“There were times where I, in the moment, I thought I was going to lose my life,” Dedera says.

She wasn’t sure if she and the gelding could successfully move forward, but she didn’t want to give up. Rojo needed her to help him find a home.

Rojo Rogue as a new arrival settling into his gentling pen before starting training with Dedera. Photo by Lydia Dedera’s Horse Training

Challenging Choice

Dedera never owned a horse as a child, but she grew up going to horse camp. At 15, she accepted a job as a stable hand. There, she discovered she enjoyed working with horses. If she found a one with a problem, she searched for an answer. She started helping friends and acquaintances with their horses, but she didn’t consider herself a trainer.

Dedera didn’t realize Mustangs existed until she stumbled across a video about them on social media. Intrigued by the video and encouraged by friends and family, she entered a local Mustang adoption challenge when she was 19. That’s where she met Rojo.

When her turn to choose a horse for the competition came, she remembers feeling called to select Rojo, so she did. But despite her initial confidence in the selection process, her first encounters with Rojo discouraged her.

After multiple close calls, Dedera desperately searched for a way to establish trust with him. This led her to a revelation: She realized she viewed herself as a stable hand who wanted to be a horse trainer but didn’t feel qualified. She felt out of her element and even awkward, and she wondered if Rojo felt the same about his current situation.

“I chose him when nobody else did; he wasn’t chosen for another competition, and he was one of four horses left,” Dedera recalls. “I truly felt like I was his last chance.”

She returned to Rojo with a renewed commitment, proceeding only as his comfort level allowed. As she gained his trust, his aggression stopped. Dedera continued his training by using positive reinforcement and approach-and-retreat methods. Eventually, Rojo’s fears faded away, and the two formed a relationship built on trust and respect.

The Four Wins

As of March 2024, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) report estimates that there were around 5,154 wild horses and burros in Oregon, but the number of wild horses and burros the state can sustainably support is closer to 2,700.

BLM’s website explains, “Because wild horses and burros are federally protected and lack natural predators, the BLM must manage population growth to ensure healthy wild horses and burros thrive on healthy public rangelands.” Placing wild horses and burros in qualified homes through adoption is one of several management methods.

Erica FitzGerald is the president and founder of Teens and Oregon Mustangs, an organization that matches trainers with wild Mustangs to promote their adoption. It’s through this program that Dedera found Rojo.

For every competition Teens and Oregon Mustangs puts on, FitzGerald aims to accomplish what she calls “four wins.” Those are:

◆ Find the Mustangs entered in the competition good “forever homes.”

◆ Help the trainers develop better horsemanship.

◆ Reduce the number of Mustangs in BLM holding pens.

◆ Provide buyers with solid horses that have fantastic foundations.

FitzGerald says Dedera (who competed in the adult division) checks all of those boxes.

“All those wins are met with Lydia for sure, and that’s our mission,” she says.

By the competition date, Dedera and Rojo had formed a partnership that made it possible for them to compete in what became Dedera’s first horse show. They entered the ridden division of the challenge, where they placed 2nd in the Novice Trail class and 12th overall. But more importantly, Rojo sold for $9,000 to a home where Dedera continues to work with him.

Dedera and Rojo competing together at the Teens and Oregon Mustangs competition. Photo by Jenn Koenig Photography

When Rojo left the competition with his new owner, a flood of feelings rushed over Dedera.

“I remember loading him up in his new family’s horse trailer and fighting tears,” she says. “I handed his owner a bag of his favorite treats, and when I turned around, the whole stable was empty. I had a hard time knowing what to do with myself for the remainder of that day, but I also felt a strong sense of completion.”

Transforming Lives

Rojo’s adoption marked the beginning of what has become a yearly project for Dedera. Her second year competing with Teens and Oregon Mustangs introduced her to a South Steens Herd Management Area (HMA) Mustang, Firefly, that she kept after the competition.

Lydia Dedera and her personal Mustang, Firefly. Photo by Jenn Koenig Photography

In 2024, Dedera helped her entry, a Palomino Buttes HMA gelding named Simba, not only find a home, but also become one of the highest-selling horses in the program’s history, with a sale price of $34,000.

FitzGerald explains that Dedera’s work with the Mustangs she trains makes them into family horses, which helps them find forever homes.

“She puts a solid foundation on her horses and makes them really adoptable,” she says.

At home, Dedera works with all breeds of horses, but Mustangs are her favorite. She’s trained eight from the wild, and estimates that she has worked with more than 100 Mustangs in total. Her experience with Rojo taught her the value of instilling trust and respect in all of the horses she trains.

“If I can get a horse, a Mustang, to trust me as its friend, as its leader, and to want to be with me and to want to please me, then I can do anything with that horse,” Dedera says.

While it’s clear the Mustangs Dedera works with undergo transformations, those horses have transformed Dedera’s life, too. She explains that her faith encourages her to pursue qualities like patience, diligence, integrity and purposeful living in her daily life. Dedera says God has used Mustangs to grow her in those very areas.

“When you’re studying an animal and you’re helping him become his best, you can’t help but look on the inside as well,” she says.

Dedera isn’t certain what the future holds, but she thinks it will be exciting. She can see herself continuing to teach lessons, train horses and compete, but she would also love to start traveling and performing with Mustangs.

Wherever she goes and whatever she does, the uncertainties of yesterday are gone, and the promise of tomorrow looks bright. And today, in the present, Dedera confidently calls herself a horse trainer.

This article about Lydia Dedera appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Lydia Dedera: Changed by Mustangs appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

When she was 12, Lawson’s family moved into a renovated farmhouse. And horses were soon a significant part of her life. “I was lucky enough to be included in activities with friends who were active in the equine show community. I started taking lessons and trail riding as well as competing in local shows, and I was hooked,” Lawson says.  

Kara Lawson, a licensed veterinary technician and owner of Infinite Equine Laser Therapy, LLC, performs therapeutic laser therapy on Tigo, a 7-year-old German Riding Pony. Photo by Julie Maddock

Recognizing a Need

Lawson’s love and respect for animals led her to pursue a career as a licensed veterinary technician, and she graduated in 2019. And it was while working at a veterinary clinic that Lawson was first introduced to photobiomodulation—commonly known as therapeutic laser therapy—and was impressed by the results and success stories she observed in the small-animal setting.  

As she continued working at clinics, Lawson began to see the real need for laser therapy for horses.

“I took certification classes through the American Institute of Medical Laser Applications, which included medical laser safety, principles in the companion animal practice, and in the equine athlete,” Lawson says. She keeps current with all rehabilitation continuing education (CE) offered through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards as well as other Board-approved platforms. These CE credits cover rehabilitation, lameness, nutrition, and the management of arthritis and metabolic diseases. 

Along the way, Lawson identified a problem.

“I did my research and realized that in Maine, there wasn’t really anyone who traveled to offer laser therapy services,” Lawson explains. “Most people have these services at an equine clinic when working up orthopedic or other issues, but can’t follow up with additional treatments necessary to make a difference.” And although she observed successful rehabilitation services, none included laser therapy with a veterinary-grade Class IV laser.  

So Lawson began mapping out a course to open her own business focusing on laser therapy. Equipped with a business course and good relationships with medical laser device companies, Lawson transitioned to the role of business owner and officially opened Infinite Equine Laser Therapy, LLC in early 2022.   

The Benefits of Therapeutic Laser Therapy

According to The American Animal Hospital Association, “therapeutic laser therapy is becoming an increasingly available option that veterinary practices can offer their patients.” Properly trained veterinary technicians can handle laser therapy appointments (if state regulations permit). Both quite easy and noninvasive, laser therapy can be a helpful addition to many treatment protocols.

“[Photobiomodulation therapy] uses wavelengths of light to promote cell regeneration, pain relief, circulation, inflammatory responses, and release acupuncture points for body harmonization,” Lawson explains. She uses laser therapy to accelerate the healing process on wounds, arthritis, pinched nerves, muscle strains, orthopedics, postoperative incisions, dermatitis, and more. “In other words, nose-to-hooves, ears-to-tail. It complements other rehabilitation and bodywork services, and can be used prior, during, or after exercising.”

The key benefits observed quickly include pain relief (release of endogenous endorphins), decreased inflammation, better blood flow, faster wound healing, and nerve regeneration. For orthopedic and other chronic conditions, expedited healing time is often achieved with multiple laser therapy sessions.   

As a testament to laser therapy’s ability to speed up the healing process, Lawson saw incredible results after performing maintenance laser therapy sessions on a 5-year-old mare diagnosed with multiple suspensory tears. “A recheck ultrasound performed three months later showed very minimal tears, and in some areas, no tears at all,” Lawson says. “Most multiple suspensory injuries can take up to six months to fully heal on their own. Laser therapy cut this time in half, and my client is thrilled to be able to put her mare back to work.”  

Since starting Infinite Equine Laser Therapy, Lawson has helped a number of horses.

“Henry, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred with kissing spine, is one of my long-term patients, and he has had a great experience with laser therapy,” Lawson says. She was able to help Henry with pain and discomfort before and after surgery (interspinous ligament desmotomy and wedge ostectomy) and now provides treatment as a bimonthly maintenance.

Henry, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred with kissing spine has greatly benefitted from laser therapy treatments. Photo by Allyssia Timberlake Photography

“We saw incredibly fast results, including pain relief, incision healing, immediate hair regrowth, and scar reduction,” Lawson says. “Now muscle maintenance is performed as Henry makes his way schooling First and Second Level movements.”

How Therapeutic Laser Therapy Is Performed

Therapeutic laser therapy is considered safe in all equine disciplines, and specific treatment protocols are applied depending on the patient.

“A wand connected to the device is used with either contact or non-contact to apply the treatment,” Lawson explains. “Treatments range from one to five minutes. The Class IV laser applies the highest power at a shorter amount of time, making it ideal for all animal patients and for working around movement, discomfort, or temperament.” 

Lawson performs laser therapy using a wand with direct contact and hand-held device Class IV laser. Photo by Julie Maddock

According to the AAHA, “the FDA divides lasers into four classes based on their power. Class III and IV are the most common lasers used in veterinary practice.”  

When a laser beam is directed to the patient’s tissue, the laser light is absorbed by the skin, muscle and bone. Penetrating at the cellular level, the light photons target water, hemoglobin, and cytochrome C oxidase within the bloodstream and mitrochondria. This stimulates cellular respiration, which plays a crucial role in wound healing, reducing inflammation, and managing pain. 

Veterinary-grade Class IV lasers are specifically designed with a myriad of fine-tuned options, protocols, and even acupuncture settings (using a targeted laser beam versus needles). Treatment duration and laser power are recommended based on factors such as whether the injury is acute or chronic, the type and size of wounds, and even coat color (light penetrates light and dark coats differently).   

Lawson uses a Class IV laser (veterinary-grade) with built-in anatomical protocols designed to deliver accurate therapeutics to specific indications or injuries. Photo by Julie Maddock

And how do the horses react to laser therapy treatments? “In most cases, equines with orthopedic injuries, muscle maintenance, acupuncture points, and generalized pain areas show a great deal of relaxation and releases when working on the area,” Lawson says. “Deep breathing, yawning, closed eyes, stretching, and sleeping can be observed. Some with severe injury or discomfort tend to shy away at first, show signs of annoyance, and then releases usually follow it. If the horse has not experienced bodywork before, they may take a few sessions to express any outward feelings about it.“ 

Even without seeing the signs of relaxation and enjoyment, the laser is still doing its job in treating the area of concern.  

Katie Goodspeed, one of Lawson’s clients and owner of a 7-year-old German Riding Pony named Tigo, can attest to the advantages of laser therapy.

“Tigo has benefitted from laser therapy with everything from basic muscle work to reducing inflammation,” Goodspeed says. “Because it’s so noninvasive, Tigo finds it quite relaxing. We’re so grateful to have found Lawson and been able to incorporate this service into our monthly bodywork routine.”   

Tigo relishes the release of tension during a laser therapy session with Lawson. Photo by Julie Maddock

Although Class IV lasers are very safe to use—even on sensitive areas like a swollen sheath due to an insect bite—they are contraindicated for pregnant mares and for treating cancer.

Lawson also provides kinesiology taping, which “provides immediate circulation to an area of interest, releases muscle spasms and strains. It is also used as a lightweight stabilization tool and joint support. It is inexpensive and easy to apply.”  

Lawson balances a busy work/life schedule as her business grows. “I am very blessed to have an understanding family who knows my love and motivation for my business,” Lawson says.

And she makes sure to carve out time for her two horses—Wallace and Whiskey. Lawson and Wallace, a 13-year-old OTTB, enjoy showing at Second Level dressage. “Wallace came to me with a severe suspensory tear that took him out of eventing,” Lawson says. “I have used laser therapy on him in multiple areas, and he continues to move up the levels with no orthopedic limitations. I use laser to maintain muscle activity, hind end engagement, and relaxation through his poll.” 

Kara and her horse, Wallace, at a 2022 USDF show in Maine. Photo courtesy Kara Lawson

Seeing the success of laser therapy in helping horses heal and experience noticeable improvement drives Lawson to keep pace with her active schedule. Lawson says, “I’m the ‘feel-good lady’… the horses are excited to see me because they know it’s time to relax on the crossties, relieve some pain, fix an issue, or simply enjoy themselves with no expectations.”  

You can learn more about Kara Lawson and the benefits of therapeutic laser therapy for horses by following her adventures on Facebook or visiting her website. 

This article is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Helping Horses Heal Using Therapeutic Laser Therapy appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Could you do the same?

Equine Clipping Business

Originally from Long Island, N.Y., 34-year-old Kristen Abano was a horse girl who majored in communications and English. After college, she worked in office administration at Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists in Elmont, N.Y., for a year before relocating to south Florida. Eager to be more hands-on in the equine industry, Abano began working as a veterinary technician at Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, Fla.

“Once I got into vet med, I thought that would be where I’d work the rest of my life,” she says. “That was my dream job at the time, but the burnout is real in that industry. Toward the end of my time as a vet tech, I started doing some grooming [for private clients]. When I left the clinic in early 2020, I started my own business as a professional groom and made it a legal operating entity in 2021.”

It took three years for Centerline Equine Clipping to create full-time income, but the business has doubled every year. Her own horse, Ace, a Haflinger/Quarter Horse cross, models for her business marketing photos.

Kristen Abano and Ace. Photo by Klara Balsan Media

Centrally located near the show horse hub of Wellington, Fla., Abano is able to service south and southwest Florida. She works on everything from six-figure show horses to the 40-year-old backyard pony.

“Body clipping is not just about aesthetics; some horses need this medically,” says Abano. “Take Cushing’s horses, for example: I have these on a four- to six-week schedule to stay ahead of their coat growth, otherwise they may develop further health complications.”

Abano says clipping is important for keeping horses cool in Florida, especially those with conditions like Cushing’s disease. Photo by Klara Balsan Media

While most of her business is body clipping, Abano offers plenty of other services, including sheath cleaning, mane tidying, private client grooming for shows, and preparing horses for photo sessions.

“Photoshoot prep is one of my favorite services,” she says, noting that she can do all the grooming and hand over an immaculate photo-ready horse, or stay for the duration of the shoot to help with details and getting ears up.

“My favorite part of what I do is getting horses to look and feel their best,” she adds.

Working Thoroughbred Sales

In 2023, an amazing 14,462 Thoroughbreds sold at public auction in North America for gross receipts of $1.2 billion. The average price per horse was $86,114.

Consignors who sell horses at these auctions routinely hire workers who specialize in preparing and handling horses at the sales. The most talented are able to work sales exclusively, rather than working on farms. On average, these consignors pay sales workers $250 to $300 per day.

Giovanni (Gio) Garcia, 31, of Little Village, Ind., has built a reputation as a top hand and makes a living working the country’s biggest Thoroughbred sales.

Garcia travels the country to horse sales and keeps up a steady full-time income stream, spending time with his family between sales.

Garcia wasn’t raised with horses, but he’s consistently worked in the equine industry since starting as a groom at Tampa Bay Downs in 2012.

“I started coming to Ocala and working as an exercise rider and groom on a farm,” says Garcia. “Someone asked me about working sales and told me I could make more money doing that.”

He experienced this firsthand in 2020 when he worked for Claiborne Farm at the Keeneland yearling sale in Lexington, Ky. It was there Garcia found his niche. Since then, he’s been hired by sales consignors to work at Thoroughbred sales in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland and New York.

“I go wherever the horses go,” says Garcia.

Gio Garcia walks a yearling to the auction ring at the Keeneland sale in Lexington, Ky.

During the longest sales, he may be away from home 16 days at a stretch. Once the horses ship in, the days are long and intense with no time off until the sale ends.

Whether he’s tacking up and wrapping the legs of a 2-year-old before a breeze show (where buyers get to watch the horse have a timed workout on the track before the auction) or showing rambunctious yearlings to prospective buyers, Garcia’s focus is always making sure the horses look their best.

“Whether it’s cold, raining, or hot, I love what I do,” he says. “I love horses and I’m paid to do something I love.”

Paul Sharp, one of the industry’s top 2-year-old consigners, sees Garcia’s passion.

“He’s reliable, knowledgeable, communicates well, and has a good touch. He definitely has a passion for the horses.” Ocala-based Sharp has hired Garcia to work all of his consignments since 2021.

As Sharp explains, an experienced hand like Garcia understands what’s at stake with the big sales and pays close attention to detail.

When he’s not working a sale, Garcia is home spending time with his family—his wife Courtney and their almost 2-year-old son, Giovanni Jr.

“He loves horses and already has a pony,” Garcia says with a smile.

Supplement Business

When Jerry Miller was a young man cowboying in Wyoming, he never imagined owning an equine supplement company.

Raised in Sheridan, Wyo., Miller went into the U.S. Navy after graduating high school. After serving his country, he moved to Seattle and worked as a welder for 12 years.

Miller then earned his mechanical engineering degree and moved to Idaho after graduating college in 2002. For the next 15 years, he traveled across the U.S. working as a consulting engineer for a company that built food and beverage processing systems.

“Between my ranching, welding and engineering experience, I was able to come up with new ways for my clients to make money,” says Miller. “I was always on the lookout for a way I could be my own boss.”

Jerry Miller started his business with an entrepreneurial spirit and an idea from a previous job.

That opportunity came in 2019, when Miller wrote an engineering proposal for a nearby CBD oil extraction lab. The owner ended up hiring Miller as the production manager to design and run his extraction lab in Oregon.

“I learned everything I could about the product and processing it,” says Miller.

When he realized the company threw away the hemp after extracting the CBD oil to use in human products, he sent samples for testing. When the results came in, his entrepreneurial mind started spinning.

Testing revealed the hemp contained no THC, but was rich in 18 amino acids that fuel hoof, bone, skin and hair growth, repair muscle, manage weight, and help mental focus, among numerous other benefits.

After doing a trial with horse-owning friends and seeing how readily horses ate it, Miller knew he had a viable product. From there, it was a matter of researching the best way to dry the hemp, grind it, and process it into a supplement.

Miller officially launched Remount on May 1, 2020, during the early days of the pandemic. His company is registered in Idaho and his production shop is located across the border in Ontario, Ore.

Remount is a 100 percent hemp amino acid CBD equine health supplement. It contains 18 vital amino acids, including lysine, methionine, leucine, and more. The supplement is available in both powder and pellet form.

“I put some money in the business to get it rolling, but it was paying for itself by the second year and became profitable by year three,” says Miller. “I’ve seen a 30 to 40 percent increase in sales since 2021.”

In addition to selling online through Remount’s website, Miller has the supplement in eight retail locations in five states, and he has 12 distributors in 10 states.

This fall, he is heading south in his fifth wheel to spend the entire winter in Arizona, doing vendor booths at horse events from November through March.

Advice for Making an Equine Career Happen

Do you have what it takes to launch a career in the equine world?

“There are many ways you can make a living working with horses,” says Abano. “Find what you’re good at and figure out how to make money at it. Make sure it’s something you enjoy and are passionate about. If you’re offering a service, you have to love it.”

Miller recommends researching first.

“Find something no one else is doing and go for it,” he says.

If you’re marketing a product, be prepared to give away samples in the first year to get people to try it. Sponsoring good competitors who use your product also helps get the word out.

For obvious reasons, location matters if you’re offering a service. For example, Abano’s proximity to Wellington and her ability to travel in south Florida set up her business for success.

During show season in Idaho, Miller has a vendor booth at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, which hosts many shows and equine events, allowing him to showcase his product to horse people from a variety of states and different breeds.

Next, don’t skimp on appearances. A professional website is crucial when you’re launching a business. Miller says “before and after” photos of horses using his supplement have really helped promote Remount.

Giving out free samples and using “before and after” photos for marketing helped build Miller’s business.

Finally, take advantage of social media and make the most of your connections.

“Wahl reached out to me after having followed my social media for a few months and asked me if I would be interested in joining their Pro Equine team,” says Abano. “Professionally, having this credential behind my name makes my business more competitive and marketable.” She is now a Wahl ambassador and educator who exclusively uses Wahl Animal products.

“I have consistent sales in over 25 states,” says Miller. “I couldn’t have gotten sales in some of those states without social media. I do a lot myself and have 15 to 20 sponsored competitors who talk about the brand on social media.”

This article about niche equine jobs appeared in the October 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Niche Equine Jobs appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo by Feratay/Adobe Stock

“My Navajo clan name is Ta’neeszahnii,” he says. “The Navajo are maternal, meaning we take our grandmother’s last name.” He grew up inside Navajo Nation on a farm in Cedar Hill, but just outside the reservation where his uncles still keep a horse ranch and his “great auntie” farms the family homestead.

“The isolation of my family farm gave me an authentic, traditional Navajo childhood,” says Englehart, who saw natural beauty up close rather than through a television set. But what his family also saw was how poverty deprived and denied opportunities to the young people on the reservation.

“Which is why my Navajo moved off the reservation—to find work and move beyond the economic injustice my grandmother, mother and ancestors endured, and so I could tell my story.”

The isolation of his family farm gave Hugh a traditional Navajo childhood. Photo by Pabrady63/Adobe Stock

Experiential Learning

Now in his 30s, he lives in Los Angeles, Calif., where he works as an artist, horse rescuer and youth educator. A challenge course designer as well as horseman, he hopes to see experiential learning become as mainstream in the United States as it is in both Europe and the southwest Four Corners area where he grew up.

“In Denmark, empathy and outdoor education are mandatory. Navajo education,” he grins, “called it common sense.”

Hugh at American Jewish University facilitating experiential education. The University partners with the Wounded  Warrior Project using horses to help veterans with PTSD. Photo by H.A. Eaglehart

Hollywood is all about putting on a good show, but when it comes to getting real, this passionate advocate for equine therapy says it’s all about the horses.

Earth Warriors

“I incorporate horses, summer camps, challenge courses, empathy, and my Navajo culture as a teacher,” says Englehart.

It has shaped him into a cowboy who is up for a challenge. One of the state’s top challenge course builders and inspectors, he is special consultant to the California State University-Northridge Outdoor and Recreation Department, home to the largest public-owned challenge course in Southern California, and directing manager for Griffith Park Boys Camp, operated by the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Outdoor Education Department—the largest urban park in North America.

Hugh hugs a Mini named Squishy, whose career is doing TV commercials. Photo by H.A. Eaglehart

He’s carved a niche for himself in the challenge course industry just as it’s evolving to offer more fixed “wilderness type” team-building experiences than expedition-type settings.

The idea, he says, is to use empathy learning and positive memory making to foster a generation of leaders who “understand the importance of cherishing the planet while having the knowledge to become an Earth warrior.”

The Navajo, or in their language, the Diné, believe in two classes of beings. Citing Ray Baldwin Lewis for the Navajo Tourism Department, discovernavajo.com, these are the Holy People, who taught the Diné to live in harmony with Mother Earth and Father Sky; and the Earth People, who do everything they can to maintain that harmony and balance.

It doesn’t get much earthier than helping kids or horses find harmony and balance. The work Englehart does now had its genesis in leaving his home for Los Angeles and finding his way into wrangling and saving horses at a 4,000+ acre municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, home to the iconic the Hollywood sign.

“For me, Griffith Park is about so much more than horses, but horses are where my story begins.”

Photo by Larry Gibson/Adobe Stock

Flights & Totes

From Flora Vista, N.M., to Hollywood, Calif., Englehart has lived and breathed horses since he was “in nothing but a diaper and a Stetson” on his father’s lap astride the family horse, named Red.

“I’m not sure why horses give me flight in dreams,” he says. “Muscle memory? I do know that horses in my dreams signal a good night ahead. Horses give me flight in dreams or nightmares. Horses are why I love nightmares, which are never scary when I’m astride a horse. Nightmares are my chance at courageousness.

“One of the greatest horses I ever worked with was named Butters because he was the color of butter. Riding him felt as smooth as flying. Sometimes for fun we’d ride down to the Los Angeles River and race the trail parallel to the concrete canal system, the cool air blowing in our faces as I flew with Butters straight up to the moon over Glendale.”

Hugh rides a mare named Elsa in front of the last hay barn in Los Angeles, built during the Great Depression, before going to wrangle horses in the rain. Photo by H.A. Eaglehart

Or unfurling the wings of his aunt’s 17-hand Thoroughbred, Tote Sack.

“He was all legs and one gait: rocket fast,” Englehart recalls. “The moment you got on, he took flight. Tote and I were closer than I ever got with [anyone] I knew at the time. The only soul to come close has been a Friesian mare named Allie. I’m certain Allie is Tote reincarnated!

“I remember the names of horses more than I do humans. I think that is partly because horse personalities are more memorable—they’re genuine and larger than life. Horses take up their full space, whereas humans hide too much for Navajo to ever fully trust.”

Hugh as stunt rider playing a Native American warrior at Raleigh Film Studios, across from Paramount Studios. Photo by H.A. Eaglehart

His inability to trust was the most traumatic part of being closeted as a teenager.

“I didn’t come out until I was 23 and completing my last semester of college,” he says. “There’s nothing special about my story, which is actually the saddest part.”

He recently released a book under his pen name, H.A. Eaglehart, called Urban Native: The Musings of a Queer Navajo Cowboy in Hollywood, about growing up Native and the lessons he has learned from life, nature, and horses along the way.

However, his story includes a leg up. A college degree in outdoor education led to a promotion from Ropes Director to Senior Supervisor for Griffith Park Boys Camp last April, and he’s paying it forward. His replacement, Hope Rogers, was his recommendation.

“Our campers are international, have heterosexual and openly [gay] parents, and are surrounded by the spiritually resurrecting qualities of Los Angeles’ most untouched natural habitat,” he says.

An Unspoken Language

For any teenager, self-identity is a daunting undertaking.

“Horses provide a powerfully positive influence in early human development,” says Englehart. “After teaching hundreds of kids from all six continents how to ride, I can say that horses possess an unspoken language that kids speak instinctively, naturally tapping into the ancient bond humankind shares with caballos.

“Horses often perceive children differently from adults,” he continues. “Horses tend to be less trusting of adults because adults are better at hiding emotion.”

Navajo horse sense is handy for experiential therapy facilitators because horses fine-tune their ability to interpret the emotions of predators.

“Horses live by herd mentality, becoming experts in reading body language,” says Englehart. “A herd can feed off of wrangler energy. Stressed out cowboys can literally trigger a stampede. Herding horses taught me in real time how, by relaxing, the positivity of my mood increased, which in turn affected the mood of the herd. Stampedes are dangerous, so it really pays off to be at peace in the world of horses.”

A Hopeful Perspective

He says that children in the programs he works with give him a more hopeful perspective about the world in general.

Sherri Lindsay, City of Los Angeles Senior Director of Griffith Park Boys Camp, says the feeling is mutual.

“Kids love him,” she says. “He sees life differently and connects to people in a different way. Hugh’s easygoing style and love for exploring have taken him from Navajo Nation to the wilds of Hollywood, and we are all better for it.”

Englehart strives to create environments where everyone can thrive as individuals free to pursue happiness within inclusive communities. In therapy or horsemanship, the way to fight fire is not with more fire, but with more harmony.

In Mustangs and in Life

“You will never ride a wild Mustang by getting it to come to terms with your version of reality,” he says, recalling how he discovered the new job of a once-wild Mustang that had come through a rescue where he volunteered as a trainer.

Hugh bareback on rescued Mustang named Lola, who has since been adopted and lives an amazing life in the Hollywood Hills. Photo by H.A. Eaglehart

“A Mustang rehabilitated by the federal government program is easy to spot by the freeze brand on its neck,” says Englehart. “I came across a photo of a firefighter in Oregon battling a wildfire and, looking at the markings on its neck, it was instantly obvious that the horse came from the same rescue where I once trained horses! These rehabilitated Mustangs are sometimes adopted by Hollywood stars (like Conan O’Brien), but many are used by border patrol and wildfire fighters, to carry equipment to the front lines where road access by vehicle is limited.

“My incentive as a Mustang trainer was never to be better than anyone else, but that photo solidified my desire to leave the world in a more harmonious state. How much more harmony can exist if wild horses and firefighters can join forces to battle the flames—literally or figuratively—in front of them?”

Englehart’s book, Urban Native, is published by Incunabula Media of Seattle, Wash., and is available at incunabulamedia.com.

This article about Hugh Ta’neeszahnii Englehart appeared in the August 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Hugh Ta’neeszahnii Englehart: Urban Native appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Juliet R. Harrison.

Horsey Background

Riding forward is all she’s known since she was 10 years old, when a strawberry roan Welsh Mountain Pony named Ginger was “hers” for two riding camp summers at Glen Durham Stables in upstate New York.

Harrison and her summer pony, Ginger, in 1968.

“It was a traditional Pony Club program where we learned everything,” says Harrison. “They took us to local shows in Ulster and Greene counties.”

At the Vershire Riding Camp in Vermont, she picked up the basics of eventing before a summer on Long Island at the Thomas School of Horsemanship.

“I came off during an in-and-out combination where my horse jumped the first fence, then put the brakes on, and his bridle and I ended up on the far side of the second,” she recalls. “He was named Romeo but was no love of mine!”

Photography and Horses

By her 40s, her greatest love—her son—led her back to horses after years spent adulting to earn an MFA in Photography from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She built a work portfolio in retail and administration.

Harrison’s artistic medium of choice has always been photography; shown is her work entitled “All That Glitters.”

“After offering riding lessons to my 5-year-old, who liked them well enough, I realized it was me who wanted to ride,” she reflects. After three years of weekly group lessons, Harrison bought her first horse, Tony. “I had him for 14 years. He was my first horse and my last.”

The Belgian/Quarter Horse gelding was reminiscent of the “amazing” drafts she saw competing in Michigan while studying for her MFA.

“I’d never been able to draw or paint, but I had a camera in my hand since I was a child,” Harrison recalls. “My first ‘real’ equine photos were at that venue. But my immersion into horse ownership inspired me to turn my camera on the world I was part of.

“I shot unlike what most photographers were doing. I got closer to the bodies, cropping and orienting my subjects to focus on light, texture, contrast, and massing. I wasn’t ‘taking pretty pictures of pretty horses.’”

She found others who understood what she was trying to do, pre-Facebook, on a forum called the Equine Art Guild.

“There were thousands of us,” she remembers. “We held online group shows, entered juried shows, networked and supported one another. I was asked first to jury and then direct an online equine art competition called Ex Arte Equinus.”

That led to meeting more horse-focused artists, and by 2009, she was part of a Red Hook, N.Y., art collective.

“We rented a space with a storefront gallery and smaller rooms in the back that we offered as studio spaces.”

A passion project for her studio space turned into Harrison’s full-time work.

Diagnosis & Gallery Beginnings

She was renting one of those spaces for her own work when she got the diagnosis: stage 3 ovarian cancer.

“Between surgery and chemo, I was unable to get out and photograph, and was spooked about going back in the darkroom to do my own printing,” says Harrison. “When I was done with treatment and in remission, the studio space came up for renewal. I had to decide, was I going to give it up?”

The answer came from the artist friends she gathered with each year during Saratoga Race Course’s Thoroughbred racing meet, held during the summer in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Among them was Canadian artist Linda Shantz.

“Linda had gallery representation in Saratoga, so she would drop off work when we met up, and I would pick it up for her at the end of the season and hold on to it for the bulk of the year until she needed to trade something out,” says Harrison.

“I asked if I could show her art in my studio and try to sell it. I’d been selling my own, so I knew how to market it. Linda agreed and I sold one [of her pieces] almost immediately. That was the genesis of Equis Art Gallery. If I couldn’t create enough of my work to sell, I could try to sell work by others.”

Murra (2023), an acrylic /oil/graphite/ink work by Ukrainian artist Kateryna Bailikova. Photo by Equis Art Gallery

She asked her Equine Art Guild/Saratoga friends if they would send her their artwork to sell.

“And they did! I still represent many of them today, including Linda.”

Giving Back Joy

Harrison’s last cancer treatment was in August of 2013, putting her in remission for the last 11 years. She opened Equis Art Gallery in January of 2014, and it now has an international collector base and represents over 30 artists from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the Ukraine.

“Inviting [Ukrainian artist] Kateryna Beilikova was in discussion when war came,” she says. “I’m honored to have her work and amazed that she continues to create and get it out of the country to me, via Poland usually. I am lucky to know her and her work.

“Equis Gallery was my gift to myself. After surviving cancer, I asked myself what could give me joy and let me give back to those I care about. Two communities took care of me when things were at their worst, my equine artists and my Red Hook, so if I can bring support to them, I am thrilled.”

Nevermore (2023), an acrylic painting by Ukrainian artist Kateryna Bailikova. Photo by Equis Art Gallery

Equis Art Gallery has been called the only gallery of its kind.

“[Operating] an art gallery is not an easy business, and every sale means a lot, but one of my favorite stories is of a couple one summer who bought several pieces,” she recalls. “I was so excited I looked them up, and she turned out to be the curator of a famous museum gallery in New York City. Knowing that she found art in Equis worth owning meant a lot.”

This cancer warrior believes in giving a leg up to artists who don’t always find representation and introducing them to collectors who may appreciate their work and want to own it; collectors who want their art like they want their horses—right up close.

This article about Juliet R. Harrison appeared in the June 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Juliet R. Harrison: A Gallery of Dreams appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

An ATV accident at 14 required amputation of Lily’s right arm, but that hasn’t stopped her from her quest for riding. Photo by Rachel Griffin

Horse Lover From Birth

Lily grew up in Tulsa, Okla., a third-generation horse girl thanks to a grandmother and mother who rode. Her mother had a string of retired Quarter Horses that she used to show in breed shows.

“I was ‘born with the defective gene,’ as my dad would say,” Lily says with a laugh. “Even before I could walk, I was on horses with my mom, but it wasn’t until I was about 8 or 9 that I started to take formal riding lessons and got competitive with it.”

Lily started her riding journey with dressage throughout her youth and junior years. She showed hunter/jumpers on her university’s Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association team. She ended up falling in love with the hunters, and that has fueled her continued passion for horses.

Lily started riding dressage, but has shifted to hunter/jumpers as her true passion. Photo by Rachel Griffin

The Accident

Lily was adventurous as a teen—a little too adventurous, she might say. At the age of 14, she was in an ATV accident that required her to be life-flighted to the hospital.

“My arm was amputated on the spot, so it wasn’t that I had amputation surgery—it was a stitch-her-up surgery,” Lily recalls. “My mom met me at the hospital, and as any mother would be, she was freaking out and sobbing. But the first thing I said to her as I was being wheeled into surgery was, ‘I guess I’m going to have to do western pleasure now.’ But the surgeon came in—who I had not yet met at this point—yelling, ‘Over my dead body will you sit on a western horse.’”

The surgeon just so happened to be a Hanoverian warmblood breeder and dressage rider. Lily credits her encouragement to continue riding horses as playing a key role in her healing.

“I would say 99 percent of doctors would’ve told me I was not allowed to get on a horse for at least six months after this hugely traumatic injury,” Lily says. “My doctor told me, ‘Whenever you feel ready, get on a horse.’ And so, a week after I was out of the hospital, I was on a horse again.”

Back in the Saddle

Lily found being around horses to be therapeutic and helped give her a positive outlook on life after her injury.

“Having something to work toward and a goal to achieve really helped my recovery,” she says.

Lily’s recovery was faced with two infections, and she says it took her about nine months to find an equilibrium in the saddle and re-learn how to use her body to effectively cue her horse. She leaned on her first horse—a half-draft pony named Prince—during that time.

“He was pony-ish, and he could be a little devil sometimes,” Lily says. “But after my accident, his attitude changed 100 percent. He knew that I was delicate and fragile, and he took incredibly good care of me, never putting a foot wrong.”

She says losing her arm helped change her perspective on riding, inviting creativity into her process, and causing her to be a more open-minded rider.

“There’s more than one way to accomplish something; riding can be effective no matter how it looks,” Lily says.

Highs and Lows

When thinking about the moments in her life that have meant the most to her, Lily says participating in the very first para show jumping demonstration at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event four years ago was one of them.

But so was competing in her first horse show after losing her arm, which was one year after the accident.

“It was a pretty monumental moment, but honestly, every single day feels like another success,” Lily says. “Even though I lost my arm nine years ago, I feel like I learn something new every day. I discover a little bit more about my body, a little more about what I can do rather than what I can’t do. Every ride has been a highlight, because I can’t take any ride for granted. I didn’t know I would get this far.”

Overcoming the balance and aid issues around having one arm has been her greatest challenge. But more than that, avoiding comparison to other riders’ experience as a youth were additional layers to her growing as a horsewoman.

“The biggest obstacle I’ve overcome is learning that everybody is on a different journey, so it doesn’t matter how old you are, what you’re doing, or how you’re doing it. As long as it makes you happy, that’s all you can ask for.”

Family and Career

In college, Lily studied business administration at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia with a minor in digital marketing and graduated in December 2022. Today, the 23-year-old runs her own business doing social media management and content creation specifically for equestrian brands.

Lily recently married to her husband, Andrew Voss. Andrew is not a horse person, but he’s very supportive of her passion.

She makes social media content about her life as a creative outlet.

“I like to share my journey because I think it’s important to showcase that riding has its ups and downs,” Lily says. “It flows, and riding isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. I also choose to share a little bit more of my day-to-day life. [I like] sharing how you can have a very full life, even if you have a disability—it doesn’t have to limit you in any way.”

Horses and the Life

Her para-dressage horse, Charlie, has now been commandeered by her mom. Lily is in between horses at the moment and rides her trainer’s horses at a local barn while she’s horse shopping. She hopes to re-enter the show ring with a new mount, and plans to make the switch to show jumping from hunter classes.

Whatever she does with horses, Lily lives by a philosophy honed by her past and current experiences.

“No matter what life throws at you, you can always overcome it, however scary things get,” she says. “There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it takes a week, sometimes it takes a year, sometimes it takes 10 years. But it always gets better, and sometimes works out better.”

You can follow Lily on Instagram at @lilybvoss.

This article about Lily Voss appeared in the July 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Meet Lily Voss: An Inspiring Equestrian appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“My love of horses started when I was a little kid,” says Rose. “I was obsessed with horses. At 12, my parents signed me up for riding lessons, and I was hooked. Shortly after that, we bought a horse. And I loved cowboy movies! I’ve worked with some fantastic cowboys and am deeply impressed with their grittiness and commitment to the animals in their care. When it comes to the animal, cowboys don’t quit until the job is done . . . I admire their courage.”  

And although he’s the first to admit he’s not a true cowboy, Rose still “loves the idea of being a cowboy.” His deep understanding of horses and their behavior allows him to help horses and their owners to truly connect, demonstrate mutual respect, and build strong partnerships. Rose’s skills in colt starting, problem-solving difficult behaviors, and training horses in ranch versatility have bolstered his resumé.   

Ryan Rose with Circle Bar Pistol and Jasper. Photo by Shea Ackman

Becoming a Horseman

Rose began working as a professional horse trainer in 2005. He quickly recognized the connection between having a successful horse trainer/clinician career and understanding what it takes to be a true horseman. He studied with world-class instructors, including Pat Parelli and Doug Jordan. Whether presenting at a small clinic or entertaining huge audiences at Equine Affaire or Road to the Horse, his engaging personality and passion for teaching shines through. Rose has a comprehensive training program based from his home in Wisconsin and an impressive following on his YouTube channel @ryanrosehorsemanship.  

Rose finds immense satisfaction in teaching the fundamentals of horsemanship. “I started as a horse trainer, but I soon realized that I needed to educate the owners as well so they could reproduce the results I was achieving.”   

Explaining the nuances between being a horseman and a horse trainer, Rose says, “I think they are separate skills—but there is value in both. A horseman focuses on giving the horse a really good deal—it’s more about the horse, helping him feel more comfortable. When I think of a horse trainer, they may feel pressure to provide a result for the owner. Trainers are very disciplined—in a good way—regularly working the horse, getting them conditioned and prepared for a show, but sometimes the horse can get sacrificed a little bit in that process.” 

Rose believes that being able to intertwine these skillsets can make a difference.

“I think there is value in being a good trainer, in being a good horseman, and in being a good cowboy,” Rose says. “You need to add each of those skills at different times.” 

Ryan Rose teaching groundwork at a clinic. Photo by Shea Ackman

Determining where to apply these skills requires a process of observation.

“One of the first principles of horsemanship that I follow is that I work with a horse at where they are,” says Rose. “Is the horse scared of people? Learned to dominate people? Is he spoiled? Or highly trained but done in a way that the horse felt forced through it?” Rose takes time to observe the horse and owner to see the level of connection, trust, and confidence the horse has for the person.   

To understand the horse fully, Rose stresses this process might take hours, days, or weeks. He watches for any signs that the horse is uncomfortable. “They give subtle tells—with their head, neck, ears, eyes, mouth, muscle tension, what direction they are facing . . . It’s all signals as to where the horse is at. There’s also an intuitive feel to it. It’s like if I’m having a bad day, I could probably fool you and hide it, but I couldn’t fool my wife. She would know. You can develop that with a horse and just feel something is bothering them.”    

Rose’s approach to working with a reactive or spooky horse plays out in his YouTube videos. “Both humans and horses must have levels of exposure to a challenging situation in order to overcome it,” says Rose. “So it starts with the person deciding they want to make a change. When someone shows up at my clinic, I try to figure out if they are ready to face their fear or simply want an enjoyable weekend with their horse. If they are open to change, my job is to find out where they’re at—and then challenge them out of their comfort zone safely. Horses are dangerous, so I carefully read the horse and person. I try to understand why the person is afraid. Is their fear valid? Is their horse dangerous? Is the person on the verge of getting hurt? Or, did they have a bad experience in the past and are bringing that into the present?

“If that’s the case, I’m going to coach them, challenging them through exposure to whatever is causing the fear—riding down a steep hill, cantering, riding bareback, or just being on a loose rein. I’ve seen unbelievable changes in people when you put them in a difficult situation and help them work through it—they become empowered. Their confidence level on the other side is just through the roof. I think it’s a more meaningful approach versus just visualizing it . . . A level of toughness and confidence comes through having to actually do it.”  

Teaming Up As Husband and Wife

In addition to focusing on the mental aspects, Rose helps riders grasp how vital correct body position is to progress and the well-being of your horse. “You could ride lameness into a horse with incorrect body position,” says Rose. Although not an expert in the field of rider biomechanics, he is married to one—his wife, Emily Rose, is a Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner at Reaching Strides Equine Rehabilitation and an integral part of the Rose Horsemanship Center team.

“I make sure the horse is safe, but if the rider is struggling to sit the canter or feeling pain while trotting, Emily and I work together to get that sorted out for the rider and horse’s sake,” says Rose.  

Photo courtesy of Ryan and Emily Rose

Emily actively competes in dressage and is Rose’s business partner. “One of the things I enjoy most about working with my wife is our ability to help people—whether horse health issues or rider biomechanics. I can troubleshoot issues with Emily. It’s all in-house; I don’t have to outsource for that expertise. Emily is such a high-level professional, I have one hundred percent trust in what she recommends. And if Emily sees a horse for a physical issue and it turns out to be a behavioral issue, she can refer to me, and I can quickly step in to help. The response time is so much quicker because we are working together.”  

For Ryan and Emily Rose, it’s all about creating lasting connections between horses and the people who love them.  

Learn more about Ryan and Emily Rose and view upcoming clinics and events at  rosehorsemanship.com.  

This article about Ryan Rose is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Photo by Kirstie Marie Photography

Sabrina has spent her life championing representation, both in the horse world and on the pageant stage. As 2023-2024’s Miss California, she’s building an equine therapy program at Oakland City Stables while completing a graduate degree. It’s clear this beauty queen is just getting started.

Sabrina’s Equestrian Background

Sabrina does not come from a horse-centric family, and says equestrian is not a typical hobby for the African American community in Georgia, where she grew up. But Sabrina’s neighbor Irina was from Russia, and she kept her horses at a nearby stable. Through her, Sabrina was introduced to horses at age 5.

“After school, she picked me and her kids up from school, and other neighborhood kids, and brought us to the barn after school,” Sabrina says. “It’s funny, because she loved dressage, and her kids weren’t all that into it, but she taught me all she could on her horse. When she realized I was very into it, she encouraged my parents to enroll me in more formal lessons at the local riding school in Georgia.”

Feeling a friendship with horses, Sabrina was head-over-heels—and still is today.

“I’ve always loved all animals, and I was just drawn to horses—I think they’re beautiful, majestic creatures,” Sabrina says.

Show jumping became Sabrina’s equine sport of choice.

“I think I wanted more of a challenge than dressage, and I liked jumping over things,” Sabrina says. “After I’d gotten the basics of riding on the flat down, and caring for horses and grooming, I started jumping, and I loved it. I felt like I was flying. You can go fast around the jumps or go slower, and jump higher. It’s a rush, and it’s super exhilarating.”

Show jumping became Sabrina’s equestrian discipline of choice because she loves the speed and exhilaration. Photo by Aelise Gagliano

Continuing with riding lessons, Sabrina competed on an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team in high school, eventually becoming captain of the team. She credits her coach, Tracy Nininger, with furthering her horsemanship education. Nininger now teaches at Ardmore Equestrian Center in Fincastle, Va.

“That experience with IEA competition and training with Tracy prepared me for the transition to going to the collegiate level with the IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association),” Sabrina says.

Journey in Education

Sabrina graduated high school with a 4.0 and a resume full of Advanced Placement classes and extracurriculars, such as volleyball and track, along with equestrian. Based on academics, she narrowed her choices of college to two on the West Coast: Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley.

“I wanted to go to a prestigious school that would challenge me academically,” Sabrina says. “I got into Berkeley, and I visited the campus and fell in love. Eighteen-year-olds don’t really think things through. I didn’t know anybody, but I figured it would be fine. So I just packed my stuff up and left for this big adventure across the country.”

Sabrina joined the IHSA team at UC Berkeley and worked her way up to becoming team captain, as well as becoming a regional-level finalist.

Sabrina went back to Georgia in the spring of 2020, her senior year, due to university protocols for the pandemic. After graduating with a degree in business administration and a minor in Spanish literature, she began pursuing her master’s degree in public administration with a specialization in nonprofits at the University of Georgia. Her schooling is online, however, so she’s back living in Los Angeles, Calif.

Pageants and Volunteer Work

Sabrina has also been competing in beauty pageants at the highest levels, and her community service initiative highlights her nonprofit work in equine therapy.

“When I competed for Miss USA in 2021, and for Miss America in 2023, my community service platform has always been equine therapy,” Sabrina says. “My end goal is to run my own therapeutic center as a nonprofit, with me as the executive director.”

Since 2012, Sabrina has volunteered with several equine therapy programs serving veterans, first responders, inner-city children, and people with disabilities. She currently volunteers as the Director of Fundraising for the Metropolitan Equestrian Preservation Society. She works on social media marketing, paperwork, funding, and grant writing.

Sabrina currently volunteers as the Director of Fundraising for the Metropolitan Equestrian Preservation Society. Photo courtesy Sabrina Lewis

Sabrina has also worked with the Compton Junior Equestrians in Compton, Calif. In 2024, she volunteered with the Happy Hooves nonprofit in the East Bay area of Northern California.

“I just want to make equine therapy more accessible,” she says. “I never would’ve known how much I’d love horses, or wanted to go pro and go to competitions, if no one had introduced me to them. If I didn’t have that next door neighbor, my life would look very different. So when I get to interact with kids and they tell me it’s their first time petting or riding a horse, that’s so special to me.”

With Happy Hooves, Sabrina helps bring Miniature Horses to places like children’s hospitals, where kids can interact with them and be introduced to equine therapy.

“The work and the possibilities really are endless,” she says.

Chasing Dreams

Sabrina did not grow up competing in pageants. But in high school, her Spanish teacher, Paige Galt, Ed.D., thought Sabrina would make a good role model for younger students because she was involved in school, was a multi-sport athlete, and participated in community service organizations.

“She thought that would be a great platform to do pageants, especially since being an equestrian was unique,” Sabrina says. “She recommended that I go to her pageant coach, Kim Vaughn, in Atlanta. And the rest is history.”

Sabrina competed in teen pageants throughout college. Her senior year, she tried for Miss California USA. She didn’t win the first time, but the second time, she was crowned with the title.

Sabrina Lewis was the 2023-2024 Miss California. Photo courtesy Sabrina Lewis

Many little girls dream of becoming Miss USA or Miss America someday. But for Sabrina, while pursuing these titles, she’s shared her own dreams of competing in Olympic equestrian events.

“For Miss America, my talent is ‘Her Story,’ a monologue that I wrote myself,” she says. “I talk about being an equestrian and wanting to compete at the highest level, maybe trying out for the Olympic team in 2028. It’s going to be in Los Angeles, California.”

For Miss America, Sabrina’s talent was ‘Her Story,’ a monologue she wrote herself about how you can be successful while still being unique. Photo courtesy Sabrina Lewis

Sabrina has a unique opportunity in her role as Miss California. Choosing equestrian as a talent for national pageant competition is highly unusual. And Sabrina is only the third Black woman to receive the title of Miss California; the last Black woman to win was 25 years ago.

A Place for Athletes & Animal Lovers

“I’m hoping to break barriers in a lot of different facets,” she says. “I’m being authentic to myself, wearing my naturally curly hair, and not pretending to be someone I’m not. I’ve had people say, ‘Why don’t you just learn to dance or sing something for your talent?’ I have to politely say no. That’s not me. I’m not a singer, I’m not a dancer; I’m an athlete. The thing that is most authentic and true to me is my passion for horses and how much I love animals. So that’s what I want to bring to Miss America.”

A little girl told Sabrina once that she didn’t think she could be Miss California because she didn’t sing or dance and she wasn’t a performer. But seeing Sabrina wear that crown opens doors for girls like her.

“It’s nice to hold space with Her Story, saying you can be an athlete, you can be an animal lover, you can be unique, and you can still be successful,” she says. “That’s very important to me. No matter what your skin color, no matter what you’re interested in, I think it’s important. It’s hard to fathom accomplishing something if you’ve never seen someone else do it.”

What’s Next

Being both an equestrian and Miss California has intertwined in surprising ways, according to Sabrina. As Miss California, she’s encouraged to connect with her community at the state and especially the local level. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., hosted Sabrina’s Miss America sendoff party, and named one of the races at the track the Miss California Invitational.

Sabrina competed at Miss America in January 2024, and although she didn’t win the title, she completed her reign as Miss California. Now, she hopes to compete at the professional level in equestrian competition, with Olympic-level dreams.

Sabrina Lewis at the Miss America Pageant in January 2024. Photo courtesy Sabrina Lewis

In January 2023, Sabrina placed second in her division at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla. For 2024, she’s looking to get a horse sponsored and move up to a higher jumping division.

“I want to keep competing to the highest level and to the best of my ability,” she says.

Her mom, Sylvia Allen Lewis, says Sabrina’s devotion to horses and pageants have shaped her character. She and Sabrina’s dad, Richard, are proud of the path she’s pursuing.

“I think the whole experience, from the very beginning, has taught her compassion and patience with herself and with people and with animals,” says Sylvia. “She’s intuitive with animals, and with the pageants, she just gives away her knowledge so freely. She has a sweet spirit, and a strong work ethic. She’s always willing to help people.”

Sabrina hopes to inspire others to pursue big dreams, like her parents did for her. “It’s hard to fathom accomplishing something if you’ve never seen someone else do it,” she says. Photo by Kirstie Marie Photography

When asked what guidance she’s taken to heart over the years, Sabrina says the best advice came from her parents.

“They tell me to never let anyone tell me I can’t do something,” she says. “They’ve always encouraged me to dream big and follow my dreams, and I’m very grateful for that.”

If you’re interested in supporting or learning more about Sabrina’s journey, reach out via Instagram @bribrisweet.

This article about Sabrina Lewis appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Sabrina Lewis and Her Crowning Achievements appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

I could feel her staring at my boots, caked with mud from some last-minute yardwork before my flight. Now at the airport gate, I looked up and caught her eye. She was well-dressed, probably in her 70s, waiting, like me, for our turn to board the plane.

“Do you ride?” she asked.

She wasn’t judging me. She recognized a fellow horse girl. Though it had been decades since I last seriously rode, my fashion preference for paddock boots gave me away.

“Oh,” I said. “Not for years. I gave it up when I went to college, and then, well, life took over.”

Two grown women, sharing a common bond in an unlikely place.

Growing up as a Horse Girl

Rooted in our childhood and adolescence, this connection between horsewomen is weighted with the understanding of what it means to work tirelessly and care for something unconditionally. It empowered us, built our confidence, and continues to define us.

And yet, in adulthood, many of us rarely speak of it. “Horse girls” are openly mocked as oddballs in American culture. Society forgives us our childhood obsessions but expects us to put away our youthful passions and grow up.

As an adolescent, horses and ponies offered an escape from my complicated relationship with my mother. When things got tense in the house, I sought refuge in the barn, grooming our family horse, Pridey, and tacking him up to hit the trails.

While growing up, Nancy’s family horse, Pridey, was her best friend, her protector, and her guide.

Steady and fearless, Pridey taught my two older sisters to ride before me. The three of us were raised around horses, a lifestyle rooted in our mother’s obsession. We rose early every morning to feed and turn them out before school. On weekends, we worked with trainers and rode competitively.

By the time I hit my teens, I was done with the pressure, both from competition and in particular, my mother. But I was not done with horses.

On the trails, I often dropped my reins and let Pridey lead the way, taking me far from my teenage troubles into our own special world. Pridey was my best friend, my protector, and my guide.

Pure Determination

It was on one of my trail rides that I met Kendra Hansis. Turning a corner, Pridey’s ears pricked up and there they were: Kendra and her pony, Butterball. We were both trespassing on land owned by a local farmer, and I immediately understood that it was Kendra who had been pulling tree branches over the dirt-bike paths to make jumps.

Unlike me, a horse girl by circumstance, Kendra got there through sheer will and determination. She read every book about horses and riding that she got her hands on. Her parents discouraged her, saying they could not afford a horse, and definitely didn’t have the money for vet bills, farriers, trainers, grain, and boarding costs.

As riders, we were taught back then that if you fall off, you must get back on. Kendra applied that lesson in every aspect of her life.

A friend of her aunt’s let Kendra groom her backyard pony whenever she wanted. That turned into a daily habit, and the woman eventually gifted the pony, Butterball, to her. That woman’s friend later offered Kendra another horse, Katy, knowing the mare would receive far better care under Kendra’s supervision.

In time, Kendra essentially became part of my family, joining me in my weekend chores, mucking stalls, filling water buckets, and lugging hay bales. Together, we hit the trails, where Kendra took chances and pushed the limits, racing over makeshift jumps and dodging branches and trees along the way.

Girl to Woman

“When you’re riding, you’re literally above everyone,” Kendra shared with me recently. “I remember hearing women say they lived in fear of men attacking them when they were out. I grew up on a horse. No one could catch me.”

The sense of independence that’s so empowering to horse girls can be a threat to others. A quick search on TikTok found a meme about a girl with “horse girl vibes,” which the voiceover describes as “quirky, like bizarre, like unhinged.”

That stigma starts to stick as girls become young women, when society expects us to trade in our obsession for horses for a more traditional path.

I was no different. I was 18 when I last saw Pridey. It was time to “get serious” and go away to school. Time to think about my career. Fall in love. Have babies. Pridey was sold so he could teach another little girl to ride.

Kendra took a different path. She entered the University of Connecticut in pre-vet, but she switched her major to English after one semester.

She fell off.

She ended up working in the school’s horse barns, rising at 5 a.m. to clean stalls before class. In time, the barn manager sent her to work at the breeding barn, where she said she “kind of got the bug.”

She got back on.

Despite meeting skeptics along the way, she studied horse breeding and bloodlines, learning the science of selecting the right stallions for the right mares. In 2001, she started Runningwater Warmbloods, her breeding operation, with a goal “to make better horses.”

Twenty years later, the only horse she could afford to breed in 2015, Fortunato H2O, was named grand champion at the prestigious Dressage at Devon Breed Show.

“When they called champion, I’m bawling,” Kendra said. “Me, a middle-aged lady doing her best with the one horse she bred in 2015. You hope you have a day like that in your life.”

Horses Are Still a Part of Me

Though I left that life behind, it’s still a part of me—the part that’s OK with a little dirt on my boots; the part that, in other aspects of my life, keeps getting up, even after I fall.

Like Kendra, the woman in the airport didn’t give up her horse girl days. She told me she made sure her kids rode, and then her grandchildren.

“Nothing is more important than learning how to be responsible for something, for having something that relies on you every day,” she said before we boarded our plane.

These days, Nancy is back at the barn with her daughter, who is learning to ride.

Today, my daughter is learning how to ride. Back in the barn, I listen to her trainer from the sidelines, watching the different personalities of the school horses, admiring their grace and power as they patiently support my daughter.

Just like Pridey did for me.

This article about Nancy’s “horse girl” journey appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How a Horse Girl Stayed Horsey Despite Not Riding for Years appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Wendy Hofstee on a ride in Costa Rica.

Hofstee is the founder and owner of Unicorn Trails, a company that organizes and leads horseback riding vacations around the world. The trips can last from a few days to several weeks.

Born in Holland and raised in South Africa, she moved to Britain after qualifying as a veterinarian. A dedicated traveler, she would work for six months, then travel for six months. Whenever possible, she’d find a way to work horses into the itinerary.

Seed of an Idea

The idea of turning her passion into a business came in 1999 while on a lengthy riding trek in the Amazon with friends. People often asked about her adventures and were interested in trying something similar.

Using her South African connections, Hofstee started arranging riding safaris. Using her dining room table as an office, she soon organized trips to South Africa, Botswana, and Madagascar. She now has a network of nearly 200 employees, partners, and guides.

“I’m very passionate about getting as many people as possible on the back of a horse and exploring,” says Hofstee. “My philosophy is that if you can persuade a significant proportion of the population to strap two sticks on their feet and throw themselves down a snowy hill, why can’t you persuade them to get on the back of a horse?”

Cultural Exploration

One of her main goals is learning about the culture of other countries. Horses, she says, are the ideal starting point.

“You find horse cultures in the most unexpected places,” says Hofstee. “Who would have thought that the highlands of Ethiopia had a horse culture? When you speak the language of the horse, you’ve got a common language. You can communicate.

“I remember riding into a little village in the Amazon, and people immediately came out and started asking questions about our horses—how old they were, what did we pay for them, where did we get the saddles, all sorts of things,” she recalls. “We always try to ride the local breeds and use the tack and local habits. Those things usually develop that way for a reason, and understanding that is one reason we travel on horseback.”

Gentle Riding

The notion of a riding vacation can be simultaneously exciting and intimidating.  Galloping across the savannah with a herd of zebras sounds thrilling, but also terrifying for people who are nervous on strange horses and in strange surroundings. Hofstee stresses that her trips are designed with that concern in mind.

“Most rides are taken at a walk,” she says. “The vast majority are for people who want to have a nice ride on a well-schooled, well-trained horse. Maybe we have a few trots and a gentle canter, but we don’t want anyone to feel unsafe or uncertain. I understand that. I don’t bounce anymore when I fall, either. Our horses know their jobs and take care of their riders. Someone who is a novice and spends a day or so learning how to handle a horse is often a better rider for these trips than an experienced rider who wants to direct the horse all the time.”

Out for Adventure

Hofstee does keep a list of riders who want more adventure. She’ll often invite them on scouting trips—initial rides to see if a new destination will fit her needs. Even if the trip doesn’t work out as hoped, the group adapts to the situation and has a unique adventure.

Even with planned trips, the unexpected can happen, like the time a herd of elephants casually strolled through their campsite one night. The group had inadvertently stopped on a trail regularly used by the local herd.

“The horses were on a picket line and panicked, of course,” Hofstee recalls. “We spent some time tracking them down and getting them back.”

Her catalog of trips covers the world and is constantly changing.

“It depends, in part, on our partners,” she says. “Some guides do many trips, while others specialize in one or two specific experiences.  We’re subjected to changes as the world changes. One of my favorite trips was to Lake Baikal in Russia, but with the political situation, it’s not safe to go there now.”

Her other favorite is Iceland.

Personal Touch

At a time when many tour companies use impersonal websites, descriptions, and reviews, Unicorn Trails works one on one with customers. About 40 percent of her customers are return clients.

“People get very addicted to exploring the world in this way,” says Hofstee. “A lot of people buy five or six trips a year. Our highly trained people match [customers] up with a trip individually. We make sure that people get the experience they want.”

A Unicorn Trails ride splashes through the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Hofstee wants the world to appreciate the magic of discovering the world on horseback.

“There’s a quote that says, ‘Wherever man has left his footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization, we find the hoofprints of a horse beside it.’”

This article about Wendy Hofstee of Unicorn Trails appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Wendy Hofstee: Riding Around the World with Unicorn Trails appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.