© The Book LLC Opposite: Classic style from clothing to horses. Ariana Rockefeller with her horse in upstate New York; Above: Ariana Rockefeller jumping at the 2015 American Gold Cup in New York, photo © The Book LLC
I love it; all of my saddles come from there. Equifit’s boots are amazing and provide great protection for the horses’ legs.
H&S: How would you describe your non-horse show style? AR: Very simple; pretty much something that I can slip into once I get out of my riding clothes. Usually just jeans, one of my silk shirts, and ballet flats if I’m running to a meeting. I stick with an equestrian chic look that just flows out of my riding style. And if I can, I try to get away with wearing riding clothes outside the show ring too. Actually, the Tailoreds are so comfortable and look nice, so if you wear them with a nice blazer you can actually get away with running trips to the city.
H&S: How do you handle high-pressure situations, for example right before you enter a big class? AR: Usually, my trainer and I take a moment and go over the
course together. I take deep breaths, focus on sticking to our plan and always try to think one step ahead of my horse. It’s really a matter of managing my anxiety and staying on top of it and not letting anything distract me outside of the ring. A philosophy of mind over matter is the way you have to approach it.
H&S: What are your riding goals? AR: To be the best rider I can be for myself and my horses. For
me, my horse’s health, state of mind and well-being are the most important things, so my trainers and I really take it from there. What makes sense for the horse is where we start. I have a young horse right now who’s seven, so we’re really just taking our time
with him and I’m excited to see where we’ll be in Wellington, since I think he has the potential to go very far. But with a young horse you never want to push it. When I was younger, I did cross-country eventing, and that was really exciting. I did that until I went to college. However, I also always loved stadium jumping, so when I got back into riding three years ago after quite a long hiatus, I started riding with Frank Madden and went straight into show jumping. That’s my niche now, and we’ll see where it takes me.
H&S: What are your career goals? AR: I think they follow the same idea as my riding goals; take it
where it makes sense for my company. I hope to have a beautiful brand that represents me and my aesthetic.
H&S: What has been the most influential moment in your riding career? AR: I would say finding my first horse, who’s an 11-year-old
Irish Sport Horse. Finding a horse with whom you have such a great relationship, and can envision an exciting show jumping career with, is incredible. I know the partnership with my horse is the most important thing, and when you find that match it’s wonderful, because you know your goals with this horse can be met with hard work. When you have a trainer who can help you find that, it’s truly a defining moment.
H&S: What's the one thing you never go in the ring without? AR: A good attitude! And maybe my spurs too.
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