Written by founder Emma Mabry
Sixteen year old Julia Beck from Connecticut has had quite the bit of success in both, the pony and the horse rings. She currently owns one pony and one horse. Her large pony "Liza Jane" was being shown by Beck in the Large Children's Pony Hunters and the Large Pony Hunters, and is for lease. She also owns a horse "Black Gold" who she recently purchased this month. Beck is currently showing him in the Children's Hunters and has hopes to move up to the Junior Hunters shortly. She trains with Donna Pace out of Nautilus Farm in Redding, Connecticut. "My favorite thing about riding is definitely how stress relieving it is. When your on your horse, no matter what's happening in school or life outside the barn, the only thing in that moment that matters is the horse underneath you and I think that's the best feeling. As for showing, my favorite thing is the rush it gives me. There's no better feeling then going over that final jump and immediately smiling knowing that you laid down a great trip." When asked if Beck sees herself being around horses forever, and having a career based around them, she responded that "It's hard to say. While I definitely am interested in riding in college and always want to have horses and be involved in the sport, I'm not quite sure yet if I want to have a career in horses but know that I always want to continue riding." Her goals for this year are to have a successful Winter showing her new horse and move up to the Junior Hunters in the Spring. In the long run, Beck would like to qualify for Junior Hunter Finals either this year or the next, as well as to qualify for Devon or Indoors. We asked Beck who her riding inspirations were, and she responded that "Victoria Colvin is the first one that stands out as my riding inspiration. I love how at any given moment, she can go from winning in the Maclay to the Junior Hunters to the jumper ring. I also love how soft she is as a hunter rider and how she lets her mounts show off their natural ability around a course without interfering, and even when she makes an adjustment, it is so seamless. She makes each ride look absolutely effortless which is definitely something that is not easy to do.: "Advice I would give to someone who hopes to ride and show a lot would be too keep at it. Even the best riders in the world have off days and just because you have a bad day or made a mistake doesn't mean your not good enough or that you don't deserve it. Another piece of advice I would give is that time spent off your horse, whether that be tacking up, grooming or grazing them is just as important as time spent in the saddle. Bonding with your horses and having them get to know you as well as you know them is incredibly important and will only strengthen your partnership in and out of the show ring." Beck has been riding for eleven years, since she was five. She got into riding when she was about four and visiting her uncle in Missouri who had a horse and was allowed to sit on him and be lead around. "I screamed and cried when I got off and begged my parents every day after that to start taking lessons."
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Written by founder Emma Mabry Isabella Baxter is a fifteen year old rider from St. Louis, Missouri. She lives on a farm with about ten horses and trains with Shannon Hicks. Most of them are young and not showing, but she has a mare named "Whenever" that shows in the 3'3 Junior Hunters and National Derbies. Unfortunately, she will not be competing on her this upcoming year. She has also currently begun a year long lease on an equitation horse who's name is Chief and he will do the Big Equitation classes. She is also currently trying a horse named Jahil that she will show in the Junior Jumpers. "This year I am focusing on the Maclays, Medal, and WIHS Equitation, as well as moving up through the Junior Jumpers. In the next two years I hope to be a contender at NAJYRC and Prix des States." Said Baxter. Isabella's biggest riding accomplishments would be: being the 2015 USHJA Children's and Adult Jumper Championship Individual Champion for the central region. "Not just because I won, but also because I was riding a horse that before I started leasing it 7 months prior, she had been to three shows and had no flatwork. Seeing my trainer and I's hard work pay off was indescribable." Isabella also said she got circuit champion in the Green Pony Hunters at Queenie Productions and that she was 9th overall at Pony Finals in the Large Pony Hunters. She also claimed the 12-14 Equitation Championship in Zone 7. "I love spending time with my horses and getting to know them better every round. Not only riding, but also taking care of them after showing, and also getting them ready to show. I also like challenging myself and having something to strive towards," mentioned Baxter. Isabella's favorite horse show is either Tryon or Colorado Horse Park. "The show grounds are beautiful and the weather was great when I went! I also love how there are a lot of things to do around the Colorado horse park, and how beautiful the scenery at Tryon is." Isabella's advice to other riders is simply to practice flatwork. "Flatwork! Actually though, flatwork has really helped me to focus on specific areas of my riding that help to make the whole look better. Set goals for yourself and be determined to achieve them. Believe not just in your abilities, but also your horses' abilities." Photo by @vgc.photo |
AuthorEmma Mabry is a Hunter/Equitation rider from Sonoma County. Archives
November 2016
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