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Friday, December 06 2019 / Published in Weekly Feature

Unbridled With Kat Fuqua

Kat Fuqua
Photo by Patrice Casanova

By Jan Westmark

Kat Fuqua was destined to be a rider. Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, with grand prix dressage parents and a barn filled with talented horses, Kat started her riding career when she was only 1 year old. “My mom and dad got me miniature ponies and after that I just kept on riding,” she said. Now 12 years old, Kat has reached a level of accomplishment in her riding that keeps her in the winner’s circle, all while traversing the world of middle school. At the 2019 Pony Finals, Kat and Prestige, her 8-year-old Belgian Riding Pony, captured the Marshall & Sterling/USEF Pony Medal Finals. Not only is she a pony wonder-kid, Kat has also moved into the equitation and junior hunter rings with trainer Jimmy Torano. Sidelines had a chance to catch up with Kat at her Collecting Gaits Farm outside of Atlanta to find out more about her ponies, her horses and her life.

Do your parents still ride?

My mom sometimes warms up my horses for me, but my dad doesn’t ride anymore. He used to ride after work, but when I was born, he’d rather come home to spend time with me.

 What do you like about training with Jimmy Torano?

I really like training with him because he’s a really good equitation trainer and ultimately it helps me with the hunters, too.

 What are some of your favorite shows?

My favorite show is either the Washington International Horse Show because I love being in the city, or Lake Placid. I get to spend time with my friends I compete with outside the show. I rarely get to do that, so it’s special to be in New York.

What’s your favorite thing about being part of the horse world?

Being in a sport with live animals and having that connection with the animal is my favorite part.

Have you had a funny horse moment that still makes you laugh?

My pony Ladybug, Finesse RF, she’s my medium pony. When I go in her stall, she threatens to bite me, but she never really does. She just chomps at me, and pins her ears back and she gets really mad. She just threatens and clacks her teeth; it’s really funny. JJ Torano has taken over the ride of her. He was third overall at Pony Finals. She loves him and never pins her ears back with him.

What are your life goals (at the moment!)?

One of them is to get good grades at school. And for the horses, I want to make it to the Olympics.

What’s your favorite thing about school? Do you do online school or go to a school?

I go to a regular school, Holy Innocents Episcopal School. I really like French. It’s my favorite subject at school.

Do any favorite horse show wins stand out in your mind (other than Pony Finals)?

This year’s Junior Hunter Finals is my favorite, when I won the small junior round over fences with Calvaro. That was my first junior hunter win at a really big champion show.

What are your feelings about Pony Finals this year?

My pony Prestige ended up Champion, which was huge and I was really, really excited. Then we won the pony medal at Pony Finals on the last day. It was my first time winning an equitation championship.

 Who inspires you?

Definitely my trainer Jimmy Torano because he is an amazing jumper, equitation and hunter rider. Taylor St. Jacques has always been one of my idols because she’s really competitive in the jumpers right now. She’s won a lot of pony and junior championships.

What talents do you feel you have?

Riding is one of them, but ice skating is something I feel I could be OK at, and jumping (on foot, like hurdling). I like that a lot.

What’s your favorite item of clothing to wear?

I really only wear my school uniform and my riding clothes. I like purses. I usually like just some cute jeans and shirts, and a pair of my tennis shoes. Or if I go out fancy, I like high heels.

Most embarrassing thing you’ve ever worn?

Probably at Halloween, when I wore my zebra costume. I didn’t really look like a zebra. I just looked like I had a bunch of stripes everywhere. It was kind of embarrassing on Halloween just trick-or-treating. No one knew what I was!

What’s your favorite meal?

Dinner. I like pasta and steak.

Favorite type of pizza?

I like barbecue chicken pizza. I had that in Kentucky with one of my best friends.

Something people don’t know about you?

I like to ice skate and I have two birds. They are both parakeets, Taco and Pegasus. I got them at the beginning of WEF this year, and they kept me company at the horse show. They came home with us.

What would be the best gift in the world?

Personally, to receive a hundred packs of Snaks Fifth Avenchew treats. They are my favorite to give to my horses.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Flying, definitely! I would love to fly everywhere.

What’s something everyone should try at least once?

Riding a horse. It’s a great experience!

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Tagged under: jan westmark, Kat Fuqua, patrice casanova, unbridled

What you can read next

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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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