Our Ambassadors
Maria McNicholas
Sykesville, Maryland, Zone 3
Junior Hunter/Eq Ambassador
Horse: Avedon, a.k.a Henri
Maria is a Junior Hunter/Eq rider. She has been riding since the age of seven. Maria, now 16, rides Avedon, a.k.a Henri. Henri is a 17h 7 year old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Maria and her fun loving gelding Henri compete on the USEF Circuit, HITS, Upperville, Culpepper, and more. We are excited for them to join our team!
Kim Knackstedt
Washington, DC, Region
Adult Amateur Hunter/Jumper Ambassador
Horse:
Kim is a Adult Amateur Hunter/Jumper rider. She has been riding since the age of four. She started riding POAs and competed all around the Northwest showing in western, english, costume, halter, games and jumping. She fell in love with jumping and switched to eventing when she was twelve. She joined Pony Club and continued eventing until she went to college. After college Kim got back into riding as an adult and
Maddy Baynes
Kent, Ohio, Area 8
Junior Eventing Ambassador
Horse: Bugatti Dreamin', a.ka. Boogie
Maddy is a Junior Eventer. She has been riding all her life, but started eventing three years ago. Maddy now 14, rides Bugatti Dreamin', a.k.a Boogie. Boogie is a 16.2hh OTTB Gelding. Bogie and Maddy are eventing at Beginner Novice Level. The pair compete at Stonegate, Hackamore, Cobblestone, and many other shows and trials throughout Area 8. We are excited for them to join our team!
Bates Kurkulis
Aspen, Colorado,
Jr/Yr Hunter Jumper Ambassador
Horse: InForAPound Dunvegan, a.k.a Ezra
Bates is a Hunter Jumper rider. She has been riding the age of five. Bates, now 14, rides Poppy a 14.1 hh 7 yr old Welsh pony.
She hopes to compete in Pony Finals 2022. We are excited for them to join the team!
Ava Stauber
Michigan City, IN, Region
Jr/Yr Hunter Jumper Ambassador
Horse: Lando
Ava is a Jr/Yr Hunter Jumper rider. She has been riding since she was four. Ava, now 16, rides Lando a 16.2 hh 14 yr old grey Czech Warmblood.
Sydney Jorgenson
Corsicana, TX, Arab Region 9
JR/YR Reining Ambassador
Horses: Mozarts Cromemercedes, PA Lilak and Heirosmith SF.
Sydney is a Jr/Yr reining rider and competitor. She has been riding since the age of eleven. Sydney, now 16, has three competition horses. Mozart Cromemercedes a.k.a Ava is her reining and hunt seat eq horse. Lilak is a sport horse and dressage and jumper. Heirosmith SF a.k.a Astro is a jumper as well. Sydney started doing hunter pleasure on the Arab circuit and has recently switched to reining on the Arab circuit and NRHA. We are excited to welcome Sydney and her horses to our team!
Mady Ruggiero
Wallingford, CT, Region 10
Jr/Yr Ambassador
Horses: Annie, Bella, Remi, Tobi and Blu.
Mady is a Jr/Yr ambassador. She has been around horses all her life and started doing the hunter jumpers before getting into the miniature horse industry. Mady currently has four mini horses and they are Annie, Bella, Remi and Tobi and a Shetland named Blu. She trains her own miniatures and has goals to present them in hand at miniature horse shows come 2022. We are excited for Mady and her horses to join our team!