LAURACEA MODEL ATHLETES
Amanda Steege
Amanda is one of the most highly regarded, and successful, professional equestrian athletes in the nation. Born in Massachusetts, Amanda Steege grew up in the horse world, with both parents working as trainers and instructors in the hunter/jumper industry. Amanda was successful as a junior rider in the pony hunters, junior hunters, and equitation rings. After graduating from Boston College at the top of her class with a degree in Psychology, Amanda opened Ash Meadow Farm with locations in Califon, NJ and Ocala, FL. Together with her clients, she travels the East Coast for major amateur and professional horse shows...
Amanda has successfully competed on a number of horses, but she is best known for her partnership with Lafitte De Muze. Owned by Cheryl Olsten, Lafitte De Muze is WCHR Hunter of the Year and an EQUUS Foundation Equine Ambassador.
Amanda’s extensive wins include
2021
-winner of the $50,000 WCHR Hunter Spectacular in Wellington
--Winner of the Peter Wetherhill in Wellington
2019
-many Champions and Reserves at Devon, Capital Challenge, and Harrisburg, Upperville, Aiken Charity, Lake Placid, Vermont
-Champion at The National Horse Show
-Leading Hunter Rider at The National Horse Show
-Winner of $50,000 Hunter Classic at The National Horse Show
-Winner of The Jeffrey Katz award
Annabel Revers
Annie Revers is an accomplished rider who continues to train and compete while attending Dartmouth College as a Computer Science major. Annie began her riding career as a very successful junior. In 2016 she won the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search at WEF. That year she also won the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class at the Kentucky Spring Classic for the 2nd year in a row. Also in 2016, at the age of 16, Annie went to her 1st Hampton Classic and was Grand Champion Junior Hunter. She returned the following year to win the Great Southwest Equestrian Center Equitation Championship. Continuing her string of successes in 2017, Annie won the Championship in both the Small and Large Junior 16-17 Hunter divisions at the National Horse Show. Annie took a gap year during... the 2018/2019 school year before entering college to further train and compete. During that year she won the Region 1 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship and in the Spring of 2019, Annie competed in her 1st 4 Star Grand Prix at Devon, placing 11th in the 250K Sapphire Grand Prix. Annie completed her gap year by traveling to Europe and Switzerland to compete abroad on an International stage.
Auriel August, MD
Auriel August , MD is a physician, med-tech innovator and life-long equestrian originally from West Palm Beach, Florida. After taking a long hiatus from horses to pursue medical training, she is excited to be back in full force. Auriel loves to advocate for diversity and inclusion both in the health profession and the show ring. Auriel competes in the amatuer jumpers and resides in Palo Alto, CA
Brittni Raflowitz
Following a successful career as a junior, Brittni turned pro at age 18. This talented athlete promptly went on to win Individual Silver in the Young Rider Championship in 2015 and the following year she represented the U.S in the Nations Cup in Europe. Continuing to compete Internationally and at the highest levels, Brittni began riding for Team Israel in 2019.
Cara McFadden
Cara is attending Penn State University as a Forensic Science major with a minor in Arabic while continuing to train at Beacon Hill Show Stables in New Jersey. Cara finished in the top 15 at 2020 Medal Finals, she was 7th in the USHJA Jumping Seat Final Gymnastics Phase, and was Reserve Champion in the 16 yo Equitation division at Capital Challenge. Besides riding, Cara has always had a passion for volunteering, crafts, and modeling.
Hailey Royce
Hailey began riding horses at 4 years old, and over the years she has become a pro at balancing school, training and competition. During Hailey's junior career, she successfully competed at the top level of the sport
Accomplishments
Her long list of accomplishments includes these wins in 2021: ...
-Winter Equestrian Festival - $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic (10th aboard Goldbreaker)
-Winter Equestrian festival - $1,500 High Junior Jumper - (5th aboard Goldbreaker)
-Winter Equestrian Festival - $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic (7th aboard Goldbreaker)
-Winter Equestrian Festival - $10,000 Medium Junior Jumper Classic (2nd aboard Sherlock Holmes 21)
Katie McCann
Katie McCann is a college graduate from Boston Massachusetts pursuing her dream to reach the pinnacle of the show jumping sport. After spending her junior years doing the pony hunters and the equitations, in 2017, Katie began a jumper career with Ilan Bluman. Katie’s first and current jumper mount is Eliana. Katie purchased her at age 6 from Holland and she considers Eliana her soulmate. Katie found it was a bumpy road at first, having a green horse and rider combination. However, once a partnership was established, the pair quickly went from the 1m to the 1.50m Saturday Night Lights on the big stage in Wellington. ... Katie has jumped national Grand Prixs in Lake Placid, WEF, and Tryon. She has also competed in 2* Grand Prixs at the Longines Masters in New York and the Palm Beach Masters.
Kayley Knollman
Kayley is an FEI Junior Dressage rider and Bronze medalist who enjoys training and competing with her two horses, Zeppelin, a 9 year old Lusitano Andalusian x, and Dardo, an 18 year old Andalusian gelding.
Lily McFadden
Lily has competed and ribboned at many of the top shows including WEF, Princeton, Lake Placid, Capital Challenge, and many more. She placed 8th in the High Children’s Welcome at NAL Finals in 2020 and has been very competitive in the Low Juniors of 2021. Lily’s goal is to be in the top placings at NAL Finals in the low Juniors. When she is not competing she spends time with a new, green horse at Beacon Hill.
Lindsay Simmons Beale
Lindsay Simmons Beale has moved up the ranks over the past few years recently rising into the international grand prix arena as a formidable competitor on her very own, produced from the ground up, Don Loma. She wasn’t born into the world of show jumping but her passion for her horses and the competition has driven her to great heights. When Lindsay is not training and competing, she works as a Loan Officer as half of The Simmons Team. She expertly balances the daily demands of work and life on the road with two kids and 3 horses.
Sarah Redman
Sarah Redman began riding at six years old and has been showing competitively for many years. Sarah received her Bachelor's Degree in Health Science from Monmouth University, while showing in the Amateur Owner Hunter divisions along the East Coast. After college, Sarah decided to follow her passion for the equestrian sport and turned professional. Sarah worked under the guidance of many great trainers, but most recently worked for Stonehenge Stables and Max Amaya, as well as Samantha Schaefer of Shadow Ridge Farm. Realizing her love for teaching up and coming equestrians in the sport, Sarah decided to branch out on her own. In 2022, Sarah formed Twin Bay, LLC which specializes in the training and sales of hunters, equitation, and jumpers.
Shayna Simon
Shayna Simon is a well-respected Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer previously based in the San Diego area where she had been training with four-time Olympic rider Steffen Peters at Arroyo Del Mar. She trained with Klaus and Annabelle Balkenhol for a year at the USA Olympic training center; for four years with Willy Arts at DGBar Ranch; with Guenter Sidel for three years; and at Brookside Equestrian with Linda Walton, the biggest importer of Lusitanos on the West Coast. Shayna has her Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals from the USDF, and her Silver Para-equestrian Training Certificate from USEF. In February 2020 she ... participated in the USDF Sport Horse Prospect Development Program with Willy Arts and Scott Hassler. Currently Shayna is the Head Trainer at Equidae Dressage Stables where she trains top rider Beatrice DeLavalette. The pair was part of the winning US Para-dressage team in the FEI CPEDI*** in January 2020 in Wellington. Shayna and Beatrice most recently represented the US in the Tokyo Paralympics, which took place in August 2021 as well as the World Championships in Denmark in 2022. Shayna and Beatrice continue to train for the Paris Paralympics in 2024.
Sophia Studd
Sophia has been riding since she was 2 years old. At the young age of 12, she started competing for Denmark. Sophia has competed on several Nations Cup teams from children's, juniors, and now young riders. She currently competes in the U25 and 3* classes. Sophia has 5 horses ranging from the age of 8 to 15. Her goal is to compete on seniors Nations Cup teams and to compete in the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Sydney Collier
Sydney is a Paralympic Equestrian athlete who competes in Para Dressage. At age 16 Sydney earned a spot on the US Para Dressage team and was the youngest competitor at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France. At age 18, Sydney won the 2016 US Para-Dressage National Championships. That same year she went on to became the youngest member in the equestrian portion of the 2016 Paralympics at Rio de Janeiro as part of Team USA. Sydney has dedicated her life to service, she maintains a busy schedule between athletic and equestrian training, guest speaking and volunteering. She is also attending DeVry University on an Olympic Scholarship where she is majoring in Communications. ... In addition, Sydney was most recently named an alternate for the US Paralympic Dressage Team and went to Tokyo for the postponed 2020 games.
Taylor Harris
Born and raised in Southern California, Taylor graduated from UC Berkeley where she founded an Equestrian club and also served as Team Captain. After earning a degree in Business, Taylor continued her studies at The London School of Economics. While pursuing a career in banking, Taylor continued to ride and compete at the national level earning top placings at national grand prix on the West Coast. Taylor moved to the east coast to pursue her passion for riding and to compete at the top of the sport, but she also has a home in LA and manages a farm in Ventura County, CA. Lola, her adopted dog, travels everywhere with her.
