BY JESS CLAWSON

Daniel Bedoya was taught to respect and value horses from the start. Growing up in La Paz, Bolivia, his father, Daniel Bedoya Sr., won seven national jumper championships in Bolivia. But even more than his success in the show ring, Bedoya Sr emphasized that anyone who wants to ride needs to bring their best to the horses at all times.

When Daniel describes his childhood in La Paz, he talks about how his father’s passion for riding motivated him to get up at 5am in order to ride before his job working in construction. He would even rush to the barn during lunch to get a ride in.

Bedoya Sr demanded the same of his children if they chose to ride. “My sister was very talented,” Daniel says, “but just didn’t want it as much.” Bedoya Sr. told his son that if he wanted to ride, it was all or nothing. He had to take it seriously, to forego nights out with his friends if he wanted to jump the next day, to show up every single day to work on his sport.

That work paid off.

The family moved to Austin, Texas when Daniel was a young man. Bedoya Sr. set up a training facility there, which he continues to run full time at age 74. “He rides four horses a day. He teaches lessons. He gets on the tractor himself to drag the arena,” Daniel says with clear admiration.

Daniel continued in the family tradition and set off to Magnolia, Texas, where he and his wife Lindsay run Bedoya Training Stables. Lindsay is critical to the operation. She travels with him to help in the big classes when she can or stays home with their daughter to keep the horses and students in work. “It’s special to me that we’re doing this as a family,” he says.

At Bedoya Training Stables, Daniel focuses on building foundations of trust and warmth with his horses and students. “It has to be fun,” he says. “If it’s not fun then why do it?” He treats his horses with respect and empathy, and takes the time to really make sure he understands the specific needs of each one. “One of the challenges of the trainer is to find what makes a horse want to perform better,” he says. “Try to make it fun for the horses. If you make the job a little easier, make it fun, and find what makes every horse want to do their job—you’ll have more success.”

Daniel carries the same approach with his students. He likes people, and wants to get to know them. He brings the best of Bolivian riding culture to Texas:  “Everyone has to have fun. In Bolivia, riding is a very social thing–everyone goes to ride and then they hang out with their friends, go do other things together.”

In fact, when Daniel and his horse Quattro represented Bolivia at the World Equestrian Games at Tryon in 2018–the first time a Bolivian represented the country on the world stage–his Texan fans cheered him vigorously in the main arena. The Great Southwest Equestrian Center even stopped the horse show to broadcast his rides on the big screens so that his home crowd could watch and cheer for their friend.

Riding at WEG belt beyond Daniel’s wildest dreams even two years prior, and he counts carrying the Bolivian flag as his proudest equestrian achievement. He credits his horse Quattro for the opportunity.

“I remember the day of the first class I was riding. My horse was almost ready in the cross ties, and I gave him a big hug. I wanted to thank him somehow. It was an unbelievable moment for me. Even before going in the ring, I got teary eyed. I could not believe I was there. My family came from Bolivia to watch. It was amazing.”

Quattro is the horse of a lifetime for Daniel. He bought the 18hh gelding as a five-year-old resale project. “He turned out to be harder to train in the beginning than I expected,” Daniel recounts cheerfully. He took the “shy, gentle giant” to his first horse show as a youngster, having no idea this would be the horse to completely change his career.

“I may get to the point where I ride better horses than him, who win more than he wins, but none will have the impact he has had on my career. He changed my life.” For Daniel, there will never be another Quattro. The successes the pair have already achieved have opened doors for Daniel. Competing at WEG, opportunities to ride more elite horses, and attracting quality clients to his program have all come about thanks to Quattro’s eagerness to try.

Daniel also thinks fondly back to his now eight-year-old daughter’s early childhood. He would sit her in front of him on the huge horse’s back and walk and trot around the ring, introducing his daughter to horses and sharing quiet moments with her.

“My daughter is my biggest fan,” he says. While she hasn’t caught the riding bug, she joins the Texas community in cheering for her father’s victories. “Sometimes she cries if Quattro and I don’t win,” he chuckles.

Pin Oak has been a large part of Daniel’s career success. There he Quattro have claimed many victories, including rising to the top of the leaderboard in the 2018 Antares Sellier Leading Grand Prix Rider. He loves the show for its combination of collegial environment and prestige.

Pin Oak is special to Daniel because of the charitable giving aspect. He recounts a charity equitation class to benefit a fellow professional who was having medical troubles a few years ago. “It wasn’t part of Pin Oak but they helped us with it, and now they’ve made it part of their show,” he says with pride.

Daniel hopes that Pin Oak continues to attract more riders from Mexico and surrounding states. “It’s a beautiful horse show,” he says. “Everybody comes to play. Everyone gets ready for Pin Oak.”

Daniel’s buoyant spirit and passion for the horses make him a popular fixture of the Texas riding scene. He and Quattro have a bright future ahead of them.

Faces of Pin Oak: Daniel Bedoya

BY JESS CLAWSON

Natalee Haggan’s parents promised her a horse of her own when she was eight years old, provided she stuck with the riding lessons she begged for. She showed her dedication early, always staying late at the barn late to help out with chores. “Thirty years have gone by and I’m still waiting for the horse,” the now successful professional jokes.

Natalee’s determination has opened doors. In 2000, she convinced the hiring manager at Medieval Times (a popular dinner theater chain restaurant) to take her on, even though at the time the business officially did not hire women in the role of riders. But Natalee impressed the horse trainer with her skills. Through that experience, she learned a lot of incredible dressage skills the horses needed to perform in the show.

After three years at Medieval Times, Natalee returned to the show ring. She missed jumping. She borrowed a horse from MTM farm for a week, and again impressed people with her work ethic. She got opportunity to take care of the farm while the owners were on the road, and worked her way into the manager and trainer position.

Things were going well for Natalee when, in 2017, a 2”x6” board fell on her head and left her in critical condition. Once again, she would have to defy the odds.

Pin Oak became the stage for her comeback. She grew up watching the Pin Oak Grand Prix and dreamed of riding in it long before she had the financial means to make it at the rated level. “I just rode whatever I could swing a leg over,” she remembers. Now, as an accomplished rider with access to nice horses, she had to put the pieces together while recovering from her serious injury.

In 2018, just seven months after her accident, her dream came true as she rode into the ring in the Wells Fargo $30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix on MTM Full House. The evening progressed from dream to fairy tale as she and Fuller had the only double clear round of the night. “Winning was surreal,” she recalls. Natalee lists winning this class as her proudest equestrian accomplishment.

There is no doubt that Natalee’s determination and talent paid off in that moment, but she credits her support system as well. “I am so fortunate to have the support of Mike McCormick, Tracy Fenney, and the rest of our MTM team,” she says. “They have given me knowledge, encouragement, and opportunities that I would not otherwise have and I am forever grateful.”

Tracy is her equestrian idol. “She’s amazing,” she says. “She’s always so smooth and makes it look effortless. Horses love her.”

She also has a special bond with Fuller, a Hanoverian gelding McCormick and Fenney imported in 2015. Fenney rode him in a few Grand Prix before handing the reins over to Natalee just before her accident, but left the ride to her and gave Fuller time off competing while Natalee recovered.

“I believe we have an aytpical bond that allows us to compete at that level,” Natalee says. “Fuller jumps in an unorthodox style, but he has the heart of a winner. He always gives 110% in and out of the show ring, and always steps up when he is challenged. He is also the first to greet me when I walk in the barn with a loud neigh ‘hello.’”

Natalee is sympathetic to her horses, which plays a key role in her success with them. Her training philosophy centers on focusing on the individual needs of each horse to help them most efficiently understand what she is asking of them. “I am a huge believer in positive reinforcement and try to stay focused on solutions,” she says. “I think it is very important especially with young or green horses to recognize when the horse has given you an honest effort to do whatever you are facing it with to allow it to be finished,  whether it happens in five minutes or 25 minutes.”

The future is bright for Natalee, whose next big goal is to win an international hunter derby. “I’ve come in second in my last two international derbies,” she says, “and last time I was only one point off the winner.” She’s also looking forward to more Grand Prix wins as well as bringing along the promising young horses at MTM.

Wherever she goes in her career, Pin Oak will always be special to her. “Pin Oak is a great contribution to the horse world in the sense that it allows different breeds and disciplines to compete side by side. Even though we are all involved with riding it is very interesting to watch and learn how differing breeds and disciplines train, compete, and even manage their horses in the stabling area. Each breed and discipline have their own unique traditions that I find interesting,” Natalee says.

“I am just very thankful to be able to compete at Pin Oak. I love the support and donations Pin Oak makes to the Texas Children’s Hospital. We are all very lucky to be able to live our life with horses and I think it is important to remember to give back.”

While anyone with Natalee’s level of success would know a thing or two about luck, she is also a demonstration of what really wanting it and putting in the time can bring. Watch for this talented rider at the horse shows this year.

BY JESS CLAWSON

Briley Koerner believes in the importance of connection—both with horses and people. She started riding at six years old, and still thinks of her first trainer, Kim Cox of Tally Ho Farm, as one of the most influential people in her life. “Mrs. Kim taught me the ropes,” she says.

Her horses, too, have taught her a great deal. “Every horse I’ve ever owned or ridden has definitely helped make me the rider I am today,” Briley says with gratitude. Her family, including older brother Barrett who shares all of her successes on Facebook, and grandparents who have supported her in this challenging sport, have helped foster that sense of connection as well.

Briley’s career as a young rider includes many great many successes in the past two years. In 2017, she won the NAJYRC Zone 7 team gold and individual bronze; the Prix Des Stats zone 7 team gold; and was in the top 25 at the Maclay Finals. In 2018, she won the Prix Des States Zone 7 team gold and the $25,000 1.45m Welcome Stake at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on her own For Jef Vd Wezesle.

For Jef Vd Wezesle or Seth, as he’s known around the barn, holds a special place in Briley’s heart. “If there’s one horse who has impacted my riding the most, it would be Seth,” she says. The horse is undeniably talented, and they make a great team, earning three gold medals during her junior career. But he’s special to Briley for other reasons, too.

Briley suffered tremendous loss when her brother Brody died on July 28, 2017. Upon hearing this, Seth’s previous owner, Natalie, called Briley to express her condolences and also tell her the story behind the horse’s name: Natalie’s brother, Jef, also passed away unexpectedly. She named the promising young horse after him. “That made me feel closer to my brother,” Briley says.

“I will forever and always be grateful to have Seth. I consider him my horse of a lifetime for sure. Without him, I wouldn’t be the rider I am today. I can’t thank my trainer Martien and Maarten enough for finding this special horse.”

Her trainer, Martien, has taught Briley about connection, figuratively and literally. He encourages her to make connections between flat work and jumping. “There has to be a purpose behind what I’m asking my horse to do,” she emphasizes.

She also thinks fostering that genuine connection in the leg-to-hand sense is important. “I think we all as riders get caught up depending on draw reins and martingales for our flat work,” Briley says. Flat work and pole work are important, because they’re the foundation of the big jumper classes. Working to develop a good canter with the right balance is critical.

Briley admires connected, quiet riders like Beezie Madden and Laura Kraut. “I admire Beezie’s consistency and horsemanship. When I watch her ride, she stays in one position which allows her to stay connected with the horse.”

“Laura Kraut is another rider I really aspire to be like,” she says. “You can tell she has natural talent. Laura clicks well with all her horses, and I think that is important.”

Briley has big goals for the future: she wants to represent the US at the Nations Cup and the Olympics. “In the meantime,” she says, “I want to train clients and bring them up to the highest level of show jumping that I can.”

Competition is in her bones, and Briley is one of the rare people who doesn’t get nervous competing. “I tend to do a bit better under pressure and when competing in front of a big crowd. As a junior my trainer Martien was sure to expose me to different venues like grass rings and small indoors and I think that definitely helped,” she says.

Briley loves competing at Pin Oak in particular. “The one thing I love most about Pin Oak are the people. After competing in WEF for the past 8 weeks, it sure is nice to come home to some familiar faces! Pin Oak does a fantastic job of having a special atmosphere. There is nothing like competing at a show that gets its hometown people to come and watch the show. I can’t begin to thank Pin oak enough for all there amazing sponsors and kind hospitality,” she says. “It is an honor to get to compete at such an amazing show!”

Briley’s dreams are big, but her talent, work ethic, and support system are too. Watch for this gifted young rider this year.

BY JESS CLAWSON

Frankie Owens was almost born in the saddle. His parents, Candie and Frank, were established professionals in the industry by the time he and his sister, Whitney, were born. Frankie was legged up onto horses from a very young age, and credits his parents for teaching him so much. “I don’t take for granted growing up the way I did,” he says. “The benefits of being raised in an established stable aren’t lost on me.”

Frankie’s father, Frank Owens, was also raised around horses. His mother, Christine, was a breeder of Welsh/thoroughbred crosses in Virginia and got Frank into riding ponies. Then, as an adult in the 1970s, Frank became a pentathlete–a sport funded by the US government at the time. This brought him to Texas, where he met his wife, Candie. They had two children, Frankie and Whitney, both now professionals at their family farm.

Frankie’s showing career began in earnest when he was 14. He competed in all three rings. He spent just one year of his adulthood as an amateur, competing in the amateur owner jumpers, before making the leap to becoming a professional at age 19.

Frankie now competes in both hunters and jumpers. Some of his proudest achievements have been in the hunter ring on Diana Stumberg’s mare, Carrida, who won the $50,000 International Hunter Derby at Pin Oak in 2018 and was the national champion in the 3’9” green over fences in 2017. “She’s definitely the hunter I’ve won the most on,” he says.

Winning the hunter derby at Pin Oak in 2018 was an important event for him. Earlier that same evening, he stood in the center ring awarding trophies in memory of his mother, Candie Owens, who passed away in 2014. “It means a lot,” he says. “I’ve been showing at Pin Oak since I started riding.”

Teaching and training is important to Frankie. He and sister Whitney continue to operate out of his family’s Oakwell Farm where they coach riders of all ages and experiences. Frankie is serious about ensuring they make it to the top of their ambitions. His approach to training is simple, if not easy: “It’s about replicating what you want in the show ring, and knowing how much repetition each horse needs,” he says.

Frankie also loves to bring along young horses, and rides them with empathy. He believes in taking time to instill confidence in them, and it shows. He took an unbroke broodmare all the way to the Grand Prix ring, where she was a winner her first time out.

Frankie has had a great deal of success in the show ring, including winning the Walter Oil & Gas $25,000 Grand Prix in 2017 and the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby in 2018 at Pin Oak. He’s also been champion at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center Texas Winter Series many times, and has won in Grand Prix classes all over the south.

Pin Oak is special for Frankie, and not just because he’s had competitive success there. “It’s one of the finest shows in Texas, but it’s across the board a great show,” he says. He enjoys the return of the competitors who went to Wellington and other winter circuits. “Pretty much all your barns in Texas are there, hunter/jumper wise.”

The quality is what draws the crowd. “They can sell out 1100 stalls because it’s a great show,” he says. “They make it a big deal and put on a really nice presentation. I can’t think of a year I haven’t shown there since I was 14.”

Frankie has taken full advantage of his fortunate start in life with horses. Say hello to him at Pin Oak this year!