remiger: It Takes a Team

By Laura Scaletti

Portraits by Kristie Nichols

Meredith Houx Remiger is proof teamwork makes the dream work. In a sport that’s often thought of as an individual pursuit, this New Mexico hunter-jumper professional has been fortunate to always have a great team behind her. From parents who went all-in when she expressed an interest in horses to teammates riding at Texas A&M to her barn family at Sandia Farm, Meredith has never been alone as she follows her dreams.

At age 5, Meredith’s family made a move that would change her life’s trajectory. “We moved in across the street from a hunter-jumper barn in Albuquerque and my parents signed me up for lessons. I fell in love and became horse crazy right away,” Meredith said.

Although her family had no prior horse experience before signing Meredith up for that first lesson, they all quickly adjusted to life at the barn. “My parents immediately jumped in and were so supportive during my formative riding years and beyond. Even my brother got in on the action, riding a bit,” Meredith said. Unlike Meredith’s initial lesson where she got hooked, her brother got bucked off during his first lesson.

As a child, North Valley Farm was Meredith’s second home. Working with Katie Young and Robert Foley, Meredith had ample opportunities to catch-ride ponies and horses. Unbeknownst to her at the time, becoming a proficient catch-rider would come in handy in later years while competing on the Texas A&M Equestrian Team.

While in high school, Meredith began working with Karen Cranham. “She really opened the horizons when it came to showing. Karen helped me travel throughout the country competing in the hunters, jumpers and equitation rings,” Meredith said. “To this day, I’m lucky enough to still work with her when we run into each other at shows.”

During her junior years with Karen, Meredith kept up her catch-riding though she also had a hunter and jumper of her own. Meredith did the junior hunters and equitation classes on Fenway and worked her way up to competing in the junior jumpers on Kokomo.

Texas Team

As Meredith started her college search, she wasn’t sure she wanted riding to be part of her college experience. After looking at several colleges, Meredith’s dad, a Texas A&M alum himself, suggested she consider his alma mater.

“Once I looked at Texas A&M and found out there was an equestrian team, I knew that’s where I wanted to attend! I was so fortunate to be able to continue my riding passion in college,” Meredith said.

Meredith was able to experience two different formats of collegiate riding during her time at Texas A&M, both IHSA and NCAA. As a freshman competing on the IHSA team, Meredith learned skills she uses as a professional horsewoman today.

As the 2001-2002 school year approached, Meredith received some exciting news: The team would be joining the NCAA program. Not only did this mean Meredith and the team would get to compete more throughout the country, but she also received a full-ride scholarship when the team became part of the NCAA.

Together with her teammates, Meredith accomplished goals she didn’t even know were possible when she initially made the trek to College Station, Texas. “I was the NCAA Individual Champion on the Flat in 2003, and the next year I was the NCAA Individual Champion Over Fences and as a team we won the National Championship,” Meredith said.

Meredith’s experience on the equestrian team at Texas A&M helped shape both her dreams as well as those of her students past and present. While she went to Texas A&M for a degree in international business and minor in Spanish, Meredith learned some of her most valuable lessons in the barn and on the team. The team became an amazing barn family unit, one that Meredith has replicated at her Sandia Farm today.

“Having the concept of teamwork really played into how I wanted my barn atmosphere to be,” Meredith said. “Being around a group of athletes that were so motivational and talented showed me how important it is to have a positive and supportive group of people around you to help you reach your goals, while keeping it fun along the way.”

Coming Home

In 2006, just two years after graduating from Texas A&M, Meredith was able to open Sandia Farm in Albuquerque. As luck would have it, there was a move-in-ready horse facility for sale across the street from Karen Cranham’s farm where Meredith spent most of her days growing up.

“Texas was home to me. However, after long talks with my parents and my husband, then-boyfriend, Eryn, who had moved to Albuquerque, they convinced me to really come back home,” Meredith said. “I had wanted to go travel and train more around the country before I settled down, but I knew this property was the perfect place for me to start and run a business.”

Meredith’s family has played a significant role in her achieving her dreams of owning and running her own barn. “My parents really motivated me to open Sandia Farm and helped me get the business off the ground. Today, my mom still helps with bookkeeping and my dad helps with hauling to shows,” Meredith said. “My husband is always there front and center to help, from loading and hauling to dragging arenas and taking pics on the sidelines at shows.”

Meredith’s human relations aren’t the only family members who make calling Sandia Farm home special. “My horses are definitely part of my family and I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to retire some of my best horses, Fenway and Kokomo, at my facility,” Meredith said.

The clients who board and train out of Sandia are another key component in making it feel like home. Like most barns, the client makeup at Sandia ebbs and flows from all juniors to all amateurs. However, a common thread amongst all of Meredith’s clients is that they ride because they love horses.

“It’s not all about showing at our barn,” Meredith said. “Win or lose, my clients are happy they get to be with their horses. For some of them, their favorite part of barn time is just being with and grooming their horses; riding is a bonus.”

Giving Back

As there are not a lot of well-rounded riding programs in the area, Meredith is trying to help educate aspiring equestrians from their first ride to earning a spot on a college team. “New Mexico did so much for my riding as a child. I’m really happy to have the ability to give back to the local industry that gave me so much,” she said.

To date, Meredith has had more than 15 students go on to collegiate equestrian teams. Others have become trainers, assistant trainers, veterinarians or other professionals in the equine industry in and out of New Mexico.

In 2020, Meredith received the NCEA Distinguished Alumni Award in the equine business category. Nominated by two of her Texas A&M coaches, Tana McKay and Pamela Mitchell-Brummer, the award recognizes the contribution Meredith has made to the industry since graduation.

Meredith is just at the tip of the iceberg of the impact she would like to make both with her clients and within the industry. Whether it’s helping students tack up their horse or competing in Grand Prix herself, Meredith’s goal is to help everyone find and maintain their passion for horses.

“I love watching my students learn, gain confidence and develop a relationship with the horse they’re riding,” Meredith said. “From grooming to winning blue ribbons in the show ring, I want to be there for every aspect of their journey.”

For more information, visit www.sandiafarm.com

Photos by Kristie Nichols, moonfyrephotography.com, unless noted otherwise

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Tagged under: collegiate, hunter-jumper, ncaa, ncaa collegiate, New Mexico

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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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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

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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...

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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 🦄

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