STYLE
rider
by Kelsey Langsdale photos by Sarah Appel
T
he transition from riding as a junior to riding as an amateur can be a difficult one to navigate. However, newly minted amateur Taegan Long is taking the transition in stride, and is using the time as a way to re-envision her riding goals – which are big ones! This winter Long plans to do all 12 weeks of WEF, and she has her sights set on riding in the FEI ring for the first time. To support her new amateur status, Long recently switched trainers. She is now working with Chris and Molly Cawley, who she says have been exceptionally supportive as she transitioned into the highs. Long is loving the newness and excitement that this break-out year is bringing her. While being an amateur competitor is new to Long, being in the competition ring is not. As a Junior she had a number of big wins, her favorite being when she was named WIHS Children’s Jumper Champion on Pocahontas in 2014. From there she went on to win top places at the Hampton Classic three years in a row, and impressively won every class she entered during the Mid-Atlantic Equitation Finals in 2016. In her final year as a junior, Long definitely went out with a bang. She finished 8th in the Jr/AO Derby at the Hampton Classic, qualified for the Prix de States, and had top placings at Lake Placid, Gold Cup, and Old Salem.
TAEGAN LONG 38
· november/december
Long has established herself as a talented rider in the equestrian world, but she is also known for being a social media influencer. Long has over 20,000 followers on Instagram, and has her own blog where she talks about her two passions: horses and fashion. Between her love for all things style and her talent in the ring, Long is a perfect Horse & Style “Style Rider” candidate.
Horse & Style: Describe your riding (apparel) style:
Taegan Long: I feel as though I have
a very classic, yet unusual look. I tend to wear classic colors, with nothing too bright or “out there,” but I still enjoy being ahead of the riding styles and flashy with my own twist. For instance, my custom show coat from Carma USA is a very light gray with black velvet cuff and baby pink piping. Most would consider