From the outside, Kent Paulette’s paintings feel untamed: alive with movement, texture and emotion that seem to surge beyond the canvas. His horses are not posed or restrained; they arrive mid-motion, carrying wind, water and instinct with them. For Kent, painting has never been optional. It has been a necessity—an instinctual response to existence itself.

Kent is entirely self-taught, a path that demanded early trust in intuition rather than instruction. Beginning in his teenage years, painting became an emotional outlet and a way to explore ideas he couldn’t articulate with words. “In the brushstrokes,” he said, “I can see what I’ve been feeling and thinking.”

Early on, one of Kent’s biggest challenges was learning not to over-control the outcome. Like life, painting resists force. Frustration and anxiety in daily life began shaping a process that pushed back against those tendencies. Over time, he developed a style that left behind precision and emphasized surrender to the process.

Today, preparation matters as much as execution. Before painting, Kent connects with nature, often heading to the mountain creek near his North Carolina studio. He works listening to music, avoiding conversation, and allowing the painting to reveal itself. Rather than starting with a fixed vision, he looks forward to discovering what the work wants to become.

A Year That Changed Everything

A major turning point came in 2015 for Kent. The year began with “Free Like the Wind,” a horse painting that showed a new creative direction, followed by weeks of sledding and memories of solitary hours spent body surfing in the ocean the year before. Those physical, immersive experiences began reshaping how Kent approached movement and energy on canvas, and helped shape his new horse paintings.

That same year, a collector purchased 24 of his paintings, including four featuring horses, filling an entire home with his work. Soon after, Kent painted “Galloping Sunlight” and a portrait of Taylor Swift, which started the new era of his work. It was also during this time that he developed what would become a defining technique of his process: his “creek washes.”

Each morning before beginning a new painting, Kent hikes to the creek. He immerses his hands and face in the water—sometimes in the dead of winter—then collects water from different currents. Fast-moving water, slow-moving pools, bubbling springs are each gathered separately and mixed directly with acrylic paint. The water is used intuitively, staining the canvas and revealing the textures beneath.

The year closed with another milestone when country music star Eric Church purchased four paintings at Kent’s gallery in Banner Elk, North Carolina, including “Quantum Entanglement” and a portrait of Frank Sinatra.

Texture, Music and the Role of Chance

Horse experiences throughout his childhood left an imprint, and the excitement of attending horse races in Lexington, Kentucky, only enhanced his view of their speed and power. Now living in a rural mountain community, he regularly sees horses grazing in neighboring fields and those quiet yet powerful presences continue to inspire his work.

He began painting horses in the early 2000s, drawn to their scale and intensity. In 2009, he completed “Thunderstomp,” the largest painting he had ever made at the time. “I could feel, and almost hear, the power coming from the horse,” he recalled.

Since then, his horse paintings have found homes across the United States, from Kentucky and Wyoming to Colorado, Tennessee and Florida, including large-scale commissions and seven-foot-tall custom works. But sales are secondary to connection. Kent is drawn to horses for their wildness, their sensitivity and their mystery. “Their reaction to existence mirrors my own,” he said. “I feel a sense of camaraderie with them.”

Viewers often feel a strong emotional pull when standing in front of his horse paintings. Kent believes horses communicate freedom, perseverance and hope in a way few other subjects can. Those qualities echo through titles like “Songs in the Wind,” “A Shaman’s Dream,” “At the Speed of Love” and “Spirit Tribe.” In group compositions, the dynamics between horses, the shared energy of the herd, become part of the narrative.

Kent’s process is physical and music-driven. He begins each painting by applying thick texture with an oversized palette knife while listening to post-punk music. This stage is fast and aggressive, locking wild energy into the surface. No matter what happens later, that underlying intensity remains.

As the painting develops, his soundtrack shifts to 1970s Afrobeat, jazz and experimental electronica, encouraging movement and large, expressive brushstrokes. Classic rock makes frequent appearances, sustaining the physical momentum, especially on large canvases. Kent then builds his paintings using only the three primary colors plus white, mixing everything by hand. When “creek washes” are applied, the water flows unpredictably over the textured surface, and then chance becomes essential. Unexpected moments often become the most alive parts of the painting. “I rely on instinct to adapt,” he said. “If I tried to control it too much, the horse wouldn’t breathe.”

Knowing When to Stop

Deciding when a painting is finished is less about logic than listening. Once, while painting live at a fundraiser for a horse retirement sanctuary, Kent told an onlooker that he would finish the piece when it started to rain. Thunder rolled in shortly after. He signed the painting, and it was auctioned on the spot.

That openness to timing, nature and a little magic remains central to his work. Some finished paintings may appear less literal, but those same moments often make them feel more like horses. Accepting that balance has shaped not only Kent’s art but his approach to life as well.

As his audience continues to grow, Kent is embracing larger-scale projects, including an eight-foot-wide horse painting for a villa in Dubai currently in the works. Kent regularly donates paintings to horse rescue fundraisers and gifts works to local nurses and firefighters as a way of saying thank you and supporting their causes.

While running horses have long dominated his work, Kent is interested in painting horses at rest, exploring their quieter moments while also experimenting with pushing abstraction further, trusting instinct to lead without knowing exactly where it will land.

For Kent, that uncertainty is essential. Like the horses he paints, his work lives between power and sensitivity and is guided by movement and the willingness to let go.

For more information, visit kentpaulette.com

The post Kent Paulette: Letting Movement Lead the Canvas appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.

Portraits by Adrienne Morella

Boyd Martin has earned a lot of eventing titles over the years. He’s the 2025 USEF International Equestrian of the Year, a four-time Olympian, two-time Pan Am gold medalist, five-star winner and is currently ranked number two in the world. He may be a household name in the equestrian community, but inside the Martin home at his Windurra USA in Cochranville, Pennsylvania, Boyd’s best known as Dad—and the fourth “boy” in a family of five.

Mornings at Windurra start early with Boyd and his wife, Silva, trying to get the boys—Nox, Leo and Koa—ready for the day. “I hear Silva yelling for everyone to get ready starting at 6:30 a.m., because the boys are refusing to eat breakfast, saying they aren’t hungry. Trying to get them dressed is like herding cats,” Boyd said. “Luckily we have our nanny of 11 years, who comes to look after Koa, our 2-year-old, around the same time we shovel Nox and Leo off to the school bus.”

Once the boys are squared away for the day, Boyd and Silva head to the barn to run their respective elite programs. “We are so lucky that we live on the farm,” Silva said. “We can walk outside and get right to riding and/or teaching for the day. I do that until 3:20 p.m., get the boys off the bus and start getting them ready for sports in the afternoon, feed them and do homework. When Boyd is home he does a lot of sports activities with the boys, which is very helpful. Then we’ll rinse and repeat the whole thing again the next day.”

When the boys aren’t busy with sports or after-school activities, they’re outside enjoying all the kid-friendly amenities on the farm. “Our competition schedules are relentless, so we’ve tried to make our farm pretty fun to be around. We put a pool in out back, we’ve got a trampoline, there’s a zipline, a basketball hoop, ice bath and hot tub. One of the hard lessons for me is I think I’m sort of reliving my youth in Australia and sometimes I get caught being one of the boys and causing chaos,” Boyd said. “Silva often has to remind me I’m a grown up.”

Becoming Boyd

Boyd’s journey to the Olympics actually began at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, where his parents, Ross and Toy, met. Toy was an active child like Boyd, and her father bought her a pair of five-dollar ice skates at the local pawn shop to get her energy out on the frozen lakes in Illinois.

“She won a raffle for 10 ice skating lessons at the ice rink that had just been built near her house, fell in love with ice skating and moved to Norway at 17 to start training for speed skating. She went on to compete in the 3,000m speed-skating race at Grenoble,” Boyd said.

On the other side of the world in Australia, Boyd’s dad left school at 14 years old and went to work on a sheep farm near the Snowy Mountains. “The farmer he worked for was a keen Nordic skier and trained my dad in cross-country skiing. He went on to represent Australia in the 15km and 30km ski races,” Boyd said. “Mom followed Dad back to Australia after the Games, where they later got married and had me and my sister.”

Although his parents were Olympians themselves, they never pressured Boyd to follow in their footsteps. Rather, he was encouraged to participate in any and every sport from a young age. “Sport was really important in our household. I played soccer, cricket and rugby; I was a good runner, a surf lifesaver and rode with the local Pony Club,” Boyd said. 

Boyd’s involvement with Pony Club changed the trajectory of his life, eventually catapulting him onto the world stage. Joining 100 other riders, Boyd and his sister would leave their 2.5-acre family farm each Sunday to embark on a Pony Club adventure.

“It took about an hour and a half to ride to the meet-up point. Then we’d spend the day doing mounted games, racing, jumping, doing some flat work and cross-country. We’d take a break for lunch midday, tie the horses to a tree, give them some hay, get back on, finish the day, and then start the ride home. In the winter, some of the parents would drive behind us with their headlights on to make sure we made it home safely,” Boyd said. “Pony Club is where I first fell in love with horses.”

The freedom Boyd felt in the saddle was a stark contrast to what he felt at his desk in the classroom. “I was a terrible student, had trouble concentrating and sitting still. It was very, very obvious that I wasn’t going to become an accountant. Not once did a teacher ever talk to me about university. To be honest, my mom and dad never brought it up at the dinner table or ever mentioned it,” he said.

Instead, Boyd’s parents encouraged him to follow his heart and pursue a career with horses. “Literally the day after I finished high school, my mom and dad helped me pack my bags and I moved up to the bunkhouse at the New South Wales Equestrian Center with my horse, Flying Doctor, and started doing horses full time,” Boyd said. “I think basically they wanted to get me out of Sydney and out of the house, so they found a training center with a lot of great coaches.”

Much like Ross and Toy had done with their respective sports, once given the opportunity to train with talented coaches, Boyd flourished. One of 14 working students on a farm with 300 horses, Boyd was involved in breaking in horses, eventing, jumping, breeding and branding the horses. 

“It was sunup to sundown seven days a week. I just loved that I was working horses all day every day and there was such camaraderie amongst all the riders. I loved the process of training towards a goal,” he said. “At competitions it wasn’t all about winning, but rather the challenge of getting around the course unscathed.”

New Adventures

When Boyd met Silva at the New South Wales Equestrian Center, he was not in an unscathed condition. “I had a broken leg at the time. I’d actually broken my knee in nine places and was on crutches. I had hair down to my shoulders and was a bit feral,” Boyd admitted.

Legendary German dressage trainer Rudolf Zeilinger had sent Silva to Australia with three stallions he had sold. The plan was for Silva to help the stallions get settled into their new home, learn English and return home to Germany. After spotting Silva, Boyd had other plans.

“I gathered up some courage, hopped over to her on my crutches and invited her to the Newcastle Horse Races the next day. I don’t think she quite understood me, but she went anyway,” he said. “I carefully selected eight of my good mates, who were a bit wilder and more out of control than me, so I was the best of the bad lot. I think Silva was speechless after watching the others, so I swept her off her feet.” 

Boyd and Silva quickly became a team. “It wasn’t really a plan; it just worked out that way. Silva had dressage horses, I had eventing horses and we rented paddocks together. Silva rode to the Grand Prix level and I rode in all the four- and five-stars in Australia and New Zealand,” Boyd said.

Feeling like he’d achieved and done everything he could do in Australia, Boyd was ready to tackle competitions, like Kentucky and Badminton, that he’d only read about in magazines. At the time, those events seemed a world away. Undeterred, Boyd sold a few horses to fund his next adventure and put his horse Ying Yang Yo on a plane to the United States.

“A friend of a friend got me in touch with Phillip Dutton and I asked him if I’d be able to rent a stable for my horse. We left Australia in the summer and arrived aboard a cargo plane in the middle of winter. I still remember this bloody blizzard of snow gusting into the side of the plane,” Boyd said. “It was a surreal experience; and then we went to Phillip’s.”

Boyd didn’t know anyone at his first competition at Southern Pines (now Carolina International), but that didn’t dampen his love for his new adventure. “I just rode around Advanced straightaway and loved America. I ended up placing 11th at Kentucky. Before I headed back to Australia, I was having a couple of beers with Phillip and he said, ‘Why don’t you come back and work for me?’” Boyd said. 

Silva had come over to the U.S. to cheer Boyd on and was equally excited about the opportunity to come to America. Within six months, the duo sold all their horses and belongings in Australia. “We got married on December 29, 2006. Two days later, I boarded a plane to America and Silva got stopped at customs because her visa hadn’t come through. Six weeks later she joined me and we both worked for Phillip,” Boyd said.

Once in the U.S., Boyd hustled hard. “We had a whole new restart, so we were working for Phillip during the day, then in the evening we were teaching people in the neighborhood. It was full-on ‘make it or break it,’” he said. After working for Phillip for three years, doing everything from cleaning stalls to grooming to riding Phillip’s young horses and some of his three-star horses, Boyd was ready to hang his own shingle in 2010 and continue his American adventure.

Martin Family

While Boyd and Silva didn’t have a grand plan when it came to starting a family, the moment Boyd found out Silva was pregnant with Nox he embraced this new chapter with his trademark enthusiasm. Nox, Leo and Koa are now the center of the Martin family’s world.

“Having the boys has given us a new perspective on life. Before we had kids everything revolved around us and our businesses. Now it’s, ‘How are we going to fit horses around the kids’ schedules?’ There are times when I’m doing stuff for the kids where I feel like I should be training horses, but I’ve got an unbelievable team that covers for me,” Boyd said. “To be honest, I’m more successful now than before I had kids.”

As soon as Boyd finishes work for the day at Windurra, he turns into an Uber driver, shuttling the boys to their respective activities. “It’s definitely challenging because this sport we’ve chosen is so time consuming. There’s no half-doing it or trying to live a normal life and thinking you’re going to be successful, so it’s a really tough balance of trying to be present as a parent while understanding this sport requires so much time, energy and effort,” he said. “There are times of the year when I’m flat out running and going hard, but I try to make sure I’m Super Dad when the sport is quiet.”

When Boyd preps for big competitions, Silva carries all the parental responsibilities. “Anyone who’s as successful and as driven as Boyd has to be a little selfish at times. As a partner it can be frustrating, because he turns into a totally different person for short periods of time,” Silva said. “He’s as driven as he’s ever been; the difference is that now he misses us in the lead-up to the big events.”

Though there are times where work takes Boyd away from the family, he’s insistent on being as present as possible when he can. “It’s not ideal, but you know, the father who works a 9–5 job, gets home and drinks a six-pack of Bud Light isn’t present either, and he’s home a lot. When I’m with the kids, whether that’s riding, hanging out or doing sports, I make sure that I’m totally there,” Boyd said. 

Boyd and Silva aren’t forcing the boys to follow in their equestrian footsteps. “The biggest thing for me is for them to have fun around the horses. I think it’s a bit of an awkward position if you’re a kid and your parents are really good at something. That puts a tiny bit of pressure that you need to live up to your parents,” Boyd said. 

Now that their oldest, Nox, has gotten interested in riding, Boyd sends him for lessons with Peter Wylde every now and then. “I think it’s healthy thing for kids to get coached by someone other than their mother or father. You know eventually in life, you’re going to have a boss who’s going to have expectations. If you come up short, he’s going to be disappointed and you’re going to have to know how to handle that,” Boyd said. 

Following his parents’ lead, Boyd thinks sports are wonderful teachers for kids. “I’m a big believer that winning should be difficult, you shouldn’t get a trophy just for participating. I think it’s a healthy thing, being disappointed and having setbacks, because sometimes you work really hard and you still fall short. Young people need to understand that sometimes the sport is beautiful, but other times something embarrassing may happen and you have to dust yourself off and get back on,” he said. “That’s a wonderful life lesson horses can give us.”

Silva believes important life lessons happen around the farm. “I make sure the boys come out and help us at the barn on the weekends. They need to understand that this farm doesn’t run on its own; it takes a lot of hard work. You know they complain, they’re not happy about it, but they still come out and help,” Silva said. “It’s very important to me that the boys understand that everyone here has to work, including them.”

It’s this mix of fun and structure that make Boyd and Silva the perfect team for three growing boys. “I’m a big kid and see myself as one of the boys. I have not mastered the skill of disciplining them yet. Silva is sort of the disciplinarian; before the boys came along, I took all the verbal lashings. Now I feel like the boys have distracted her just slightly so we’re sharing in her disciplinary actions equally,” Boyd laughed.

“The boys treat him like one of them. They have zero respect of any authority coming from Boyd. If he says no they just laugh at him and then I hear him yell, ‘Mama!’ I’m like, ‘Don’t call me Mama, be the grown up!’” Silva said.

No matter how many accolades Boyd earns in the horse world, at home he’s just the fourth boy who’s always game for shenanigans. At Windurra, Boyd will always remain grounded.

Follow Boyd on Instagram and Facebook @boydmartineventing or visit boydmartin.net

Photos by Adrienne Morella, adriennemorellaphotography.com, unless noted otherwise

The post Boyd Martin: At Home at Windurra appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.

CONTENTS

16

Eventing Column

Emily Hamel

The Magic of Kentucky

20

Eventing

Carolyn Mackintosh

Bringing the Maryland Horse Trials to Life

28

Hunter-Jumper

Brooke Taylor

Supported Through Grief &

Mental Health Differences

36

Dressage Column

George Williams

The Dressage Youth Dilemma

38

Eventing

Allie Knowles

Eventing Because She Wants To

44

Eventing

Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis

Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

50

Art

Kent Paulette

Letting Movement Lead the Canvas

54

Sports Psychology Column

Margie Sugarman

At the Ingate: Beginning the Season

With Intention

56

Dressage

Anastasia Curwood

Creating a More Inclusive Horse World

60

Hunter-Jumper

Jodie Camberg

It’s Always Been Horses

66

Cover Story

Boyd Martin

At Home at Windurra

72

Eventing

Bennett Adkins

Building Her Dream in the Bluegrass

In Every Issue

14 Letter From the Editor  |  76 Sidelines Business

77 Sidelines Directory  |  78 Advertisers Index  |  80 Sidelines Spotlight

The post April 2026 – Table of Contents appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.

Photos by Sara Farrell

Horses have shaped and sustained Anastasia Curwood through every chapter of her life.

Along the way, she became an eventer-turned-dressage competitor, a historian, an author who writes about people in American history who might otherwise have been forgotten, and a co-founder of one of the most visible inclusion movements in modern horse sports. But Anastasia’s story begins long before any of those roles—with a child who suddenly could not stop noticing horses.

Anastasia did not come from a horse family, but a book her parents gave her as a gift changed everything. “I have always loved animals, so my parents gave me a children’s science book for Christmas when I was 9,” Anastasia said. “I read the whole thing, and the last section was about horses. I remember thinking, What are these magical creatures? How have I never noticed them before? Suddenly, I loved them, and I wanted one.”

Once Anastasia noticed horses, she started seeing them everywhere. “I remember being in the car with my dad and pointing out horses we passed,” Anastasia said. “I kept saying things like, ‘Look at that cream-colored horse—I want one like that!”

But growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as the daughter of a journalist and a nurse, Anastasia had no connection to the horse world. “Luckily, my dad knew a colleague whose daughter rode at a local barn and that’s where I signed up for my first riding lessons around 1984, the spring of my 9-year-old year.”

Pursuing the Dream

As a biracial child with a Black father, stepping into the horse world felt unfamiliar for her family. Anastasia’s interest in horses, however, was rooted deeper in her blood than they realized. “At the time, my dad didn’t know of anyone in his family who had anything to do with horses,” Anastasia said. “But later, we found out my great-great-grandfather, who was born in Kentucky, had been a clocker at a racetrack in Ohio.”

After three years of riding lessons, Anastasia moved to a hunter-jumper barn, where she took the next step in her riding development. “That was the first time I had a horse to go ride several times a week because I leased a pony. I also started showing more,” she said.

Anastasia finally made her dream of owning a horse come true in high school. “I got an Appaloosa mare that had been showing on the Appaloosa circuit in the hunter classes,” she said. “I also joined Pony Club, and like many Pony Clubs at the time, the focus was on eventing. I turned my Appaloosa show horse into an eventer. She stopped at fences sometimes, but I didn’t mind—I was having a good time. What was actually scary was she would rush fences. I can see now that she didn’t have a lot of training, but I had a wonderful Pony Club instructor who really got the best out of us.”

By the time Anastasia left for college, she had earned her C3 rating in Pony Club and felt like a competitive rider. “I went to Bryn Mawr College near the Devon Horse Show and kept up weekly lessons,” Anastasia said. “I rode at Radnor Hunt Stables, volunteered as an outrider one year, and even went out with the Brandywine Hounds through a foxhunting barn. I had some outstanding experiences there!”

Then, toward the end of her college career, Anastasia experienced a decisive moment—an unexpected turning point that changed everything. “I got very sick my junior year and had to stay home for a semester,” Anastasia said. “I found out I had Cushing’s disease. I had a benign tumor that was affecting my endocrine system, and I had surgery to remove it. Fortunately, I fully recovered, but it kept me home in Boston for a while.”

While recovering, she enrolled as a non-degree student at Harvard to keep up with her coursework, and once she felt better, she returned to a familiar place from her childhood.

“I started riding at my old trainer Lainey Johnson’s farm in the Boston suburbs,” Anastasia said. “She always had extra horses that needed to be worked and would ask me to ride them. I rode some very nice horses and competed on a few of them. I still benefit from the foundation I learned from Lainey and her well-trained horses.”

Like many academically minded young riders, Anastasia once considered a traditional horse-related career during college. “I considered going to vet school,” Anastasia said. “But I took a couple of prerequisite courses and realized I didn’t like them. What I loved were my humanities classes—history and literature.”

Anastasia graduated from Bryn Mawr as a history major with an Africana Studies minor. “I decided to go to graduate school for history at Princeton,” she said. “I wanted to be an educator and researcher, like my professors at Bryn Mawr—I loved that environment.”

Her grandmother’s influence also shaped her career path. “My father’s mother was a Black woman who became a college professor in the late 1950s,” Anastasia said. “She financed the purchase of my first horse, and my father told me that if I wanted to be a horsewoman, being a college professor would give me a flexible schedule and means to continue being an equestrian. I got both my first horse and my career path thanks to my grandmother.”

After graduate school, Anastasia continued to ride whenever she could, but didn’t have a horse of her own. She later spent two years back in the Boston area as a visiting faculty member at Boston College. During that time, she leased a horse and met her now-spouse, Carol.

They eventually moved to Nashville, Tennessee—an area that allowed her to become a horse owner once again. “The minute I got my first tenure-track job, I bought a horse,” Anastasia said.

Then, a chance connection on the Chronicle of the Horse forums led her to a significant horse in her riding career. “A friend I met on there told me her horse, Cat Burglar—his barn name was Taco—was available for lease,” Anastasia said. “He was an excellent Preliminary-level eventing horse, but had suffered a serious injury and we weren’t sure what his future would be. I leased him and then bought him a year later because we had such a great partnership.”

Anastasia competed with Taco for about seven years. “He never had a cross-country jumping penalty on his record,” Anastasia said. “He was a Preliminary-level horse, and I was a Novice-level rider at the time, but we ended up competing together through Training level. He took such good care of me—I learned so much from him. I also started showing him in straight dressage shows and got the best scores of my life on that Thoroughbred. His last competition was in 2013 when we won a Training level horse trials at Poplar Place.”

Anastasia was later offered a job at the University of Kentucky, and now lives on a farm in South Woodford County, deep in Kentucky horse country, with a name inspired by some of the very special horses from her past and present. “We call it Bay Stone Farm because when we bought it, I had three very special bay horses in my life—Taco, Glen and Biggie—and the house is partly made of stone,” Anastasia said. “I was lucky to get hired by the University of Kentucky in 2014, and getting to live here in horse country has really been a dream come true.”

A Different Direction

When Taco retired, Anastasia continued eventing with her other horses—but soon realized something had changed. “I was actually miserable at competitions now,” she said. “I had a fall and was injured during a lesson, and just realized I didn’t want to jump anymore—even the Novice fences suddenly looked too big.”

Anastasia shifted her focus entirely to dressage, a decision that led to a partnership that carried her through Prix St. Georges and earned her USDF Silver Medal. “I had a Thoroughbred named Biggie, and the collection was hard for him, but we still made it through Second Level,” Anastasia said.

Then, during the pandemic, a new boarder moved into the barn with an upper-level horse Anastasia immediately recognized from her volunteer days in eventing. “I realized it was Loughan Glen, a team horse who had been to multiple five-stars and the Rio Olympics with Clark Montgomery,” Anastasia said. “He was in his late teens, and I remembered him because of his beautiful amber eye and his old-soul presence. I still remember the smile on my face when I trotted him for the first time after his owner, Kelsie Bricker, suggested I ride him. I thought, This is what connection feels like! As Kelsie traveled more for work, I started leasing him, and together we grew in our dressage training, learning pirouettes and tempi changes. He’s retired from showing now, but I still ride him around my farm.”

Today, Anastasia is developing a 7-year-old Warmblood named Rockstar Noble Dancer, known as Prince around the barn, and applies what she learned from Glen. “I learned so much about collection and connection from Glen, and that’s really the key to being successful in dressage,” Anastasia said. “When I first got this horse, it was a shock to go from a made horse to a young one who is still figuring out his own strength. My instructors tell me, ‘Ride him like you would ride Glen.’ That mindset changes everything because I now know what that connection feels like. Last year, we qualified for regionals at First Level with a freestyle, but he injured his stifle, so we didn’t get to go. We’ll probably do First Level freestyle again this year and maybe try Second Level, but only if he’s ready.”

From Historian to Author

Anastasia’s work as a historian naturally led her to authorship, beginning with a deep exploration of Black American life during the early 20th century.

“My first book looked at the cultural, intellectual and social history of Black marriages during the Jazz Age and Great Depression,” Anastasia said. “I realized my own grandparents were part of that Great Migration generation, and I became curious about it—what made their experiences unique and what made them part of broader historical patterns. What I found was that Black couples were dealing with the same things all couples deal with—money, work, children, partnership—but without the luxury of making mistakes because of the harsh judgments placed on them. I wanted to show the humanity of Black Americans in that era.”

That exploration led Anastasia toward writing her second book—a biography that took her 15 years to complete. “I realized there was no serious scholarly biography of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman and the first Black candidate for a major party’s presidential nomination,” Anastasia said. “I remembered seeing a photo of my parents with her when I was a child, and they told me, ‘That’s Shirley Chisholm. She ran for president—and you can too.’ Writing her biography forced me to think about the narrative arc of a person’s life and what we can learn from it. She was an incredible leader, but she was also human—you don’t have to be perfect to be a hero. That project was incredibly gratifying.”

Strides for Equality

Living in Kentucky’s Bluegrass region, Anastasia is reminded that Black horsemen and horsewomen helped build the very foundation of the industry. “People often think Black horsemen were only grooms, but they were doing everything,” Anastasia said. “They were breaking and training horses, teaching riders, handling veterinary care, nutrition, breeding, and even making pedigree decisions. The first Kentucky Derby winner was trained and ridden by Black horsemen, and in the first decades of the Derby, Black jockeys won about half the races. They had the knowledge and the talent—they helped build this industry.”

Their deep history of equestrianism, however, is often not well known today. “Around the turn of the 20th century, when segregation really took hold, Black people were pushed out of the sport as jockeys and trainers, even though they had been central to it,” Anastasia said. “But Black riders still found ways to stay involved. There were all-Black horse shows during World War II because riders were excluded from other shows. We have always been part of the horse sports community. I live on land that Black horsemen once farmed, and I’ve met some of their descendants, which feels very full circle for me.”

In 2020, Anastasia helped turn a moment of national reflection into lasting action within the horse industry. “I have very nearly always been the only Black person in the barn or at competitions,” Anastasia said. “After George Floyd, there was a window of time when organizations were talking about equality, and Black equestrians found each other online. My longtime friend Heather Gillette and I realized we could create something that would bring allies together and raise the visibility of equestrians of color. That’s how Strides for Equality Equestrians started.”

What began as a conversation between old friends quickly grew into scholarships, camps and a growing support network for riders across the country. “It started with modest donations to community-access equine programs and quickly grew into an all-expenses-paid scholarship called Ever So Sweet, offered in partnership with Sara Kozumplik and Edy Rameika. Recipients spend several months training at an upper-level eventing barn,” Anastasia said. “Then we added camps—four days of intensive riding, lessons and lectures. It’s created a real community of riders and volunteers. People have really stepped up to make it happen, and it’s been incredibly gratifying to watch it grow.”

For more information, visit stridesforequality.org or follow @stridesforequality on Instagram

Photos by Sara Farrell, threeredheadsandamoose.com

The post Anastasia Curwood: Creating a More Inclusive Horse World appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.

Portraits by Sara Farrell

On an ordinary day at California State University, Chico, Allie Knowles had an “aha” moment that changed her life’s trajectory. “I was sitting in Spanish class, secretly reading a copy of USEA Magazine that I had tucked inside my textbook. The article in front of me was about Jan Byyny being first and second at Jersey Fresh. I didn’t personally know Jan, had never met her, but I idolized her and her achievement resonated with me,” Allie said. “I thought, That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. That’s what I want to do!”

As soon as she left the classroom, Allie called her dad. “I told him, ‘I don’t think I want to be here in college. I want to go pro. I want to do this for real,’” she said.

With only a year left before graduation, Allie’s dad could have told her to stay the course; after all, she had two upper-level horses with her at school to help her fulfill her riding needs. But he didn’t. “As both my parents were very successful in the military, I understood that failure was not an option. My dad, being the amazing guy he was, said he would support me quitting school and becoming a working student. He saw being a working student as my education if I really wanted to go pro,” she said. “He made sure I knew to take this opportunity very seriously because I wasn’t going to get a second chance at this.”

Allie thanked her dad, withdrew from college and never looked back. This willingness to see a path, take a chance and go all in has been a hallmark of Allie’s career as an eventing professional.

Today, she runs her AK Eventing based at Valley View Farm in Kentucky. Allie equally splits her time riding and teaching. “I wouldn’t want to do just one or the other. I love developing young horses, good riders and good horsemen,” she said.

Becoming Fearless

Long before she was galloping across five-star tracks, Allie was a timid kid who found comfort in vaulting. “I think I felt safer because someone else was in control of the horse. It just seemed more fun as I didn’t have to worry about feeling out of control on a pony,” she said.

After a few years of participating in the barn’s vaulting team, the program was discontinued; however, that early experience helped unlock Allie’s bravery and created a lifelong passion with horses. Instead of seeking out another vaulting program, Allie decided to follow her sister, Victoria, into Pony Club.

“My sister and I were riding at the same barn, me vaulting and her with regular lessons. I ended up having a very traditional Pony Club upbringing. It was a great community and to this day I refer back to Pony Club on so many things,” Allie said. “It had a huge impact on who I am as a horse person.”

With a heavy eventing focus, Allie quickly learned to love the adrenaline that came from galloping across the cross-country field. “At 8 years old I was looking at pictures from the Kentucky Three-Day Event. That’s where the dream started and the path I stuck with,” she said.

It’s the diversity of eventing and the challenge associated with mastering three disciplines that has kept Allie committed to the sport through the years. “I love the technique and discipline of dressage, the excitement of cross-country and I’ve developed a real love for show jumping. It takes a special horse to be good and confident in all three disciplines, but if you take a step back you see they all complement each other. Each day you’re looking for accuracy and discipline, it’s just at different speeds and shapes,” Allie said. “I like how they all work together. I can’t imagine hanging up one to do another.”

Allie credits her childhood instructor, Jackie McRae, with being a guiding light in her eventing career. “I rode with her from the time I was 8 years old until I graduated from high school and moved away, but we are still unbelievably close. During the hard times of eventing, and those lows can be pretty low, she’s always been a good sounding board for me,” Allie said. “I’ve gone further in my professional career than she did, but somehow I still am striving to be like her.”

Making Her Move

After Allie walked off the campus of Cal State, she started her equestrian education as a working student for Hawley Bennett in California and then made the move to the East Coast and spent time working for Buck Davidson. “I knew I couldn’t fail, so I went full on and tried to absorb as much as I could from both Hawley and Buck,” she said.

It was after her time with Buck that Allie decided to make the leap, move back to Auburn, California, and start her own small business riding and teaching. Her first “real” Advanced horse, Last Call, helped put Allie’s name out there and continue her education in the saddle.

“She was my best friend and gave me so many unbelievable experiences. It was with her that I had my first big results, did my first Kentucky, and she got me to my first press conference at Kentucky. Last Call put me on the map in California when I was still eventing there,” Allie said. “I can’t thank her enough for helping me experience so many great things.”

In December 2011, when Allie was 23 years old, it was time for her to make her next big move. “Clients of mine owned a farm in Kentucky that they leased out. Their tenants were moving and they asked me if I’d like to take over the lease and move to Kentucky. I was at a crossroads in my life and decided ‘OK, let’s do that.’ I packed up all my belongings, two dogs and six horses and set up shop in Kentucky,” she said.

Although it was a huge career risk, once again Allie jumped right in when presented with an opportunity. That meant taking over a 100-acre farm, with no tractor and little else. “I didn’t know what I was getting into; I thought I knew enough but it’s true that ignorance is bliss when you’re young. I’m glad I didn’t know how hard it was going to be because I probably wouldn’t have tried it, but somehow it all worked out,” she said. “I built a business and stayed at that farm for four years. I taught lessons and rode during the day and waited tables at night.”

During this sink-or-swim period, Allie was fortunate enough to meet Jim and Katie O’Brien. “For the past 10 years, I’ve been working out of their Valley View Farm and built an unbelievable partnership with them. They’ve owned so many amazing horses that I’ve been able to ride. I wouldn’t have been nearly as successful as I’ve been or gotten to this point in my career without the O’Briens,” Allie said. “It’s been a wild journey, but well worth all the work and effort.”

It was through a syndicate that included the O’Briens that Allie was able to purchase her next career-making horse, Sound Prospect. A 15.3-hand OTTB with more of a pony-like shape than horse, Sound Prospect helped Allie reach the top levels of eventing. “He got me my first five-star finishes, first top-10 finishes and just has been an awesome dude his whole life. I went overseas to compete for the first time with him at Pau,” Allie said. “With Sound Prospect, I was able to do an unbelievable amount of four-stars. He had a huge impact on my career trajectory and taught me how to do cross-country for real.”

Ups and Downs

Eventing has a way of testing riders more than other disciplines. You can be at the top of the leaderboard after dressage only to get eliminated on cross-country day.

Although Allie is a consistent contender at most events, her relationship with the Kentucky Three-Day event is, as she describes, complicated. “My odds of finishing top-level competitions are pretty good, until you just look at Kentucky by itself. I’ve competed in the four-stars and five-star over 10 times and I’ve literally completed once. I’ve fallen, made crazy mistakes, for whatever reason I have bad juju there,” she said.

So, when Allie finished 16th out of 71 entries at Kentucky in 2016 with Sound Prospect, it was a standout experience for her. “To be able to go to the hometown event, which is the biggest event in the country, and pull it off was a big deal to me,” Allie said.

Venturing further from home and traveling across the pond to compete is always something Allie doesn’t fully appreciate until she has time to get home and decompress. “You don’t even know how much you’re learning overseas until you can reflect on it,” she said.

The most difficult day of Allie’s career came at the 2022 Bramham International when her mare, Ms. Poppins, fractured her leg on the cross-country course and had to subsequently be euthanized that day. “Ms. Poppins was one of my absolute favorite horses in life. It was a sobering point in time,” she said.

Allie returned to Bramham in 2024 with Morswood and finished 11th. “To come back two years later and jump the same jumps, the same track, and overcome all the memories from 2022 was a huge deal for my psyche,” she said.

Although Allie doesn’t believe Last Call, Sound Prospect and Morswood would be world-beaters today, the trio took her places she only imagined going. “They taught me how to ride. I may have fancier or more competitive horses today, but I wouldn’t be the rider I am today without those three. They all had enormous hearts, really gave their all to me and we had a lot of fun along the way,” she said.

Allie’s experience with those three “foundational horses” has helped shape her current mindset from wanting to complete five-stars to competing to win them. “My self-belief needs to say, You don’t just want to finish, you want to be at the top,” Allie said.

Over the past decade, Allie and the O’Briens have been intentionally building a string of horses with ages spread out so they have a constant flow of horses at the lower levels working to the top. “I probably have the best string of horses I’ve ever had for this upcoming season. It’s taken years of quietly trying to get the string right, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we have no injuries and a chance to have a very competitive 2026 season,” Allie said. “I’m so excited for this season.”

Mom Life

While Allie is excited about the upcoming season with her string of horses, she’s also loving her current season of being a mom to her 5-year-old daughter, Atticus. “I’ve had to shift the way I do things, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’ve hired an assistant to help me get through the day riding and teaching. I’ve streamlined my operation to ride the horses that really need my time and focus,” Allie said. “Everything, every horse and my child, all need a piece of me so I have to make sure I don’t spread myself too thin.”

Atticus has become part of Allie’s “must pack” list when it comes to what Allie wants to take to the higher-profile competitions. “The bigger the event, the more stress of that event and the more I want her there. I compete much better with her present. She’s an expert traveler, has her own friends at shows and is very independent, but these days sometimes school makes it more difficult for her to join me,” Allie said.

If Atticus decides to follow in Allie’s footsteps and ride, Allie will go all in, like she has for all things equestrian in her life. “I would love to share the highs and lows of the sport with her, but I won’t cry if she chooses something less expensive and a lot less dangerous,” Allie chuckled.

For now, Allie is soaking it all in. All the risks and hard work have paid off. She’s running a business she loves, raising her best buddy and chasing the dreams she once read about others achieving.

Follow Allie on Facebook and Instagram @AKEventing and @valleyviewfarm_midway

Photos by Sara Farrell, threeredheadsandamoose.com

The post Allie Knowles: Eventing Because She Wants To appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.

Portraits by Jennifer DeMaro

“Go big or go home” could be the motto of Carolyn Mackintosh—but in her case, home is exactly what she has made big. Loch Moy Farm, nestled in the heart of Maryland horse country, is a premier eventing facility that spans over 260 acres. What began as a family farm has become a destination for eventers of all levels.

Growing up, Carolyn had the ultimate playground for living out her horse dreams. She was raised in Bethesda, Maryland, but spent her weekends on the family farm. Loch Moy Farm was named by her father in honor of their Scottish ancestry. Like the Scottish Highlands, the land is rich in heritage, with a sweeping, scenic landscape. “As the only girl among five brothers, the horses were my closest companions,” Carolyn said. “There were always chores to do, but I didn’t mind—I loved being outside and feeling part of the rhythm of the farm.”

Carolyn’s grandmother was another formative influence, helping ignite her early passion for horses. “When I was 8, my grandmother took me to see the Lipizzaner stallions, and I was completely mesmerized,” she said. “Watching those horses perform with such beauty and precision sparked something in me that never faded.”

Getting Back to the Farm

Carolyn’s journey with horses continued at boarding school, where she rode hunter-jumpers. College then took center stage and after graduation, she stepped away to build a life of her own, eventually circling back to the farm years later with a family in tow. “I was originally on track to finish my master’s degree in architecture, but that plan changed when I had four children to raise. Life took a different direction—but in many ways, I’ve still been able to fulfill that creative drive here at Loch Moy Farm,” she said.

After college, Carolyn gained experience working for the government in a high-demand role that ultimately didn’t align with raising a young family. That realization led her back to her educational roots, where she teamed up with a former classmate to start a commercial design firm. One of their notable projects was the American Horse Council headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Though the work was exciting, the farm was calling, and Carolyn’s journey eventually led her home. “Years later, after getting married, raising four children and eventually moving back to the farm, life came full circle for me,” she said.

Being a landowner comes with a lot of responsibility, both physically and financially, and Carolyn embraced it fully. “My mom was truly my very first and most devoted volunteer. After my dad passed away, she gave me the farm, and I had to figure out how to hold onto it and make it sustainable. I realized that building an eventing facility could be a way to pay the bills and keep the farm going,” she said. Carolyn’s career with horses has been more on the ground than in the saddle. Early on, she focused her energy on supporting her daughters’ equine pursuits. “When my children were young, I wanted them to grow up with the same freedom and connection to the land that I had. So, I made sure there were always horses and ponies in the barn,” Carolyn said.

“Every horse I’ve had has taught me something valuable—patience, humility, resilience, and the importance of listening,” she continued. Having children who ride is always a challenge when it comes to safety. With multiple kids in the saddle, Carolyn did her best to balance caution with letting them learn and grow. “When my daughters began riding, the horses we brought home were often borrowed, green or a little quirky. Those horses were some of the best teachers we ever had. They reminded us that progress doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from time, consistency and understanding.”

All three of her daughters, Alex, Elisabeth and Kristin, rode, while her son, Billy, chose a different path. It was her middle daughter, Alex, who truly took to it. “Alex joined Pony Club and fell in love with eventing. That is where our family’s eventing journey really began,” Carolyn said. “Riding with and watching my daughters ride reminded me why I loved this sport—the trust, the partnership, the simple joy of being outdoors. My family gave me the reason to build something lasting at the farm.”

Growing Loch Moy

When developing a premier equestrian destination, it’s essential to start with a solid foundation. “Build it and they will come” was a motto Carolyn stood by as she brought in course designers such as Mark Phillips, Ian Stark and Andrew Heffernan. Over the years, each designer has left a distinct mark on Loch Moy. “I have been inspired by my course designers, course builders and everyone that makes Loch Moy what it is today,” Carolyn said.

In 2006 Carolyn hosted her first event at Loch Moy Farm and has not looked back. “I quickly learned just how much work goes into running an event—and that it takes an army of volunteers to make it all happen,” she said. Loch Moy Farm is the home of the Maryland Horse Trials and offers recognized and schooling horse trials, dressage shows, clinics and a variety of other events. Originally her friends and family were the volunteers, but it quickly became apparent to her that a larger pool of volunteers was needed.

“Running a top-level competition venue is never easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Over the years, I’ve learned that success comes from surrounding yourself with passionate people and constantly looking for ways to improve and give back,” Carolyn said. True to form, Carolyn saw a need and came up with a solution. “I spearheaded Eventing Volunteers, a platform that allows people to sign up online and tracks volunteer hours across the country. It started as a way to recognize and reward the incredible volunteers who made Loch Moy events possible—but it grew far beyond that. Now it’s used nationwide and in the UK, helping organizers connect with volunteers and celebrate their contributions to the sport.”

Carolyn also founded the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation (MIEF) to give back to the sport she has poured her heart into. Its mission is to promote, preserve, and support equestrian sport in Maryland—from grassroots programs to upper-level FEI competition.

Throughout it all, one steady volunteer in Carolyn’s life has been her husband, Bob. Carolyn first met Bob in seventh grade, when they went to school together. They reconnected at a high school reunion 20 years ago and have been together ever since. “She has given more to the sport of eventing than anyone could ever imagine,” Bob said. “I could go on and on, but she’d be embarrassed and somehow turn it around to credit me—the guy who cuts the grass and parks trailers at events—instead of taking the recognition herself. She’s a truly amazing woman, and I’m proud to call her my ‘dream girl.’”

Traveling & Giving Back

Free time doesn’t come around often for Carolyn, but when it does, she spends it with her family. “I love spending time with Bob, my four kids and my four wonderful grandkids. They keep me laughing and remind me what’s most important,” she said. Though her children now ride only recreationally, they’ve gone on to build full lives of their own with their families.

Even in her spare moments, Carolyn never strays far from her lifelong focus on horses. “Traveling is another joy of mine, especially taking horse trips with my daughters,” she said. “Exploring new places together and sharing those experiences through horses has become one of my favorite ways to recharge and stay inspired. I’m very excited about an upcoming family trip to Spain for the total solar eclipse this year and a possible Kenya Horse Safari in 2027 with longtime friend and eventer Lucinda Green.”

Most recently, Carolyn has partnered in horse ownership with top-ranked eventer Caroline Pamukcu. Through that collaboration, she has experienced travel to the Olympics and major events across the country. “Watching horses you’re connected to is incredibly rewarding,” Carolyn said. “It gives you a whole new appreciation for the dedication and teamwork behind the sport.”

Her newly acquired prospect is an Irish Sport horse named HSH Cruising Spirit, aka, Eve. Bred in Ireland, Eve has hit the ground running in the U.S. with multiple top-three finishes and several successful CC12* competitions. “With Eve’s breeding and talent, the sky is the limit for this mare and I’m very excited to be a part of her journey,” Carolyn said.

To give acknowledgement to breeders and to showcase young horses bred specifically for the sport, Carolyn started the Bred to Event Classic at Loch Moy, now in its third year. “The program bridges the gap left by the former Future Event Horse series and serves as a natural prelude to the USEA Young Event Horse program. Each of these projects represents the heart of what we’re trying to do at Loch Moy: build a stronger, more inclusive future for eventing,” Carolyn said.

Carolyn is a true ambassador for the sport of eventing and continues to deliver high-quality programming at Loch Moy. She does her homework, studying what works at other venues and bringing those ideas back home. Having attended all seven five-star events, along with major competitions across the United States, each experience has fueled her drive to be the best she can be. “I always come home thinking about how we can make things better here at Loch Moy Farm—how we can improve the experience for riders, spectators and volunteers alike,” she said.

Growing her family farm into a premier eventing facility has been a lifelong journey for Carolyn. “Each event has taught us something new—how to improve footing, enhance safety, create better courses and build a place riders love coming back to. The evolution has been slow and steady, driven by a passion for excellence and the desire to serve the sport,” she said.

Carolyn’s creative vision and professional background continue to shape the very fields of the farm she grew up on, still the ultimate playground for living out her horse dreams. “Horses have shaped my life in the best possible way,” she said, “And being able to share that joy and give back to the eventing community is the greatest reward of all.”

For more information visit themarylandhorsetrials.com

The post Carolyn Mackintosh: Bringing the Maryland Horse Trials to Life appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.

Portraits by Sara Farrell

The first time Bennett Adkins visited Lexington, Kentucky, she was a young teen tagging along with her parents to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. As their car ambled past the rolling green hills of the Bluegrass, Bennett pointed out the window and declared, without hesitation: “I’m going to live here one day.” Her parents laughed, but she didn’t. “No, I’m serious!” she insisted.

Four years later, when it came time to choose a college, her decision had little to do with a major and everything to do with a certain zip code. “The main draw to the University of Kentucky was Lexington itself,” she said. “I knew I wanted to be here.”

An Early Obsession

Bennett grew up in northwest Indiana, far from the epicenter of eventing. No one in her family rode, and her parents initially hoped horses were just a fleeting childhood phase. But it was clear this obsession wasn’t going anywhere. When Bennett was 7, her parents agreed to enroll her in lessons at a nearby eventing barn. “Luckily, they realized pretty quickly that my one lesson a month wasn’t going to cut it,” she said with a laugh.

Bennett’s childhood trainer set the tone for everything that followed. “She gave me a solid blueprint of being a horse person first, rider second,” Bennett said. That meant learning proper horsemanship and responsibility, not just how to jump. It’s a philosophy she carries into her own program today. “At the time, I didn’t care what discipline the barn offered, I just wanted to ride. But now I’m very grateful it was an eventing barn because it’s become my sport of choice. A lot of eventers pawn off dressage and show jumping. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve really focused on those specific aspects, not just getting through them, but doing them well.” Still, cross-country remains her favorite of the three phases—“Because I love the adrenaline!”

At age 12, Bennett’s parents helped her buy Harley, her first off-the-track Thoroughbred. “I really learned how to ride from him,” she said. Harley stayed with her throughout middle school, high school and college and remains happily retired at her parents’ farm in Versailles, Kentucky, today. He’s also the namesake behind her business, Harley Heights Eventing. As a teen, Bennett spent nearly all her time outside of school competing on Harley. Most of their shows were close to home in Indiana or Michigan, but the highlight of every season was their trip to the Kentucky Horse Park. Those Lexington shows felt big and electric to her younger self. Bennett and her trainer prepped for weeks in advance because they knew the competition would be stiff. Even then, the Bluegrass had a pull on her.

Settling in Lexington

When Bennett moved to Lexington for college, she found more than a degree; she found her community. “Coming to Kentucky was pivotal for me,” she admitted. “I wouldn’t even be able to put it on one or two people. The horse community here is next level as far as loving horses, caring for horses and being strong and supportive. Whether it was connections made from college or local trainers that I took lessons with on my personal horses, those early years in Kentucky really developed me into the trainer, rider, coach—everything that I am today.” She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in equine science and management.

“Originally I promised my parents I would make money. I’d go do the office thing,” Bennett said. She focused on equine pharmaceutical sales and her life for several years was the familiar rhythm of a young professional. “I had the typical nine-to-five office life: go to work and then right after work, I would rush to the barn before it got dark.” Riding became the thing she squeezed in around the edges of her schedule, but the pull toward the barn was strong and constant.

Her side-hustle training business began organically, helped along by the 10-acre farm her parents purchased in Versailles in 2018, after recognizing that both Bennett and her brother, who had moved to Tennessee a few years prior, were planting their roots down south. There, she kept her own horses and took on a handful of training and consignment horses. “Originally it was just supposed to be for my personal horses. I wasn’t entertaining being a trainer for a living, which often surprises people. But little did I know, it was the stepping stone to create my program. I was able to test the waters, figure out what I did and didn’t like.”

Eventually, working two full-time careers became impossible.

In April 2024, Bennett moved her program to a 23-stall, 50-acre facility on Bryan Station Road in Lexington. The farm, long home to professionals, was designed for functionality and thoughtful horse care, her top priorities. “One of the biggest aspects of my program is making sure the horses are happy and healthy,” she said. “Lots of turnout is something I’m very passionate about.”

Harley Heights Eventing is a mix of competitive riders, sale horses and training horses of all kinds. Many are off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs)—a breed Bennett loves and excels at. She often restarts OTTBs, then transitions their owners into lessons. “A lot of riders want an OTTB but feel nervous about the initial restart,” she said. “So I get the horse going, then help teach the rider how to do the things I’ve taught the horse under saddle. Then they go on together. It’s a very rewarding process!”

Her pitch to clients is simple and unwavering: “Horses are expensive and a luxury. People should enjoy them and they shouldn’t be a stressor.”

Thoroughbred Mania

While Harley shaped her early years, several special Thoroughbreds have moved Bennett forward professionally.

During college, she made an impulsive trip to Florida to go see an off-the-track Thoroughbred who spoke to her through his online sales ad. That horse—Dean—made the ride home back to Kentucky for Bennett to restart from the ground up. A natural at eventing, Dean progressed through Preliminary and became the pivotal horse who financially helped Bennett expand her business. “I ultimately sold him when I had an exciting prospect come in, and at that point in my life, I could only afford one competition horse,” she said. Dean went on to be a young rider’s dream horse.

Selling Dean allowed Bennett to take on her next OTTB, Bruin, whom she still owns and competes with today. Another OTTB, Ernie, started as a sales horse but showed so much talent she decided to keep him in the rotation longer-term. “All my personal competition horses that have gone on and done bigger things started at the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover,” she noted—a testament to her passion for restarting Thoroughbreds.

Bennett’s goals for the future are simple and ambitious all at once: find the horses who genuinely want to climb the upper levels of eventing, and create space for her riders and horses to thrive. “Not every horse wants to do the top of the sport, and that’s OK,” she said. “I want to find the ones who do—and I think I have a couple of exciting prospects in the barn right now. At the end of the day, I hope I’m fostering a barn community where people look forward to coming after their normal nine-to-five jobs, seeing it as their happy place.”

When she’s not riding, Bennett and her husband—self-described foodies—love exploring Lexington’s restaurant scene. She recently discovered a new passion: indoor rock climbing. “I wanted cross-training that wasn’t the gym because I’m not disciplined enough for that,” she joked. “My husband has been climbing for years, and when I tried it, I realized how great it was for riding muscles. So now we go together.”

To Bennett, success isn’t about buying made upper-level horses or chasing the biggest shows. It’s in the day-to-day: teaching a green horse its first cues, watching a rider connect with their new partner, helping a young Thoroughbred find its place in a new career. Even now—with a major facility, a full roster of clients and big competition dreams—Bennett approaches her work with the same mindset she had as a determined teen: show up, work hard, love the horses and let the rest unfold.

And to think it all began with a kid pointing out the window at the bluegrass and calling it home.

Follow Bennett on Facebook & Instagram @harleyheightseventing and visit harleyheightseventing.com

Photos by Sara Farrell, threeredheadsandamoose.com

The post Bennett Adkins: Building Her Dream in the Bluegrass appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.

Portraits by Victoria DeMore

Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis has devoted her life to the sport of eventing, competing six times at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and serving as an alternate for Team Sweden at both the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Games. But despite her past and present success as an upper-level competitor, she still approaches the sport with deep gratitude—and a desire to give back to the community that shaped her life.

While equestrian professionals often tend to focus on just breeding, coaching or competing in the upper levels, Jennie is unique in that she does all three—and does them impressively well. Her influence now reaches across generations in the eventing world, both equine and human.

Her early roots on her parents’ farm in Sweden shaped everything that would follow in her life and career with horses. “I got lucky—my parents put me on a horse when I was only a couple of months old,” Jennie said. “Then, I got my first pony, a little Shetland named Indian, when I was 4.”

From an early age, Jennie came to understand that riding required more than passion—it required hard work and resourcefulness. “I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to ride at a young age, but we worked hard for everything,” Jennie said. “When I was little, we would clean stalls all day on Sunday to afford to ride. At the riding school where we kept our horse, you also had to complete 10 beginner leadline lessons to earn one free lesson for yourself. I would walk the kids, then go into the barn office to count how many lessons I had left before I could ride again.”

Determination Meets Opportunity

At just 15 years old, Jennie moved far from everything she knew to further her riding career. She first moved to the UK and later relocated to the United States in the 1990s.

Jennie spent years working out of other people’s farms—riding, managing horses and caring for the properties in exchange for keeping her own horse there. As she moved up the levels with multiple horses, she began to picture what it might be like to create a place of her own. “I competed a lot during that time—I think I had four Advanced horses going at the same time,” Jennie said. “And then one day I thought, I’m about to turn 30—you’re supposed to be a grown-up, right? I really wanted to buy my own place and build it up.”

That decision set everything in motion and became the foundation for what she has today. “I sold a couple of my nice horses so I could open things up financially,” Jennie said. “I looked everywhere for something affordable—listed properties, unlisted ones, anything I could make work. Then this property came up that was going to be auctioned off. You had to have 10% down that day, then get a loan for the rest. I had a certain amount set aside from selling horses, so I knew I couldn’t go over that down payment amount. Fortunately, I ended up being the highest bidder at the auction and established Class Act Farm in Apopka, Florida.”

Breeding and Bringing Up the Next Generation

One of Jennie’s favorite aspects of her work is breeding and developing young horses—a passion that began early in her life. “The first homebred Warmblood of my mom’s I worked with was when I was 8,” Jennie said. “I didn’t have a second saddle, so my mom had the saddle on the mare, and I broke the young horse bareback. I’ve been breeding and working with young horses ever since.”

The homebreds her mother produced later shaped Jennie’s career in meaningful ways. “My mom bred several horses after that, and she even bred a stallion that got approved,” Jennie said. “One of my four-star horses came from that stallion, and I bred her here in the U.S. She’s about to do her first FEI with an adult amateur soon.”

But for Jennie, breeding her horses goes far beyond simply producing foals. “Investing in the next generation of eventing horses is a commitment to the future of the sport,” she said. “It’s about thoughtful breeding and careful development of horses that can then compete at the highest levels while still keeping the heart, athleticism, and partnership—that’s what makes eventing what it is.”

Teaching the Next Generation of Eventers

From ages 6 to 60 and beyond, Jennie mentors a remarkably diverse group of riders, proving that passion for eventing has no age limit. Her youngest student recently began competing in USEA Starter divisions, while several clients in their 60s continue to ride and compete. For Jennie, investing in others isn’t just a choice—it’s a responsibility.

“I owe so much of my life to this sport,” Jennie said. “Helping others find their confidence, achieve their goals and experience the joy of eventing is my way of giving back to a community that has given me everything.”

Jennie began teaching almost immediately after arriving in the United States. “I started teaching right away when I came here in 1990,” she said. “One of my first students is Heidi, and I just celebrated Heidi’s 40th birthday—she was 8 when she started lessons with me.”

Her background in working with children in Sweden also shaped her approach to teaching riding students. “I went to school in Sweden and got the beginning of a nursing degree—there are different levels—and I specialized in working with handicapped children,” Jennie said. “That’s what I did before I came here, and it has definitely influenced how I teach.”

Jennie approaches each rider as an individual, knowing that progress looks different for everyone. “You have to keep an open mind,” she said. “Some students seem timid at first, but maybe they just haven’t had certain experiences yet. And some of the ones I didn’t expect to stick with it are the ones who become diehard riders 10 years later. But seeing people grow—that’s what matters.”

Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

Today, Jennie still runs a breeding program, coaches students and rides at the Advanced level in eventing—all simultaneously. Jennie hopes to inspire other equestrian professionals who may feel they can’t do it all and show them that it is achievable. One of her favorite sayings has carried her through every chapter of her career: Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

“My team and my very supportive husband, Mike, really help me do it all,” Jennie said. “For example, Aline started riding with me when she was 10, and now she’s turning 21 and taking her pre-med classes to go to vet school. Everyone pitches in—washing horses, cleaning tack, whatever needs to be done. For example, if Aline has an exam tomorrow morning, we’ll have her horse ready for her in the afternoon so she can still show. Not every farm works like that, but I’ve always felt lucky to have people who believe in the process.”

Jennie has always believed in building a career supported by several businesses—teaching, training, and buying and selling horses—rather than relying on a single path.

“I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket,” Jennie said. “It’s a safety net. If there’s a time when people aren’t taking as many lessons, then I can buy and sell horses. You can also adjust how quickly they need to sell if necessary. I’m still taking riding lessons myself, too. I do cross-country with Phillip Dutton when I can—not that we’re neighbors, exactly, but he’s amazing and always open to helping me. I’ve worked with Susanne Benne on my dressage for over 15 years, and I’ve also had the opportunity to ride with Ian Woodhead a couple of times each year. I do it to ride better and for my horses, but I also really want to be able to give more back to my students.”

Jennie’s path hasn’t always been easy—it’s been built with grit and resourcefulness. “I’m pretty frugal,” she said. “I built all of this with no money at all. When I came to America, I bought my first pony for $250 and sold it for $2,500. That let me buy a new saddle. And from there, I was buying, selling, training or riding with anyone I could, any chance I got—you make yourself available. I learned to build things from the ground up.”

A sign hanging in her barn sums up her horse-first philosophy: It’s a horse’s world—adjust. “When it’s a gallop day, I’ll cancel a lesson if I have to, because they need a ride before it gets too hot. But my students understand that the horses come first.”

In a sport where goals, pressure and expectations can easily eclipse the joy that first brought people to the saddle, Jennie focuses on a philosophy grounded in remembering why we ride in the first place—and honoring the responsibility that comes with partnering with an animal far larger and stronger than ourselves, concluding, “How lucky are we to have these wonderful creatures in our lives?”

Follow Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis on Facebook or visit classactfarm.com

Photos by Victoria DeMore Photography, victoriademorephoto.com

The post Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.

Portraits by Melissa Fuller

Brooke Taylor believes family is so much more than genetics. “Family is who stands by you, with you, loves you, who you feel safe with and who can make you laugh at the same time you’re crying,” Brooke said. “To me, that’s the definition of family.”

Adopted at birth by parents John and Abby, and “adopted” by her current barn family at age 7, Brooke has always been surrounded by love. From the day John and Abby brought Brooke home, they gave their unwavering support for any and every pursuit she expressed an interest in.

A horse lover himself, John found out Brooke’s kindergarten art teacher had an art and riding camp and immediately signed Brooke up. Little did he know that one activity would turn into a lifelong passion for Brooke and become a huge part of the family dynamics.

“Unfortunately for my parents, a year later they got ‘the call.’ There was a message on the answering machine, ‘We found the perfect pony for Brooke!’ My dad’s response was, ‘What on Earth do we want with a pony?’” Brooke said. “I got the pony, Pepsi, and the rest is history!”

Not long after getting Pepsi, Brooke made the move to Stepping Stone Farm where she met Shaine Brooks, Sandy Kelly, Monty Kelly and Amy Momrow. For the past 26 years, these four have been an integral part of Brooke’s life, both in and out of the saddle.

“Having this long-term relationship with my trainers, who are more like an extended family, has been irreplaceable. They’ve been there through everything with me—my dyslexia, losing my dad, my mental health diagnosis—and have worked really hard over the years to understand me and help make my life easier,” Brooke said. “I feel fortunate because a lot of people haven’t had the opportunity to have that relationship with their barns. It’s helped shape me as a person.”

All In

Once at Stepping Stone Farm with the pony Brooke swears her parents regretted buying, Brooke totally immersed herself in the horse-girl life. “I loved to spend as much time at the barn as I could. I was a total barn rat. My parents would always watch my lessons and attend my horse shows, but on a regular day, they’d drop me off and come back hours later,” she said.

In an effort to give Brooke the world, John left the house before sunup and returned at sundown to work as a contractor. “My parents worked 24/7 to be able to afford one horse, and even that was a stretch,” she said. “But they would do anything to make me happy and support my dreams.”

As she grew and needed a mount bigger than Pepsi, Brooke rode a variety of horses at the barn. “I would ride whatever I could get my hands on. I have a photo album of all the horses I was able to ride and show growing up. It’s really neat to look back on all the horses who made me the rider I am today and gave me the opportunity to keep learning in the sport,” she said.

When Brooke’s parents bought her first horse, Vinny, an OTTB, it was a huge deal. “One of my first thoughts was that he needed a show name. Vinny was a plain bay with no markings on him, so a friend suggested the name Make Me A Star. The name stuck and I learned a lot from him,” Brooke said.

Having horses to care for growing up helped Brooke get a different perspective on life, as she was dealing with animals that didn’t speak her language. “They taught me how to not overreact to situations, because when I got very anxious or wasn’t calm, they tuned in to those emotions and also got tense and worried. The horses helped me learn to be less reactive when something went wrong,” she said. “Over the years, I’ve been able to carry that over to my personal life. Now I’m more methodical when it comes to dealing with the unexpected in life.”

While Brooke was learning life lessons from horses, she was making lifelong memories on the road to horse shows with her dad. “Before I got my license, my dad always drove our truck and trailer to the shows. Our horse show tradition was always stopping somewhere to get soft pretzels coming home from the show,” she said. “I have such fond memories of those days.”

Those road trips weren’t special just for Brooke; John cherished the time they spent together so much, he was beside himself when Brooke got her license, because it meant she could do the horses solo. “He told one of his friends that he hoped I failed my driving test because he didn’t want our horse show road trips to end. His friend tried to reassure him that me getting my license was the best thing that could happen, but Dad just reiterated that I’d go to shows without him and that upset him,” Brooke said. “He taught me how to drive the truck and trailer, but he’d always follow right behind me.”

During her last Junior year, Brooke expressed an interest in trying the Big Eq. “At the time, Vinny had been sold and I’d been leasing what we could afford for horse shows. My parents ended up surprising me with a really nice equitation horse, Camelot. He was very quirky, a little tricky, but amazing when everything went right. He helped me achieve my equitation goals, including going to Maclay Regionals,” she said. “After that year, I was addicted to the equitation.”

The only problem with this newfound love of equitation was that Brooke was now an Amateur, and the equitation classes are less plentiful for Amateurs than they are Juniors. “My trainers kept asking if I just wanted to focus on jumpers, but I just couldn’t imagine not competing in equitation after I started doing it. I really love it,” Brooke said.

Reality Bites

In 2013, Brooke’s world was forever changed when her father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. “I was at the New England Equitation Finals with my mom; she got a sudden phone call and had to leave abruptly. I didn’t think anything of it and got home from the show without a sense of anything being wrong. That was the first show my dad had ever missed, and I came home to his diagnosis,” she said.

It was a shock to everyone: John had never smoked, was incredibly athletic and had traveled all over to surf in search of the biggest breaks in the world. Nine months later, he passed away after the cancer spread to his brain. “I held his hand and said goodbye on July 6, 2014,” Brooke said.

Losing her father, travel companion and best friend forced Brooke to reevaluate her career trajectory. After earning a degree in fashion merchandising from Fisher College in 2015, Brooke had planned to work for a fashion company, but that wasn’t the path she ended up taking.

“With my dad passing the summer prior, I just couldn’t sit still in an office job. It made me very anxious to think about if I’d be able to emotionally handle office life,” she said. “Instead, I decided to choose something I was comfortable with and turned professional for a few years.”

While it was fun at first, Brooke quickly realized professional life wasn’t for her. “I met a lot of amazing people and trainers during my time as a professional and learned something different from each and every one. I’m so grateful to those that took me under their wing during that time of my life, but being a professional was really hard and took all the fun out of horses for me,” she said. “I decided that I was going to find another career, get my Amateur status back and never go professional again.”

It was during her stint as a professional that Brooke was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). “I was completely terrified when I got diagnosed; now, I’m grateful that I did, because it has made me so strong and I’ve been able to understand myself better. Having BPD in the horse world is hard. My emotions are two to three times as strong as the average person and they can be very hard to regulate,” she said.

Since the diagnosis in 2016, Brooke has been through dialectal behavioral therapy and continues to see her psychiatrist weekly. “My entire perspective on life has changed in the best way possible. With BPD came a lot of other struggles, such as feeling like I didn’t matter and body image issues. I look back and I’m just so grateful that I had the trainers and family to help me overcome these challenges,” Brooke said. “I wish we talked about mental health more in our industry. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Brooke’s horses and her service dog, Holly, helped her get through the lows of BPD. “They don’t judge me and they love me unconditionally. Holly was trained to alert people when I was distressed. I started having intense non-epileptic seizures, and she saved my life more than once,” Brooke said. “This past summer, she unexpectedly passed away, but because of all the services she gave me, I’ve been strong enough to learn to live life without her.”

The Best Year

Brooke finally got the year she’d been working for in 2025 with her horses Corso and Livey. “In 2025, I placed in every equitation final I competed at and even won one. It was so special to be with my mom, my trainers and my other dog, Tazzy, in these special moments. After all I’ve been through, it was truly one of the best years of my life,” she said.

Corso is Brooke’s equitation horse, while Livey is a jack-of-all-trades horse that Brooke does the 3’3” Amateur Owners, equitation and derbies on. If you had asked Brooke which horse would lead her to victory at the beginning of the 2025 season, she likely would have told you Livey.

“When I was thinking about which horse we were going to take to the inaugural HITS Adult Equitation Championship, I thought it would obviously be Livey because he’s my go-to horse, I’ve had him longer and he never lets me down. However, Corso and I had a great 2025 WEF, we’d won a lot of classes together and really started clicking. My goal for the year was to try to win a final and when it came time to a pick a mount, Corso was my choice because every time we walked into the ring last year he wanted to win,” Brooke explained.

Corso didn’t disappoint and brought home the blue. “After everything I’ve been through with my trainers over the years, that win was bigger than me. It represented years of hard work from everyone at Stepping Stone Farm. I was so happy that my trainers, grooms and everyone who’s been part of the team could see the hard work they put into me and my horses paid off,” she said.

To get to her big win, Brooke’s trainers worked with her over the years to help her figure out the best way to overcome her dyslexia when learning courses. Hunter courses are a bit easier for Brooke to learn, as the flowers/boxes on the front side make it easier to tell which way to jump compared to jumper jumps.

“I need to learn my courses a bit differently, as the courses flip on the page if I just look at them on the course board. I need to take a photo of the course and then walk around the outside of the ring to make sure I know where all the jumps are. When there are course walks, that’s even better,” Brooke said. “My trainers have been wonderful working through that with me. They never rush me and always make sure I’m comfortable in where I’m going before I step into the ring.”

Brooke credits her mom’s love and support in keeping her dreams alive. “To go from a girl who could barely afford one horse growing up to now having three is something I never could have imagined,” she said. “She truly loves the horses, but she gets so nervous when I show I always wonder if she closes her eyes when I’m in the ring. I keep trying to get her to ride to take away some of that nervousness with me riding, but I haven’t been able to convince her yet!”

Looking Ahead

In a nod to John’s work building custom homes, when it was time for Brooke to find her post-professional equestrian career, she decided to go into real estate, working for Aland Realty in Maine and New Hampshire. “Initially I got licensed to sell in Maine and New Hampshire, but then two years ago I realized if I wanted to go show in Florida during the winters I should also get licensed there,” she said. “Now I also work for Illustrated Properties in Florida.”

For the past five years, Brooke has been successfully juggling her career and equestrian ambitions. “It’s been really rewarding to watch my friends buy their first homes with me,” Brooke said.

While Brooke is helping people get the home of their dreams, she’s also hoping she can help fellow equestrians with their own mental health struggles. “Nowadays, everyone posts about how ‘perfect’ their lives are on social media, but not everything is as perfect as it’s portrayed online. Everyone has their own struggles, and I’d like to remind people that you’re not alone,” Brooke said. “I’m here for you; others are here for you. Even if you think you can’t make it in this world, you can!”

Follow Brooke on Instagram @brooksie_taylor

Photos by Melissa Fuller, melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com

The post Brooke Taylor: Supported Through Grief & Mental Health Differences appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.

Portraits by Kacy Brown

Some riders make an impression by being the loudest in the ring. Jodie Camberg listens closely to her horses and the subtle movements unfolding beneath her. At 26 years old, the California-raised professional has steadily built a reputation for developing horses slowly and thoughtfully, letting feel, trust and patience do the talking. She can’t point to a moment when horses weren’t the plan; from her very first ride, they’ve been a constant presence in her life. Then and now, it’s always been about horses.

Bitten by the Horse Bug

Born in Houston, Texas, Jodie was bitten by the horse bug at 7 years old after moving to Calabasas, California. Her introduction to the horse world came through her older brother’s kindergarten teacher, who was married to trainer Mike Edrick. “I always loved animals,” Jodie said. “If there was a circus on the side of the road, I’d want to get out of the car and pet the horses. I took my first lesson in Agoura Hills with Mike and rode with him throughout my Junior career.”

From the very beginning, Jodie’s family was behind her passion. Though her parents and siblings weren’t involved in horses themselves, they were unwavering in their support, encouraging her ambitions to make a demanding Junior career possible. That early backing, paired with Mike’s guidance, gave Jodie the freedom to fully commit to the sport.

Her first pony at age 8 arrived in an unexpected way. “My first Short Stirrup and Children’s Pony Hunter, Pepper, was a Western pleasure pony that my dad traded in a business deal, who carried me through the A-circuit,” Jodie said. Next came Toblerone, a 4-year-old import from Belgium, who placed second at Pony Finals before being sold. “That kick-started my interest in buying and selling horses.”

Throughout her Junior years, Jodie consistently bought and sold horses, always keeping one of her own in the barn. She competed across the hunters, equitation and jumpers, never limiting herself to one ring. Another standout sales horse was a Junior Jumper she purchased as a 7-year-old, Veneto DH Z, who placed eighth in the 1.50m at the 2016 Young Rider Championships in Parker, Colorado.

As the demands of riding, showing and managing horses increased, so did the need for flexibility in her education. “I didn’t have a ‘normal’ high school experience, as I finished my last few years online so I could train and attend shows on the circuit.”

Jodie credits her development entirely to the foundation laid by Mike and his daughter, Megan Wexler. “Mike instilled a great level of horsemanship in me that’s hard to come by these days,” she said. “We would go to auctions and buy off-the-track Thoroughbreds really cheap, break them and take them to shows to sell.” He also taught her how to drive horses, a skill she still values today. That mentorship has endured well beyond her Junior years. “I still talk to him on the phone almost every day even though we live across the country from one another.”

Balancing Horses & College Life

When Jodie aged out of the Juniors, turning Professional felt like the natural next step. But with guidance from Mike, Megan and her parents, she came to see the value of a formal education not as a detour, but as a way to support a sustainable life in the sport. “I could still ride and have horses in my life, but I had to get a degree so I had something to fall back on in case the horse thing didn’t work out,” she said. Today, the business and finance classes she took in college affect how Jodie approaches daily management of horses and clients as well as nurturing a program designed for longevity both in and out of the ring.

At 18, Jodie moved to Florida to attend the University of Florida, where she earned a bachelor of science in sports management. She lived in Gainesville for three years, commuting daily to Ocala to ride. “I would leave Gainesville at 6 a.m. most days in order to get to my barn in Ocala,” she said. “Then I’d drive back for classes. It’s about a 45-minute drive each way, and I was doing that at least once, sometimes twice a day.”

Despite the grueling schedule, Jodie fully embraced college life. “I joined a sorority, I went to all the football games, and I was really involved in campus life. I still showed every week and rode every day, but I was able to do both horses and college,” she said. She credits that balance as formative. “I think that really made me more well-rounded. Today, I have a lot of friends that aren’t horse people, and I think it’s good to be able to talk about not just horses all the time.”

The workload was intense. “It was a lot of work—I definitely didn’t sleep a lot,” she joked. Still, she describes those years as some of the best of her life. “They were probably the best, most fun few years. That experience definitely cemented that I love horses and that I want to do horses professionally.”

Jodie graduated in just three years, taking heavy course loads and summer classes to return full-time to the sport. “I took 18 credits a semester and summer classes every possible summer—I just knew this was what I wanted to do,” she said. She ultimately chose not to ride on a collegiate team so she could stay based in Ocala and continue showing. “In the end, I knew I wanted to be in Ocala and I wanted to be able to show at HITS when I went to school. Also, there wasn’t a Division I team around here.”

Golden Oaks Farm

In 2021, Jodie moved to Ocala full time and began working for Megan at Golden Oaks Farm, where she remains today. In addition to a steady stream of clients, she currently teaches Megan’s two daughters in-house. “Megan likes me to work with her kids because it’s a bit difficult with the mom-daughter dynamic,” she explained. Last year, Jodie took both girls to Pony Finals. “I really enjoy teaching kids.”

At the heart of Golden Oaks Farm is Jodie’s partnership with Megan, built on shared history and countless hours in the saddle together. “What makes our dynamic work so well is that we agree on pretty much everything—which is hard to come by in this industry. We grew up with the same basics, with her dad training both of us using a lot of old-school training methods,” Jodie said. “At the end of the day, we’ve had a lot of fun and success together, with some really nice competition horses throughout the years.”

In addition to teaching, Jodie and Megan import and develop sales and client horses. Their program typically has 25 to 30 horses, about half of which are sale imports from Europe. “We have a few people we trust over there,” Jodie explained. Often, purchases are made entirely off video. “Marcus Grünthal sent me this video last year and said, ‘This is your horse,’” she recalled. “I sent it to Megan, and she said, ‘Yup, that’s your horse.’”

That horse is Hendrick Des Forets, a Selle Français Warmblood with a significant amount of French blood. “He is hands down the best horse I have ever had the chance to ride,” Jodie gushed. “He’s making all my dreams come true.” Purchased as a 7-year-old, Hendrick has progressed quickly. “We started in the 1.20m and now we’re jumping 1.50m. He has the biggest heart and tries so hard. He’s so competitive and dependable.”

Today, Jodie competes primarily in the jumper ring but continues to cross disciplines. “I did the International Derby recently and placed in that on a sale horse,” she said. Still, she admitted to being an adrenaline junkie. This winter, she won her first FEI class at the World Equestrian Center and a Grand Prix at HITS Ocala. “I do love the jumpers because I like to go fast.”

Golden Oaks Farm spends much of the year competing at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, less than a five-minute haul down the road from the farm. They also travel to Kentucky, Wellington and HITS Ocala. “We’re very lucky to be so close to the World Equestrian Center. There’s no place like it!”

Outside the barn, Jodie enjoys spending time outdoors, paddleboarding, reading and attending Pilates classes. Looking back, every step—from her very first lesson in California at age 7 to the trainer she’s become at Golden Oaks Farm—points to the same truth. “I always knew that being a professional in the horse industry was what I wanted,” Jodie said. “I fell in love with horses at first ride and there’s nothing else in the world I can imagine doing with my life.”

Follow Jodie on Facebook and on Instagram @jodiecamberg

Photos by Kacy Brown, kacybrownphotography.com

The post Jodie Camberg: It’s Always Been Horses appeared first on Sidelines Magazine.