She was nine years old when Nicole Mann fell in love with horses. None of the other childhood activities interested her. Some may think riding horses is some kind of status symbol like a Birkin bag or Louboutins, but that is not what creates the passion. From the connection with her horse, Mann transformed from a casual rider to an obsessed one. In the beginning, lessons on the weekends with random trainers didn’t translate into performing well in horse shows. As time passed, Mann learned the sport and realized a rider needs a good horse and more importantly, a talented trainer.
As an adult, Mann tried some other hobbies, like tennis, but it never took. She bought a horse in 2016, a Hanoverian warm blood named Bea, joined a barn in Westchester and began the journey competing in amateur competitions. The first few years had its ups and downs because Mann and Bea didn’t always understand each other. “The horse knows when you want to jump and definitely knows when you don’t want to jump,” said Mann. “There were so many times Bea would peak back at me because she could feel I was unsure. It’s amazing how these animals can know how I feel, mentally.” Mann proceeded to describe many days where she was distracted with thoughts about her daily life and the horse just wouldn’t do what she wanted. Bea essentially made Mann clear her mind and pay attention to only riding. Once Mann became focused on her horse and the ring, the horse performed beautifully. Clearing your head and maintaining focus isn’t always easy. What makes it easier is having a talented trainer.
Every barn is run by a trainer, not unlike a Head Golf Professional at a country club. They have a staff that tends to the facilities, as well as the clients (riders). Mann owes much of her success to her trainer, Keirstin Scott. Scott owns and operates Trademark Farm in North Salem, NY. Scott has been a professional rider for over 20 years and learned under the tutelage of Brooke Baldwin of Riverside Farm in North Salem, NY. Just over a year ago Scott ventured out on her own and started Trademark. After only a couple of months, all her stalls were full. Now Trademark Farm trains Mann and several other competitive adult amateurs who consistently walk out of the show ring with blue ribbons. This is a sport and standard sports psychology is a critical aspect of the trainer’s repertoire. They set goals for the season, work towards accomplishing them to then set more. “Achieving our goals is the most satisfying and enjoyable part of horse showing,” said Mann.
“Obsessed” may feel a bit like a hyperbole but in this case, it’s not. Mann and the other riders at Trademark ride six days a week and travel three hours for competitions. During the winter, there is a series of shows at Old Salem Farm where these winter warriors bundle up and compete in 20–30-degree temperatures. Mann set a goal of becoming the winter series low adult (2’6” fences) Champion. Not only did she accomplish this goal, but she also won seven shows in a row! Mann and Scott’s new goal is to become the champion of the adult amateur (3’0”) division. As such is life, Bea, is now 14 years old and can no longer jump 3’0” fences. She recently leased a new horse, a seven-year-old Dutch warmblood, gelding named Carrado. Carrado hops over 3’0” fences like bouncing on a trampoline. With only two shows under his belt before finding Mann, they were champions at their first event together at Fairfield Hunt Club in Westport, CT. More recently, Mann and Carrado finished 10th at a Derby in Saugerties, NY and realized they have a lot of hard work ahead of them.
Ultimately, this passion can lead to exciting experiences like end of year final championships. Mann qualified for Zone 2 Horse of the Year championships with Bea but chose to pursue her new journey with Carrado. Just like any other hobby, the obsessed find each other. Many of the riders at Trademark have become close friends and always cheer each other on during events.
Although Mann rides almost every day, the rides last between 45 minutes to an hour. After dropping the kids off at school and hitting the gym, there is still plenty of time left in the day before school ends. “Moms can still have their passions,” says Mann. Horseback riding is a sport and sports require physical fitness. Mann felt she was plateauing as an athlete and realized she needed to become stronger in the saddle. A dear friend of hers recommended a gym that trains Division One college athletes. The gym, Division One, is owned by Karl Pfistner. Pfistner regularly trains baseball, football, lacrosse and soccer players who are recruited from high school to Division One colleges with several athletes who had turned professional in their respective sports. Needless to say, Mann started to train like a serious athlete. To be sure, it is no coincidence that her performance in the ring improved in lock step with her training. Along with Scott, Mann owes much of her success to Pfistner as well.
Mann has incredible support in her life from each of her trainers but the most support came from her mother, growing up through today. “I can’t thank my mom, Theresa enough for being there for me during this journey. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. For all things she sacrificed for me to do what I love,” Mann said. “When I was a kid, she was my driver, groom, horse holder and always making sure I had what I needed and my number one fan at the in gate. No matter how old I am to this day my mom still comes with me to the horse shows and I love it! I am so grateful for all things that she has done for me.”
Mann is competitive, but riding horses is more cathartic and almost meditative. Extreme surfers and skiers typically claim their obsession is the clearing of the mind. Either they extremely focus on the task at hand, or they can be seriously injured. Those activities force the extreme athletes to eliminate distractive thoughts. Horseback riding does the same thing, but far less dangerously. The horses demand your full attention and combined with the majestic scenery, a sense of peacefulness always follows. Mann is looking forward to those cold winter series events approaching and I suspect she will achieve yet another goal, becoming champion of the adult amateur division. Mann gives thanks to those who helped her along the way, “A big thank you to head trainer, Keirstin Scott and barn manager Beth Scovotti and the Trademark team.”
