FH riders Abigal McArdle (left), Genay Vaughn and Savannah Jenkins
Over the course of the last two years, accomplished riders Abigail McArdle, Savannah Jenkins, and the duo of Katie Hauss and Lindsay Stefanko took the most courageous of leaps, starting new ventures and establishing their own businesses.
They've taken For Horses along for the ride, as the popular equestrian apparel brand from Italy has established an even greater presence in the U.S. market and expanded its network of sponsored riders.
Through a global pandemic and this year's EHV-1 outbreak in California, these riders have persevered and represented For Horses with the utmost integrity in putting their horses first.
"As devastating as it has been, and continues to be, it has given me a chance to step back from showing and really focus on why we do this," Jenkins said. "It has given me a chance to go back to the basics. I have had more time with my horses without the pressure of a time limit for the next horse show. I have been able to do things like take them to the beach which we have always wanted to do but just did not feel like we had the time or felt like we couldn’t because we always needed to train for the next show. For me, it has allowed me to reset my and the horses' minds—to let them take a breather and just be horses."
As the winter show season winds down in Wellington, we checked in with For Horses' sponsored riders from coast to coast to share their proudest moments, greatest takeaways and goals for the year ahead:
Abigail McArdle
Longtime For Horses rider and international U.S. show jumper Abigail McArdle (USA) started her own business in 2021 alongside Samuel Parot, Jr. and entered 2022 with a string of exciting young mounts and sale prospects.
2022 Highlights: Piloting Golden Quality in his first Saturday night Grand Prix; winning the Ridge at Wellington Grand Prix with Victorio 5
2022 Goals: "Remain focused and keep working towards your goals every day."
FH Favorites:ENNIE Ultra Move Breeches
Savannah Jenkins
Savannah Jenkins established her Alora Sport Horses in 2020, and the Moorpark, CA based professional keeps busy with coaching, training, sales and establishing her own string of mounts for the top sport. Jenkins can be found sporting For Horses in both the hunter and jumper rings. At the end of her 2021 season, she and top mount Comrado won the CSI4*-W 1.35m Blenheim Equisports Speed Classic at the Las Vegas National Horse Show.
2022 Highlights: Jumping clear for a top 12 finish in the $75,000 Grand Prix under the lights at the World Equestrian Center — Ocala with Comrado
2022 Goals:Break into the top 50 of the USEF Ranking List
FH Favorites: GIOCONDA Technical Shirt,YAKIE show jacket,EMMA Breeches
Trent McGee
For Horses rider Trent McGee is a U25 rider to watch on the west coast, as he builds up a string of grand prix mounts and works as an assistant to respected trainer Archie Cox at Brookway Stables in California. The multi-ring catch rider's top mount is his own Dutch Warmblood mare, Boucherom.
2022 Highlights: Two top 10 Grand Prix finishes and winning the U25 at the 2022 Desert Circuit with Boucherom
2022 Goals: Achieving consistent results at the 1.45m-1.50m Grand Prix and U25 levels
FH Favorites: It's a toss-up between breeches and show shirts!
Genay Vaughn
International U.S. dressage rider Genay Vaughn comes from a family of athletes. Her mother Michele is an accomplished rider and trainer, while her father Greg played Major League Baseball. Genay works out of her family's Starr Vaughn Equestrian, based in Elk Grove, CA. Last fall, she won the CDI3* Intermediate I and Prix St. Georges at Sacramento with the 13-year-old Furstin P.
2022 Highlights: Developing an exciting string of horses
2022 Goals: "Set goals for yourself and have a good plan. Every year, I like to set small goals that help me accomplish a bigger end goal. Believe in yourself that you can accomplish your goals that you set."
FH Favorites: Full Seat Breeches, Tailcoats
Bruno Diniz Das Neves
Bruno Diniz Das Neves has been representing For Horses' men's wear for the past seven years. Running his BDN Horses out of Northern California, Neves specializes in equine development, training, sales and rider instruction. In 2021, he and top mount Adele XII won the $75,000 Interactive Mortgage "Ticket to Ride" Grand Prix at Blenheim Equisports' Ranch & Coast Classic in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
2022 Highlights: 1.40m Open Jumper Champion with Adele XII at Desert Circuit I
FH Favorites: his custom FH Show Jacket,SCOTT Technical T-Shirt
Granite Bay Farm — Katie Hauss & Lindsay Stefanko
Trainers Katie Hauss and Lindsay Stefanko hit it off when they met while working for Archie Cox in 2018. So, in 2021, they went into business together and started Granite Bay Farm in Los Angeles, CA. Both Hauss and Stefanko get in the show ring themselves while also spending a great deal of time ringside, coaching a full stable of students.
2022 Highlights: Watching new horse and rider partnerships succeed in the show ring at the Desert Circuit
2022 Goals:Getting back to Europe to import and develop new sale prospects while continuing to grow their business.
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