Equestrymen
The unsung heroes of the equestrian world
By Ed Oeltjen
“These guys need a support group.”
I had just started dating my now wife, and we had moved beyond the honeymoon stage.
See, in those early days, I had enjoyed the benefits of a fresh, new relationship. I got to shows and was given a comfy folding chair, asked what kind of beer I’d prefer, and sauntered to the ring just in time to watch her jump around some colored poles - blissfully unaware of just how much money she had dropped for that 86 seconds of glory.
I knew that dressage was supposed to look like a dance, and realized that it was not because it was always graceful and elegant, but because the warmup often resembled a high school prom where someone had spiked the punch and no one could remember which way the electric slide started.
And cross country was exciting. Or rather, it made her excited. To me, she went out of the box, jumped 2 jumps and disappeared while her friends stood and chewed their nails until we heard her horse’s thundering hooves approach to cross the finish line. Or maybe it was a different rider, on a bay horse, black helmet, and big smile… they still all look very similar to me.
And then the fresh relationship faded into the heat and humidity of the summer. My comfy chair was now stacked high with a sweaty saddle pad and other bits of unidentified equipment. And when I say unidentified, I mean, there is stuff that a lunch lady would wear, or a dominatrix, or maybe a soccer player, but they were for the horse!
And I had to learn to pre-purchase my beer of choice. Not that there wasn’t beer in the cooler, but it was probably going to be what was on sale at the nearest gas station, or something purchased by my equestrian because ‘the bottle looked cool’.
Suddenly I was the runner - running back to the barn to fetch a forgotten number, or to the tack store to buy a tube of some sort of magic calming potion on days that it looks like my equestrian might be in danger. (side note - the tack store ladies always appreciate a beverage or two and I now get a trainer discount because of it).
And suddenly I was the carrier. I got ‘gifted’ a ring side bag. One that I thought was for my beverages, but it turns out it was for spurs and crops and rag with slime of unknown origin. I was carrying saddles, and feed, and other items that I don’t even know about since the pile was above my head and I was balancing the entire load precariously since apparently taking more than one trip is out of the question.
And then I began to spot them. My fellow brethren. They were also loaded down with various items that they surely weren’t aware of the purpose. They were also pulling out their credit cards as their daughter or wife or girlfriend hurried away with a prized piece of leather. They also were hot, sweaty, and a little exhausted from climbing up and down the mountains of emotions that come with those few minutes in the arena.
I wasn’t alone.
And in fact, I was a part of a very cool family of people, each coming from completely different backgrounds, and each having different stories of how we made our way to a glorified field in the middle of nowhere to watch some horses fancy prance around in circles.
For our equestrians, the glory comes from conquering fears, achieving goals, and having a relationship with a huge four legged beast with a brain the size of a walnut. They unify over the rollercoaster of emotions that come along with the sport. They are quick with positive comments. “Wow, your horse looks really great.” “You really rode that jump well.” “Your last Facebook video was hilarious.”
My new found friends and I started by simply sharing a knowing glance, a friendly half smile, and maybe a few words of greeting. But while our equestrians were sharing their weekend with the masses, we were relegated for the most part to our immediate acquaintances. And while we did live the highs and lows of our own equestrians, we were largely unattached to the true emotions behind it, thinking that perhaps we were the only ones feeling confused and slightly lost.
As our friendships grew, we learned of our varied backgrounds. Some of us knew more than others. Maybe how to lead a horse. Maybe how to pack the cooler. Maybe what a saddle is, or what treats were preferred. Perhaps some have even ridden horses. Or some never have the desire to even get close to those large, sweaty animals, but will be in the stands, cheering their equestrians on no matter what the outcome.
So I decided that we needed to have a support group.
As a husband to someone who not only actively competes, but also runs horse shows, I’ve felt just how the whole vibe of a show can change with some positive words and feeling of inclusion. I figured if the husbands and dads started to view a show weekend as a social outing with a sense of community, that the whole show itself would be elevated.
What started with a cooler of beer and some friendly chit chat has now grown to awards, apparel, and the shows now feel like a team building exercise for those of us that may still be confused why people keep saying “inside leg to outside rein.”
Ed Oeltjen, is blissfully unqualified as an equestrian, but is the husband of eventing trainer and dressage show organizer, Cassidy, and the founder of Equestrymen, the support group for horse husbands, dads, and anyone who finds themselves supporting an equestrian.
From Passion to Profession
My path to becoming an equine nutritionist
Christina Boucher Reynolds, PAS
Like many girls from my age group, I was planning on becoming a vet. I knew at age six that was the career for me, and there was never any question about it.
I spent all my school holidays riding around with Dr. Browning and Doc Cochran (my undying gratitude to them!), and in high school spent as much time as I could at various vets’ clinics and the vet school, absorbing everything my nerdy little heart possibly could. I had all my small and large animal experience hours as well as research hours before even going to college.
Once I got to NC State for undergrad, I loved every opportunity to learn more about animal science in all the different species, and quietly suffered away through my massive general education classes. While in college, I worked several jobs and one of them was at a feed and hardware store. I made a lot of industry contacts, and was offered a Real Grown Up Job a while before graduation.
I was at a crossroads - on the one hand, I knew I could be a great vet one day. On the other hand, I was burnt out with my hectic combination of too many classes and work hours. I had about five dollars in my bank account at any given time, and I was learning to really love nutrition. I added a few more summer and fall courses to an already full schedule, and decided to graduate early with my animal science degree and concentrations in nutrition and ag business management.
I moved to Pennsylvania and started my career two weeks later as a Feed Sales and Technical Representative with Southern States covering all species of livestock and a massive swath of PA/NY/WV/MD.
Southern States was a great company to work for in a lot of ways. They had a massive focus on continuing education, so multiple times each year we would all get together and have all the industry and academic experts come to present new research and findings. We had an equine specific PhD working for the company who was always happy to share his knowledge and experience, and we had access to Dr. Bill Vandergrift who was the PhD nutritionist for Triple Crown.
Dr. Bill was an absolute gold mine of information for functional nutrition, nutraceuticals and had amazing foresight as to where the industry would be going in the future with regards to gut health. He was one of those people who was the smartest person in the room no matter who was there but was one of those people who had a knack for being able to explain complex topics so everyone could understand. His passing a few years ago was a great loss to the horse world and the nutrition industry. His mentorship was a treasure to me, and I am so glad I continue to pass along his wisdom to the people and horses I work with.
My job with Southern States was multifaceted. I spent time with the feed stores doing employee training and answering practical questions, hosted horse and livestock owner workshops, taught 4H and youth programs, and spent most of my time on farms helping horse owners and livestock owners put together diets to meet their goals.
I also had the opportunity while continuing my education to sit for the exams for a Professional Animal Scientist certification through ARPAS which required a four-year degree in a related field, minimum years of industry experience and sitting for a written exam. I was certified in equine, beef and nutrient management. As part of that certification, I have to keep up with continuing education each year, which is one of my favorite things.
I worked a couple other equine-industry related jobs after Southern States: herd manager for the wild horse herd on Corolla beach; at the vet school’s lab; and in an equine vet office.
Triple Crown reached out to see if I would be interested in working for them directly and I was pleased to say yes! I knew them from Southern States days and knew they were a great group of people with a product that I 100% believed in.
After trying out a couple careers, I knew some things about myself: I needed to work for a company who had good ethics, I needed to work with and for people who “did the right things right”, and I needed a job without a predictable day in and day out schedule. Triple Crown ticked all those boxes, and I’ve been happy to be with them since.
There aren’t many small family-owned feed companies left, and none that have the nationwide recognition and volume that Triple Crown does. People are always surprised to hear that it’s a very small company - less than fifty employees take care of the whole country’s customers, stores and partners.
There are a bunch of benefits to working for a well-run small business that I really appreciate. Everything is quite efficient, and we are trusted implicitly to do our job in the best way for our area and our personal skill sets. We’re a tight-knit bunch, and get along great which makes the times we get to spend together a lot of fun and very productive as we swap ideas. All of us are experienced horse owners and have a deep knowledge base, so there’s always someone to brainstorm with for odd cases. We get to do as much continuing education as we want, and the symposiums and conferences we get to go to are fascinating. We can then bring all that updated knowledge to our customers, store employees and other industry professionals we work closely with.
My day-to-day job is mostly helping horse owners and barn managers choose diets for their equines. I spend a lot of time on farms, but also do a lot of consulting via phone.
Horse feeds and nutrition can be really overwhelming. There’s new information about just about everything to do with horses and a million different products on the market to choose from. Part of what I enjoy about my job is being a trusted resource for people to help them sift through everything and find products that provide a high plane of nutrition appropriate to their individual animal’s needs, while making everyone’s lives simpler (and often saving them a ton of money).
I help admin an equine nutrition group on Facebook - Equine Wellness and Nutrition Group - with 32k members and help out in countless other online groups and forums. Many feed stores take advantage of my knowledge and have me train their employees so they’re able to answer general horse questions and feed specific questions when customers ask. I do a lot of nutrition advising and consulting with some top-notch vets and farriers who appreciate having someone take something off their (very full) plates.
I also spend a lot of time at horse shows and events supporting the local equestrian community. It’s a ton of fun to see my clients competing and celebrate their successes, and Triple Crown is a proud supporter of all levels and disciplines of equine sports.
There are a lot of careers in the equine industry, and I’m happy to be one of the many professionals available to help you navigate horse ownership and give your equines a happy, healthy life.
2023 Sandhills Champions
Local Champions
War Horse Series Championship Winners
Green as Grass - Rani Wieand riding Puppy
Starter - Lindsay Riddell riding Samba HS
Beginner Novice - Kaitlin Caruso riding Supernova
Novice - Amber Mabus riding Mighty Grace
Training - Lily Dal Cin riding Interstellar
Modified - Bonnie Mosser riding A Funny Thing Happened
NCDCTA Dressage Championship Winners
Introductory Level Junior - Addison Bender riding Rising Start
Introductory Level Adult Amateur - Karen Elder riding Tempi JK
Introductory Level Open - Melanie Harper riding Dutch Creek Chip
Training Level Junior - Olivia Goble riding Phenix
Training Level Adult Amateur - Nicole Thomas riding Baroque de Giez
Training Level Open - Brooke Doss riding Darwin GO
First Level Junior - Olivia Goble riding Phenix
First Level Adult Amateur - Denise Steele riding Morante
First Level Open - Meaghan Byrne riding Batik
Second Level Junior - Claudia Foushee riding Uriel 2013
Second Level Adult Amateur - Lauren Sttefield riding Knight N Dale
Second Level Open - Ashley Burd Whicker riding Pharrell
Third Level Adult Amateur - Serina Tart riding Rock Royale
Third Level Open - Emme Johnston riding Reggae
Fourth Level Adult Amateur - Jessica McCaskill riding Freaky Like Me
Fourth Level Open - Molly Paris riding Kryon CR
FEI Prix St. Georges Adult Amateur - Kenneth Steele riding Bourani
FEI Pris St. Georges Open - Amy Nicholson riding Sirah
FEI Intermediate I Open - Brooke Doss riding Liberty Lad
FEI Intermediate II Adult Amateur - Rhonda Dretl
FEI Grand Prix Open - Keni Kerin riding Belcanto’s Welt
Regional Champions
USDF Regional Champions
Anne Aloi -Training Level Open
Michelle Martin - 2nd Level FS Adult Amateur
Tina Cook - 4th Level FS Adult Amateur
National Champions
USEF Driving
Dana Diemer - USEF Advanced Single Pony National Champion
World Champions
Brynne Garrett - Junior Exhibitor (17yrs and under) Roadster Pony under saddle.
Amanda Delgado - WDAA Open Horsemanship on the rail
Online Exclusive
Interview with Rachel King
How did your partnership with Ziggy start and why did you want to lease him?
Andrew McConnon was heading to England and, I think, Rachel Jurgens asked if he had any ideas of who would be good for Ziggy. Luckily, Andrew threw my name out there! I was between horses because my two horses were retired. I was really excited about riding something that had some miles since everything I had been riding was green. I was hoping to be able to get more miles at Prelim because it had been about 10 years since I had competed at that level with my retired horse.
Ziggy excelled as an eventer. Why did you decide to venture into the dressage world with him, and what were your initial goals?
It was late winter and we were getting in shape for some of the early spring events. The fall season prior we had done some Prelim-level events and we had been scoring well in the dressage, and having a blast! This particular day, I went to catch him and his eye was swollen shut! The eye itself was OK, thankfully, but we think he possibly fractured the orbital bone because it was swollen and painful to the point where I couldn't ride him for almost a month. At that point, I felt like he had missed enough fitness work and we weren't ready for the spring events. Nanci Lindroth, my coach at the time, said, “Well, go get your bronze medal!” I had only shown through first-level dressage, but thought sure, why not! So initially, my goal was to get my scores for the USDF bronze medal with Ziggy.
Some would consider Ziggy not your typical dressage horse. What kept you motivated to climb the ladder to the higher levels?
Our scores were really good from first through third levels, so with Nanci's encouragement, she said, keep going! Get your Silver medal! Dressage got really fun at third level for me. I enjoyed the challenge of trying to do better than the last time out. Ziggy can be sensitive and I was learning how to be more accurate with my aids, and he appreciated that. Plus, Ziggy was feeling great! I still did trot and canter sets, trail rode and also jumped occasionally. I think for an event horse (and rider) who is used to doing all that, it kept things interesting for us.
While training Ziggy for the FEI levels of dressage, what was the biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
Nanci had worked with us through the Silver medal scores, but when it came time to tackle the Gold (because why not try!), she said you need to call Koby Robson because she can help with the piaffe and passage and some of the other finer details. We had two main challenges: the tempi changes and the piaffe/passage. Ziggy would anticipate the changes, which made tempi changes something we had to work on. Ziggy had to learn that I could say, “CH” or I could say, “ANGE,” but that didn't mean “CHANGE.” He was always happy to slip in an extra flying change when it was not needed, and he could get excitable when the tempis were in quick succession. The one-tempis were especially challenging. The second big challenge was teaching a 20-plus thoroughbred eventer how to piaffe and passage. Koby diligently worked with us, first in hand, and then with me on his back to try to teach Zig how to maneuver his body so that he could start to learn these difficult upper-level movements. With her guidance, patience and humor, Ziggy and I improved and he got stronger so that we could show these movements to the best of his ability.
Do you think Ziggy preferred competitive dressage over competitive eventing?
Ziggy definitely loves cross country. He was so much fun out on course and he's bred to gallop fast. However, I would like to believe that he also enjoyed the dressage life too. He had a reputation for being difficult and tense in the dressage and I think I only saw that once and maybe a short-lived moment one other time. He was such a good partner for me and really tried for me.
Last but not least, what was the most rewarding part of your journey besides earning the USDF Gold medal?
When you take into account that my initial goal was to get my USDF Bronze medal, achieving so much more on this special thoroughbred is certainly icing on the cake! I think the most rewarding part was that even when things got hard (and let me tell you, this is hard!) and it seemed like maybe we wouldn’t get that final Grand Prix score, I was learning SO MUCH. I am so grateful to Ziggy, Rachel, Nanci and Koby (and many others) because it takes a village to get here!
