By Hannah Fichter
Portraits by Pam Jensen
Nicole Zardus lives for the adrenaline rush. Growing up in rural South Jersey, she continuously passed horses on her daily routes. Her love for horses grew until her begging paid off and her mom agreed to let her take riding lessons. After that, she never looked back and has taken that love and turned it into a flourishing business.
Twenty-four years after her first eventing rally, Nicole still does what she loves in Vass, North Carolina. The passion for the sport’s versatility and ability to test the horses’ and riders’ abilities in three completely different phases has remained unbroken. While competing, Nicole focuses her business on retraining OTTBs for eventing and foxhunting through her Huntleigh Sport Horses.
2023 Pam Jensen Photography
Just like she fell in love with horses years ago, she fell in love with the Thoroughbred breed. The breed’s athleticism, sensitivity and ability to be versatile and willing sets them apart from others. “When you have a Thoroughbred with a big heart, they will go to the end of the world for you,” Nicole said. She spends her time working with them to train and re-home them with their compatible rider, taking pride in matching the horses with a correct partnership.
While the competitive market continues to throw curve balls her way, she is determined to march on, thinking of the horse’s well-being. The key for Nicole is staying positive through the endless challenges that bring about extreme highs and lows. With every step, Nicole continues to get closer to her goals and one day intends to make a breakthrough.
While the adrenaline rush of leaving the cross-country box and galloping over solid objects is a thrill, the patience and determination it takes to develop an event horse in all three phases of the sport are unmatched. Nicole doesn’t back down from a challenge, and certainly not one with four legs.
How did you get started in the horse world?
I had my first riding lesson in first grade after begging my mom to ride for years and I have never looked back. My parents bought my “long-term lease” pony when I was in fourth grade and I joined the local Fox & Hounds Pony Club at 8 years old.
How did being part of Pony Club impact your life?
I was introduced to the sport of eventing through the U.S. Pony Club (USPC). I was a member of the USPC for 17 years and graduated with my H-A rating. I would not be where I am today without my foundation and involvement in Pony Club. The organization honed our skills as riders and horsemen, while also teaching the importance of sportsmanship. We had access to top examiners and trainers that held us to the highest standard of riding, horse care and knowledge. I will be forever grateful for my involvement in Pony Club and all that it has taught me.
What do you like about eventing?
I love that eventing is so versatile and that the horses have to perform three completely different phases. Event horses need to be balanced, supple and submissive for the dressage; brave and bold for the cross-country; and then come back on the final day to be extremely careful and rideable for the show jumping. It takes a special horse to excel in all three phases.
Who have you trained with over the years?
The trainers that impacted my early years of riding and to whom I contribute a lot of my success are Vikki Gorman and Sally Cousins. I was a working student for Sally for three seasons after graduating from high school, while also attending college full time. I traveled up and down the East Coast with Sally and her team of upper-level event horses. I wintered in Aiken, South Carolina, and spent the rest of the year in Pennsylvania training, riding, working and also competing two of my own event horses. After the opportunity with Sally, I accepted a position with Kara Angulo in Middleburg, Virginia, assisting with young imports and helping to manage her program when she traveled. Lastly, I rode under James Paxson in Kirkwood, Pennsylvania, where I dabbled in the show jumping world and whipped-in for Riverhills Fox Hounds for several hunt seasons.
Since moving to Southern Pines and starting my business and branching out on my own, I have enjoyed learning and training with Bobby Costello in Southern Pines.
What do you like about training off-the-track Thoroughbreds and bringing them along for the eventing world.
Currently I have a few young horses that are just getting started in the sport of eventing.
Occasionally I have one that chooses another job, but they are very good at telling you exactly how they feel. Most of the OTTBs that come through my training program graduate to become eventers and foxhunters, or sometimes both! It’s one of the wonderful things about the breed. They are so willing, so versatile and have the stamina for the toughest horse sports. I have a few connections that send me horses from the track, but Keri Brion continues to be a big supporter of my program and always sends lovely horses that are ready for their second career from her training operation in Fair Hill, Maryland.
What are your goals in the eventing world?
I do have goals to compete at the upper levels again, and hopefully find my “horse of a lifetime” that wants to campaign at the top of the sport.
What are your goals for your life?
I feel like I’m always working on several goals at one time. I’ve always been one that feels the need to multitask. I definitely have long-term goals to continue being an active member of the Moore County Hounds (MCH) and support the sport of foxhunting. I am currently the MCH secretary and was also honored this year to accept the position as an associate master of fox hounds. I have goals to continue growing my sales horse program and hope to eventually move my business and operation to my farm in Vass, North Carolina, where my husband and I are building our 53-acre farm from scratch. I hope to compete at the upper levels again and continue to produce young horses up the levels of eventing and produce horses for foxhunting. Aside from horses, I would like to travel more with my husband when he is retired from his lifetime career serving in the military. We both love to travel and explore new places.
What’s the best thing about your life?
My friends and horse family I have here in North Carolina. The horse community we have here is unmatched by any place I have ever lived. I have so many wonderful people in my life from the foxhunting community and eventing community in Southern Pines. Although there are too many people to name, I feel so grateful to live in a place with so much support, encouragement and positivity.
What’s the most interesting thing you have done in your life—with horses or without?
The most interesting thing about me outside of riding horses is my need for adventure. When I’m not riding, I love to skydive and I have just over 100 jumps.
For more information, visit www.huntleighsporthorses.com
Photos by Pam Jensen, www.pamjensenphotography.com
