TRAINER SPOTLIGHT by Erin Gilmore
Sayre Happy Given her family history, it’s little surprise that third-generation trainer and rider Sayre Happy has chosen a life with horses. The 34-year-old grew up in the Seattle, WA area with her grandfather, trainer Robert Woodington, and her mother, the late Dina Happy, as her closest mentors and first teachers. Dina was a well-respected rider and coach in the Pacific Northwest, and continued to be a familiar face while working the ingate at shows from Washington to Canada after she retired from training. And Sayre’s earliest memory of riding centers around her grandfather, who managed several training facilities in the area for decades. Now, with a few decades of experience of her own, Sayre is quietly making her own way in the industry, having moved to the East Coast several years ago after riding in Europe and working privately in Oregon. In partnership with Tamara Czartoryski, Happy formed HC Sporthorses in 2011. Together, Czartoryski and Happy import a small but steady number of sale horses to the U.S. to bring along and sell. Happy splits her year between Wellington, FL and Lexington, KY, and has a passion for developing young horses. With grand prix miles under her belt and an almost instinctual feel for horses of all levels, she’s moving right along, following in her family’s footsteps all the while.
Horse & Style: What is your earliest riding memory? Sayre Happy: It’s from when I was three-years-old; I was out with my
grandfather, riding a pony in the field. The pony accidentally cantered and that was it, I was hooked. My family really influenced me a lot!
H&S: So, there was never any question you would have a life with horses?
SH: Well, I actually didn’t ride when I was 18 and finishing high
school, and for a second I thought I might do something else. But I couldn’t stay away from it, and it started building more and more to where there were people who wanted me to start my own business. So, I went professional pretty early on, when I was 19. I took one other break a few years ago, but when I didn’t ride I really missed the horses.
30
JUNE | JULY
H&S: What would you say is your specialty in the business? SH: I really enjoy getting young horses and bringing them along, and helping them go further in life. I like riding in the bigger jumpers too, but I don’t need to be in the grand prix ring every week. I like the young horses, the really good ones. We’ve had some really special ones that I’ve gotten to develop a little bit, and I really do enjoy that a lot.
H&S: And how would you describe your business today? SH: We’re small, hands on. That’s the way I like it. When it gets bigger
than 12 horses, I physically can’t see what’s going on every day. I have two clients who I’m really enjoying teaching, as well. This summer we’re mostly in Kentucky, with a few trips to other shows; Calgary and Traverse City.
H&S: What do you love most about the horse show lifestyle? SH: I think it’s mainly the horses. I just love everything about them.
As far as the horse show lifestyle, I prefer the way we do it now, being in Wellington half the year and Kentucky half the year. We’re not on the road all the time and I don’t feel like a gypsy! It can be pretty rough being on the road constantly.
H&S: What have you learned about this industry? SH: I feel like there are certain people who you work with and can
trust, who are good people to do biz with, and I feel like if you can find those build those people around you it makes a huge difference towards your own success.