Show time: Local teen equestrian jumping to new heights
Bridget Hickton mounts her beautiful horse, Russell.
She leads the animal to the ring.
Together they take the jumps so eloquently — it’s almost as if they are flying.
“I am an animal person, and I believe you can communicate with pets,” said Hickton, an equestrian. “I love this horse.”
Hickton, whose family is from Rosslyn Farms, and who lives a good part of the year down south, said when you ride a horse, you can feel the connection.
“You just click with some horses, and you both look awesome together,” she said.
Hickton and Russell claimed the Grand Championship in the Older 3’3 Junior Hunter Division at the 2021 National Horse Show in Kentucky. At that show, Russell, who is also called Fearless, was also Overall Grand Champion between the older and younger divisions, having earned the most points.
Russell was Champion in the Older 3’3 Junior Hunters at the 2021 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show in North Carolina.
At this year’s Carolina Hunter Jumper Association Annual Horse Show in Raleigh, N.C., Hickton was awarded Best Child Rider on a Horse, Grand Champion in the 3’6 Junior Hunters, and Overall Grand Champion Junior Hunter.
Fell in love
Hickton fell in love with horses at age 4 when she was in Washington, D.C., watching her older brother play hockey at Georgetown University. She asked her parents, David, a former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and Dawne Hickton, if she could attend a nearby horse show.
The next thing she asked was if she could start riding.
That day came when Dawne Hickton’s friend’s daughter went to college. Her horse was semi-retired, so Hickton, then 5, would be led on the horse around a farm in Upper St. Clair. In Pennsylvania, many barns do not accept students until they are older. Hickton took her first lesson in July 2012.
She began training with Sandra Dooney at Classic Equestrian Riding School in Sewickley. The first horse she took lessons on was Celeb, also known as Grand Celebration. Ellie, called Embracing Elegance, was her first competition horse.
Hickton recalled the first time she fell off a horse.
“I felt like I was more frustrated than scared,” she said. “My trainer gave me the ‘hurt or injured’ speech about how you have to get back on as long as you aren’t injured. I am a competitive person, so I was determined to get back on and continue jumping, so I could get better.”
Communication is key
Hickton, who turns 18 on Oct. 7, said communicating with the animal can make for a smooth performance in the ring. In competitions, classes are determined by the height of the fences they jump. Courses typically consist of eight fences. The distance between each fence depends on the size of the ring, but ranges anywhere from 36 to more than 100 feet. Hickton can visualize herself and her horse on a course.
She trains with Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw from Camden, S.C. They also own Danny & Ron’s Rescue, which began after Hurricane Katrina for dogs left homeless by the storm.
Danta and Robertshaw introduced Hickton to a horse named Yogi for this year’s Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show. Yogi earned Reserve Champion in the 3’6 Older Large Junior Hunters. At that event, Hickton placed seventh in the Challenge of Champions with Yogi – the highest placing non-pro in the class.
At the 2021 North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association Annual Horse Show in Raleigh, Hickton won the National Hunter Derby with Yogi. At last year’s Aiken Fall Festival, she won the National Hunter Derby with Russell.
Her next competition is the Aiken Fall Festival Sept. 7-11, and 14-18, in Aiken, S.C.
Work ethic
Danta said Hickton is mature and has a great work ethic.
“She has come a long way since she started riding with us,” Danta said. “She was missing some of the fundamentals. But her desire to keep working hard is really paying off.”
Working with them has made her a more accurate rider, Hickton said.
”I am very thankful to be able to ride with them,” she said.
Her schedule generally includes the winter circuit in Wellington, Fla., from December to March. The summer circuit is in North Carolina and South Carolina May through August. The indoor northern circuit is September through November.
Because of her schedule, she’s spent the past two school years enrolled in Laurel Springs, an online school. She is a senior. Hickton hopes to study public policy in college.
She attended Sewickley Academy starting in sixth grade.
Most of the horses she rides are considered warmbloods and are athletic and agile.
Hickton competed at the Winter Equestrian Festival in West Palm Beach, Fla., the past two years. It is considered the one of the biggest horse shows. Russell was the festival’s Circuit Champion in the 3’3 Older Junior Hunter Division.
“Competing at Winter Equestrian Festival is a dream,” she said. “It was the greatest show of my life. Not only do I love spending the winter in Florida, but the barn there and the show grounds are beautiful. It is so cool to be competing alongside so many amazing riders. I get to watch Olympic riders compete in the night classes. For me, because I am constantly travelling, I also love being in one place for four months. I also get to see a lot of my friends who compete in other places during the year, such as my friends from Texas or even Europe. “
Support of parents
Hickton credits her parents with always supporting her. Dawne Hickton took up riding. She said her daughter knew at such a young age what she wanted. A trainer noticed Bridget’s desire and shared that insight with Dawne Hickton.
“From the moment she watched that first horse show she truly developed the passion,” said Dawne Hickton, a mother of six. “She helps younger riders. She loads the truck and cleans the stalls. She has a drive and her focus is on everything to do with the horse from caring for the animal to studying film to watching other competitors and live-streaming events.”
Dawne Hickton said her daughter has an ability to focus in the ring. Dawne Hickton learned to ride just like she became an ice skater and can drive a ball down the fairway — her other children play hockey and golf — as a way to interact with them.
“Bridget gets nervous when I get on a horse,” Dawne Hickton said. “She told me I wasn’t holding the reins properly. She wanted to make sure I was safe.”
Hickton considers Elena Portu , the assistant trainer and barn manager at Beaver River Farm, in South Carolina, her “horse show mom.” She also said professional Hunter Kay rides her horses and offers unwavering support.
“I love riding and competing,” Hickton said. “The horses I ride are so important to me and a huge part of why I love the sport so much. The connection with your horse is like no other. “
That’s clear once you see Hickton in the ring.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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