Written by Emma Mabry
Devyn Looney is a thirteen year old rider from Connecticut who seasonally goes to WEF. Her trainer at the moment is her mom, who had been an equestrian all her life. Devyn has twelve ponies and they are all family owned but she has three special personal ponies. One pony is named Coco, she is retired but Devyn rides her for fun; she used to be an A/AA circuit champion. Devyn's family bought Brooke a year and a half ago; Devyn shows her in the Large Ponies at WEF. Pie is her moms horse but Devyn rides him and shows him at smaller shows for fun, and experience. "I have been riding since I could walk but probably even before then! I've never second guessed my rider life. I was born into riding & it stuck with me hopefully for forever! My mom has been a huge inspiration, along with my trainer Rose Marry Bertin, who's my trainer in FL! Riding has been my dream since I could remember," says Looney. "I have had a competitive drive since I was a tiny schooling kid, & being around big shots in the industry helped me strive to be the best. I love showing because I can show I can be the best & beat the best. Also it is very fun, & a great experience," mentioned Devyn. Devyn wants to be just like her mom. "She teaches children how to ride & to grow a bond with horses for young schooling children. I want to take in serious children that want to do this for a living & help them make a path for a career full of success. But before that I want to be a name known around the show grounds, that is successful!" Looney's riding inspiration is McLain Ward! "I know Mr. Ward personally & he is sweet & kind to everyone & anyone, along with a good track record of wins!" Devyn mentioned she wants to eventually become a jumper. Before that she will finish off the larges. After that she will start showing a horse in the equitation, and then hopefully in the jumpers! Devyn's advice to other riders is, "to dream big and work hard because riding comes with a price and so does success! Working hard and dreaming big doesn't mean having a perfect pony, but it's making the pony look perfect whether it is or not!"
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Written by founder Emma Mabry Ava Furbee is a fourteen year old rider from Powhatan, Virginia. She trains with Bet Poarch and recently started to train with Lisa Hammershmidt. As of right now she owns one pony, Capstone's Keep It Simple, or Kippy. She also frequently rides horses/ponies that arrive at her barn and she works with a two year old that is a future Large Pony Hunter prospect. This past year she showed Kippy on her local show circuit in Pleasure Pony and the Children's Pony Hunter and Equitation divisions. Ava mentioned how her riding career started, "My mom, who doesn't ride, randomly signed me up for a lesson one day since I loved animals so much! I was actually super scared at first, but as soon as I put my little feet in the stirrups I knew that's where I was meant to be!" "I can't choose just one thing that I love about riding and showing, because I love everything about it all. I love how rewarding it is to accomplish something with your horse, I love the friendships you make, and I love everything that goes into the sport. I love the stall cleaning, the bathing, the wrapping, and anything else that involves being at the barn around my favorite animals." Ava definitely sees herself riding for the rest of her life, and she plans to pursue an equestrian career in addition to owning another business. "This 2016 show year I am going to start the rated shows with my pony in the Medium Greens. I want to qualify and attend USEF Pony Finals. I would also love to qualify for WIHS. This is my last year on Kippy so I plan on making it a good one! At the end of the year we are going to buy a horse, most likely something green. My main long term goal is to do the Big Eq. I love the equitation and competing in the Medals and Maclays would be an awesome experience. I would also really like to try many different divisions! I've never done the jumpers, or even ridden a jumper, so that is definitely something I would love to try out. I want to ride as many different kinds of horses I can!" said Furbee. Ava's riding inspiration is definitely Lillie Keenan. "I really look up to her because of her positive/can do attitude and how she always gets the job done in the ring. The fact that she attends Harvard University while traveling to Europe between classes to compete also amazes me and is another reason why I look up to her so much." Ava's three words of advice are, never give up! "I've heard a couple equestrians say when riding has it's lows, they're really low, and when riding has it's highs, they're really high. I find that statement totally true. This sport has it's way of making you feel like you'll never be good enough and then the opposite! No matter how many times you get put down, or put yourself down, never give up on those dreams of yours! It really is worth it in the end." 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." 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 Written by founder Emma Mabry Alexandra Gilbertson is a fifteen year old rider from Warrenton, Virginia and has her own farm that she's grown up on, so she's been lucky enough to ride all of her life. On her farm she has about ten horses/ponies. "We have a lot of retired ponies and horses that I'll hop on occasionally to ride for fun, but my main horse would be my horse Luxurious, aka Lux. He's taught me an incredible amount and I'm extremely grateful for him." "Since I've grown up on my own farm I've been able to be around the horses 24/7 and even at the young age when I started riding which was around 2 or 3 I think, I just never wanted to stop. I love all the work that goes into riding whether it's grooming, cleaning stalls, cleaning tack, and well just all the care that goes into the horse. Getting to ride is just the icing on the cake." "This current show year (2015), I've been primarily catch riding though because I decided to give Lux a much needed break as he showed a lot and was so good to me in 2014 in the 3'3" Junior Hunters at the age of 21. But I have highly enjoyed getting to catch ride some amazing Junior Hunters this year while looking for my next horse." "In 2013 I had the honor of being 4th overall as well as the top placing 3ft finisher at the USHJA Zone 3 Tad Coffin Equitation Finals on my horse Luxurious. That same year we had multiple tricolors in the Younger Children's Hunter division including being Grand Champion Children's Hunter at the Warrenton Pony Show." She has been very successful in the 3'3 Junior Hunters. In 2014, Luxurious and Alexandra have won multiple tricolors in the Junior Hunter 3'3" Division. "We qualified and placed well at The National Horse Show that same year. In 2014 we were also Circuit Champion 3'3" Junior Hunter at HITS Culpeper, VHSA Large Younger 3'3 Junior Hunter Year End Champion, VHSA Grand Junior Hunter Year End Champion, MHSA 3'3" Junior Hunter Year End Champion, NCHJA 3'3" Junior Hunter Year End Champion, and Zone 3 Junior Hunter 3'3" Year End Champion." Gilbertson's short term goal depends on the horse she ends up with next, but overall she would eventually like to end up becoming a professional because she loves working with horses of all kinds and trying to get the best out of them. The thing Alexandra loves most about riding is trusting these animals with her life. "There's such a thrilling feeling to it and that's what keeps me riding. Having trust in your horse is a huge part in this sport and once you have trust in your horse, it can make it a lot easier." "My advice to riders would be to never give up and always work as hard as you can whether it's on the horse, or off the horse. People appreciate hard working riders and your horse will too. This sport can be easy to just give up on at times when things don't go your way or as planned but in the long run it'll be worth it." "What I appreciate most in this sport would have to be the rewarding part of it and I'm not talking about ribbons. I love when you're working on something with your horse and at first it might seem like you're getting nowhere but then all of a sudden it all just clicks together and it's very rewarding when all of your hard work comes together." Written by founder Emma Mabry Alexa Stiegler is a fourteen year old rider from Connecticut. Alexa owns three horses and leases one, she shows all of her horses in the 3'3 Junior Hunters. She also has a pony who is on trial at the moment but she showed her in the Medium Pony Hunters. Stiegler's biggest accomplishment was being Circuit Champion at WEF three years in a row. Alexa's goal is to move up to the Large Junior Hunters on her new horse. "My riding inspiration is Kevin Babington because he loves what he does and he always keeps moving forward." "The thing I appreciate the most is the ability to be able to ride and go to all these amazing shows," states Stiegler. Alexa's barn is twenty minutes away from her school so she goes to the barn everyday except for Monday's after school.. During WEF, she gets homeschooled. "My favorite show is WEF because I have been going there since I was two since my mom rides, so I have all of my friends down there." Her advice to anyone who has hopes of being as successful in the show ring as she is, is to "always keep moving forwards and even if you have a bad day, there's always tomorrow." Written by founder Emma Mabry Jessie Spade is a ten year old rider from Terrell, North Carolina. She owns three ponies and shows in the Small Pony Hunters, Small Greens, Medium Pony Hunters, and the Children's Pony Hunters. Spade's biggest showing accomplishment was qualifying her three ponies and making it to Pony Finals, but unfortunately didn't show because she broke her collar bone. Another accomplishment was qualifying one of her ponies for Zone 3 Finals in the Children's Pony Hunters. Jessie's short term goal is to qualify and show at the Devon Horse Show. Her long term goal is to make it to Pony Finals again, and show her own ponies. Jessie's advice is to, "be patient, it can get frustrating. Never give up. It's not always about the blue ribbon it's about getting out there and improving everyday. Take it day by day." Riding has taught Jessie that the time and hard work she puts in pays off in the end. When asked about how she handles showing and riding while in school, Spade replied, "My school is pretty demanding but, my teacher works around my show schedule. I am very lucky." Jessie has been riding for three and a half years and mentioned how it all started, "My mom sent me to summer camp when I was 5 and that's when I fell in love with horses and riding." Photo by Grace Schinsing Written by founder Emma Mabry
Madison Rynard is a twelve, soon to be thirteen year old rider, from Coldwater, Ontario Canada. Madison shows in the mediums and has one pony and one horse. She just sold her small pony because she outgrew him. Madison tends to ride two to three ponies per night. Madison's medium pony Dash is her priority and then after him, there are lots of green ponies she rides. "I have been competitively horse showing for six, coming on seven years and have been riding for seven years." Mentioned Madison. Rynard's biggest showing accomplishments are being Reserved Champion two years in a row at Trillium Championships and finishing fourth overall on the As in CEQ. Madison's goals are to qualify for the royol one day and show at WEF. Madison would like to qualify Dash for the royal, next show season and get a clean sweep at one show. She would also like to show in the Olympics and show at PF3. When asked what she loves most about riding and showing she replied, "I love my pony the most and all the friends I've made showing and just how much fun it is to do." Rynard's advice to other riders is, "you just need to be committed to the sport and enjoy it or else you're not going to want to spend all your free time at the barn." Madison's riding inspiration is Ian Miller and some of the kids her age that do some of the things she dreams to do. "I appreciate all the lessons that ponies and horses can teach you. I appreciate my pony for being such a good boy and my parents for spending so much time and money so I can do what I love and my coaches for teaching me how to ride." When asked how Madison handles school and riding she said, "I try to finish all of my work at school so I don't have very much homework and can spend more time at the barn. Whenever I have horse shows and miss school I have to make sure that I keep up my work when I get back to school." "My favorite place to show is Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park because when we show there we get to stay weeks at a time.". Written by founder Emma Mabry Sophie Gochman is a twelve year old rider out of Palm Beach, Florida. She usually catch rides four ponies and leases two. She shows in Low Children's Jumpers and 3'3 Junior Hunters. Sophie's favorite thing is to bond with her pony. Gochman has been riding since she was eighteen months old, her mother put her on a horse and she loved them ever since. Sophie's goal is to work on her equitation. Her favorite place to show is in Washington, D.C. because she adores the city. Sophie's riding inspirations are her trainers; Amanda, Scott, and Ken because they have such a great bond with their horses. Gochman's biggest accomplishments are winning the USEF Pony Medal and winning Grand Champion at Devon and at Capital Challenge. Sophie's advice to other riders is to, "have fun and ride one jump at a time, try your best, give your pony a lot of love, have fun and watch other rider's rounds." Written by founder Emma Mabry Twelve year old rider Katie Pollock, owns seven horses, but she only rides one, a large green named Georgia. She trains with Emily Elek, and her farm, Stonewall Farm out of Wisconsin, even though she lives in Nebraska. Katie has her own barn at home, so she rides almost everyday, except when Nebraska weather comes to play. "This past year I have been riding a pony that I was campaigning for someone, named Woodlands Padmé, in the small greens." Pollock's favorite show is definitely Pony Finals because "if you don't stress about it, it can be a really fun experience! There is also a ton of fun things to do around the horse park!" Katie's long term goal is to go to Maclay Finals because it's always been really interesting for her to watch all of the really talented riders that get in. Her short term riding goal is to be able to work with her greener horses better, and help them to learn as well as herself. "Some advice I have is to watch the more experienced riders, they can really teach you a lot, and help you to be a better rider." Explained Pollock. "My riding inspiration is probably my friend Gia Rinaldi! She is not only a great rider, but she has such great sportsmanship too!" Pollock's biggest riding accomplishment is getting tenth under saddle and fourteenth overall at Pony Finals 2015 on her small green. "My favorite thing about riding is that it really clears my mind, and I can have a really bad day, so I'll go down to my barn and my horses always bring a smile to my face! My favorite thing about showing is getting to see all my good friends that I don't get to see very often! I also get to see all my hard work pay off, especially on my green ones, it's amazing what you can do with a horse in just a few weeks!" |
AuthorEmma Mabry is a Hunter/Equitation rider from Sonoma County. Archives
November 2016
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