Luxury Equestrian Network Spring 2024 Issue

L U X U R Y

EQUESTRIAN

N E T W O R K

D E S I G N & B U I L D D I R E C T O R Y S P R I N G 2 0 2 4

In writing an introduction to our second issue, I am filled with gratitude. Our first event was such a resounding success that the moment it ended, my mind was consumed with thoughts of our group's future. In the seven months since our summer event, I've observed the positive impact of our community as members continue to nurture relationships and provide support to each others’ businesses.

I am thrilled to be hosting another fantastic event with American Stalls at the Burtech Family Vineyard. This upcoming gathering offers an excellent chance to broaden our network and cultivate business growth. Your involvement plays a vital role in our goal to unite equestrian building professionals throughout Southern California.

Our mission is to unite the vibrant community of builders, architects, landscape architects, designers, manufacturers, and more who focus on equestrian properties. We recognize the strong bond between our equestrian clients and their horses and strive to foster unity among those who share this passion.

Thank you for being an integral part of this movement. Together, we shall ride the tides of success and forge even stronger bonds within our community.

Lindsay Hunter

Spring Issue

2 0 2 4

New Member Spotlight

Cindy Santa Cruz designs a polo lover’s dream in Mexico

Landscape Architecture

An interview with Tim Smith of Wynn-Smith Landscape Architecture

American Stalls in Texas

Their latest project is fit for a small princess

Summer Event

Our July event at Burtech Family Vineyard

The Cowboys of Santa

Photographer Christina Ciaccio captures the coyboy way of life

S T A P L E S

01 Editor's Note

03 Member Directory

Cover photo by Matt Walla

Private residence in San Diego

designed by Appleton Architects

D I R E C T O R Y

BUILDERS

Joe Acevedo, Acevedo Construction Joe@acevedoconstruction.net

Acevedoconstruction.net

Giffin & Crane

Geoff@giffinandcrane.com

Giffinandcrane.com

ARCHITECTS

Andrew Scott, Appleton Partners Ascott@appleton-architects.com

Appleton-architects com

John Margolis, Appleton Partners Jmargolis@appleton-architects.com

Appleton-architects com

Fabio Rigo de Righi, Domani Architecture Fabio@domaniinc.net

Domaniinc.net

INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Lindsay Hunter, Hunter Design Lindsay@lindsayhunterdesign.com Lindsayhunterdesign.com

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

Tim Smith, Wynn-Smith Landscape Architecture

Tim@wynn-smith com Wynn-smith.com

EQUESTRIAN FACILITY DESIGNERS

Andrea Knowles, Equine Residences Info@equineresidences.com

Equineresidences com

Cindy Santa Cruz Cindy@cscequinedesign.com

Cscequinedesign.com

www.LuxuryEquestrianNetwork.com

Follow us on Instagram @luxuryequestriannetwork

CUSTOM STALL FABRICATORS

Yash Balasaria, American Stalls

Yash@americanstalls.com

Americanstalls.com

ARENA SPECIALISTS

Chris Neihart, Premier Equestrian

Chris@premierequestrian.com Premierequestrian.com

TRAINERS

Ashley Donadt, Donadt Dressage

Donadtdressage@gmail.com

Donadtdressage.com

EQUESTRIAN GIFTS

Modern Equestrian Shop

Lindsay@modernequestrianshop.com

Modernequestrianshop.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Art Photography

Christina Ciaccio

Christinaciaccio.com

Real Estate/Aerial Photography

Erik Lockheimer, Aerial9 Media

Erik@aerial9.com

Aerial9 com

REALTORS

Sean Caddell, Pacific Sotheby's International Realty OceanRanches@gmail.com Seancaddell.com

Caren Kelley, Luxury & Equestrian Group Caren@equestrianre.com Equestrianre.com

Lindsey Vorwith, The Avenue Home Collective Lindsey@theavenuehc.com Theavenuehc.com

Peter Zimble, Carolwood Estates Pzimble@carolwoodre.com Carolwoodre.com/agent/peter-zimble

HOME STAGERS

Kim Kelly, Everything Creative Designs

Kim@everythingcreativedesigns com Everythingcreativedesigns.com

L I N D S A Y H U N T E R

Lindsay@lindsayhunterdesign.com

Lindsayhunterdesign.com H U N T E R D E S I G N

Lindsay Hunter combines her enthusiasm for interior design with her passion for the equestrian lifestyle to create intentional, inspirational living spaces for people from all walks of life. Past clients appreciate her attention to detail and her ability to bring the best out of any space, no matter how large or small. Lindsay brings a wealth of knowledge, insightful understanding, and elevated scope to every project because she understands why a house should feel less like a building and more like an extension of your life, identity, and passions

Lindsay has made a name for herself by blending her passion for horses and the equestrian lifestyle with design to create a style she fondly calls ‘Modern Equestrian’. With her growing portfolio of nationwide clients, she established Hunter Design in November 2010 and bears the distinction of being certified by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.

Lindsay has been featured in renowned publications such as Equestrian Living, EqLuxe, Polo Lady, Horse & Style, and Horse Illustrated

A P P L E T O N P A R T N E R S

Andrew Scott

Design Partner, AIA, NCARB ascott@appleton-architects.com

Appleton-architects.com

John Margolis

Senior Project Manager, AIA jmargolis@appleton-architects.com

ARCHITECTS

Appleton Partners LLP – was established by Marc Appleton in 1976, and has offices in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, California. We have designed over 700 projects and specialize in the planning, design, and landscaping of custom residential, institutional and commercial projects for both private and public clients. Our projects include additions, restorations and the adaptive reuse of existing buildings as well as new construction. We have been extensively published in major design periodicals and have won numerous awards and competitions Design is a collaborative process with our clients, inspired by their specific desires, needs, program, and budget The location, environment, and siting of each project strongly influence this process, and a harmonious relationship between the buildings and landscape is always an essential concern.

Whether contemporary or traditional in style, our architecture strives for an appreciation of place and time. The work is diverse and eclectic, and we reject the idea that a successful design practice needs to be “branded” or have a consistent signature style, or that architecture always has to shout

I was hired to create a world class polo and equestrian center for the beautiful oceanfront luxury resort "One & Only Mandarina" in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico.

ONE & ONLY MANDARINA’S POLO & EQUESTRIAN CENTER

By Cindy Santa Cruz

by Mandarina RLH Properties

My scope of work included a site analysis, the layout of the entire facility, and deciding which components were needed to host world class events on site The facility was designed to offer lessons in jumping, dressage, flatwork, polo and give visitors the opportunity to take a trail ride on the beach, as well as to meet the standards required to host world class events in all of these disciplines.

I worked very closely with the architects, (Philipp Nehr of Studio Caban, Tofan Rafati of Rick Joy Architects and Fernando Olaiz of Architectural Development Agency LLC as well as a team of talented architects hired directly by RLH Properties) advising them from a “horse person ’ s ” point of view as to what structures and amenities were necessary, where to place them, and how best to design and build them to ensure each horse's and rider’s safety and comfort.

Photographs

The facility includes 20 stalls with individual runs, in addition to the planning of 40 additional permanent stalls with runs, 40 temporary stalls and all necessary services for visiting horses during polo tournaments and equestrian competitions, a covered dressage arena, an outdoor jumping arena, a polo field designed by Alejandro Battros, a “terrace/food truck” for events, a vet clinic with a surgical suite, large grass pastures, a round pen and a trail system around the property that also leads to the beach.

One of the challenges on this project was to select the safest and most maintenance free materials that would hold up in the hot, tropical climate and how to design the arena and barns to maximize the ventilation throughout the facility The architects did an amazing job at this by designing structures that could take advantage of the prevalent ocean breezes.

It was so much fun to collaborate with many talented people on such a stunning project and to have the opportunity to help set an example of what a safe, horse friendly facility should look like.

After all, our horses well being is the reason I am so driven and passionate about the work that I do.

"After all, our horses’ well being is the reason I am so driven and passionate about the work that I do."

Cindy Santa Cruz

C H R I S N E I H A R T

PREMIER EQUESTRIAN

Chris@premierequestrian.com

Premierequestrian.com

Premier Equestrian was established in 2000 and we specialize in creating arenas for sport horses Our products are widely used in private backyard farms to World Class Olympic level venues Our love of horses is at the heart of our company. It is what has driven us to build a line of the finest quality arena footing products on the market. We want to make sure that everyone – and every horse– can experience a safe and high-performance riding experience.

Premier Equestrian is dedicated to helping customers obtain the best arena equipment and surfaces at an affordable price We go to great lengths to educate ourselves about materials, production, techniques, safety, and biomechanics so that we can help you make the best decision for your needs.

T I M S M I T H

WYNN-SMITH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Tim@wynn-smith.com

Wynn-smith.com

What excites us about these projects are the many opportunities to creatively work out design solutions harmonizing equestrian health and functional needs with human and vehicular requirements.

Tim Smith, our principal landscape architect, enjoys sharing his knowledge of horses and design to creatively develop master plans that are not only safe and efficient but also beautiful and reflective of the client’s goals. He gained practical experience by working at his father’s farm, Pegasus Stud in Lexington, Kentucky, working at the Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton Sales, and studying the many farms for which his father, an equine veterinarian at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, worked.

Some of the joys that are consistent with all of our projects around the country are the conversations we have with our clients about their unique desires and philosophy of raising/training their horses and how that will translate into their dream equestrian project.

J O

E

A C E V E D O

ACEVEDO CONSTRUCTION

Joe@acevedoconstruction.net

Acevedoconstruction.net

We specialize in unique, beautifully crafted custom homes, you can witness our meticulous workmanship attention to design and detail throughout our projects, but what you cannot see is our people. People who treat you and your project with the respect you deserve People who are experienced, responsible professionals who have been with us for many years People that our clients compliment us on, again and again

Beyond building skills and likeable personalities, you may well be wondering about our ability to handle your money. Today, any builder you consider needs to be knowledgeable about lien releases, bank and insurance company requirements, and fund control accounts to serve you well. Our experience has led us to institute office procedures and systems to safeguard your investment

We invite you to look at our projects and talk to the people we have worked with. We think you will be impressed by our reputation. We would welcome a call to discuss your building project.

T I M S M I T H

WYNN-SMITH LANDSCAPE ARCHITURE

Interview by Lindsay Hunter

You drive up the winding road towards your barn, past paddocks and arenas. You park in the designated parking lot and walk into the barn to find your horse. Once tacked up and ready to go, you guide your horse past shrubbery delineating a pathway towards the arena. As you go about your day, you probably never noticed that the roads for cars don’t intersect with the horses’ walking paths for safety reasons, did you? It’s details like that that landscape architect Tim Smith of Wynn-Smith Landscape Architecture loves. Creating an environment where both horses and riders can thrive is his passion, and fortunately we got the opportunity to learn more about what lights him up.

FIRST OF ALL, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT’S ROLE IS IN THE PROJECT AND WHAT A TYPICAL SCOPE OF WORK LOOKS LIKE?

Our role and scope of work as the landscape architect on an equestrian project varies. We are usually preparing the master plan of the site which includes siting all buildings such as barns, residences and offices, designing roads and pathways, conceptual grading of the site, fencing, and all other required amenities of the site. Of course this comes with many conversations and meetings with the client, as in any project, to listen to them so we can guide them in the best way to get there.

If an architect has been hired, we work closely with them in the design of the barns depending on their familiarity of horses and what the needs are in a barn. That often, at least for site planning, starts with what kind of barn is desired or what best fits the site. For example, is it best to have a shedrow barn, a center aisle barn or a combination of the two.

As licensed landscape architects we move from the master plan, to more detailed design concepts in Design Development and ultimately Construction Drawings. Our construction drawings cover everything outside of the barns, residences or offices and then we lead the permitting process or we work with the project building architect or civil engineer in the permitting process.

Our construction drawings include the layout of all structures and roads on the site, construction details (not of the buildings), lighting plans, irrigation plans and planting plans. Landscape designers cannot legally do these but landscape architects (licensed by the State) can.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT?

While at the University of Kentucky, I was taking a business writing class and through research for an assignment, I stumbled onto an article about Landscape Management which interested me. With further research I discovered Landscape Architecture which seemed to be more organic in form than building architecture so I thought that would be a better fit for me. I knew I loved nature, art, drawing and helping people so I decided to study landscape architecture at the University of Arizona.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO SPECIALIZE IN THE EQUESTRIAN LANDSCAPE?

While studying landscape architecture in school, I had not even thought of the connection to horses until I read an article about a farm (Gainsway Farm) that had been designed by a landscape architect and that is when the light went off. I saw my opportunity to integrate my love for horses for my love of art and nature. I realized that there were not likely that many building architects or landscape architects that had the experience or exposure that I had so why couldn’t I eventually offer the combined knowledge to horsemen around the world.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT GROWING UP IN KENTUCKY AND YOUR LIFE WITH HORSES?

During my very early years in Lexington, Kentucky, I went to many horse farms with my dad who was an equine veterinarian for the magnificent horse farms. While helping him, which really was just a way to see him, I came to understand what makes a safe equestrian space not only for horses but for people also. I was lucky, I guess, because since that started at such a young age, much of it just came to me without me recognizing what I was learning until I started to design spaces for horses.

After my parents divorced, we eventually moved out to a 900 acre cattle and crop farm on the outer edges of Lexington which was quite a change from living in town but my new living situation exposed me to life in a landscape that influences me to this day as a landscape architect.

We did have a few horses for a while but they were more pleasure horses. My siblings and I cared for them and they probably took care of us too. I believe being around horses can be a fantastic learning experience about life far more than just understanding horses.

Later, when I was 11, we moved to Tucson, Arizona where I was shocked to see horses in small pipe corrals in the desert with no grass. This was another learning experience to understand how different regions in the world deal with their own environmental opportunities and challenges and this case, raising horses with smaller amounts of land and less water.

Finally, after high school, I moved back to Kentucky on my own and worked on my Dad’s farm, Pegasus Stud, working with broodmares, foals and yearlings. Now working with horses was an actual job and I loved it but decided I didn’t want to be in the “business” of buying and selling horses so I decided to study landscape architecture instead.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE A PROJECT YOU WORKED ON RECENTLY THAT YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF?

I don’t know that I could single out any one equestrian project recently that I am particularly proud of because I love them all. Sometimes we are not allowed to talk about some of our clients’ project but I am proud to say that we always, as much as the client will allow, integrate safety, health, efficiency, functionality and beauty into the project. They say horses are the sport of kings, so our projects should feel that way in that every aspect of the farm, ranch or track has been thought out very carefully.

WHAT ARE SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES YOU’VE ENCOUNTERED WHEN DESIGNING FOR EQUESTRIAN USE AND HOW DID YOU ADDRESS THEM?

One of the challenges that we face quite a bit in Southern California is fitting everything our clients want into relatively small lots Sometimes every foot matters, even on lots of a few acres We turn to our training as landscape

architects to find the best solutions for spatial layout by studying the existing land forms and prioritizing client/horse needs and wishes with the space available.

I think, again, what I have learned as a landscape architect on public projects helped us solve a political challenge with a riding club that had hired us to create a new master plan for their very old facility. Being that it is a club with members having different goals, we put on three member workshops that fostered safe and open dialogue with everyone. One of our goals was to make sure that even people who would not normally speak up, had their voices heard.

While we were able to meet most everyone’s wishes, we were not able to meet every wish, but we were able to explain to them why. This worked, in part, because our firm ran the workshops as opposed to the board, and that removed much of the ‘personal’ emotions that otherwise would have been in the way of unbiased communication.

“I consider it an honor every time we are asked to design anything to do with horses ”

CAN YOU SHARE ANY INNOVATIVE OR CREATIVE IDEAS YOU’VE IMPLEMENTED IN EQUESTRIAN LANDSCAPE DESIGN TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE FOR RIDERS AND THEIR HORSES?

This is something that I am very excited about but it doesn’t necessarily apply to every type of equestrian project. A few years ago, a client of ours asked us to look into a concept called “Paddock Paradise” and after researching it, I was so upset that I did not know about this a long time ago.

Paddock Paradise is a way of boarding horses and the term and idea was coined by a farrier who wondered why there was a need for his profession. The goal is to create a more natural living environment for the horses by separating food from water and creating safe obstacles between the two so the horses have to think about how to get from one to the other. There is much more to it but I have enjoyed sharing its concepts to clients that have the right kind of boarding situation that could handle it.

DO YOU DESIGN FOR PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES?

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE KEY ELEMENTS THAT MAKE AN EQUESTRIAN LANDSCAPE SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOYABLE FOR BOTH HORSES AND RIDERS?

I would say, as I said earlier, it must be safe for all and efficient. For horses, I think we must provide them with the most natural living environment as possible. They must be able to be as social as possible, be able to see long distances, have mental and physical stimulation and anything that could startle them should be avoided.

Isn’t it interesting that the same elements should be considered for riders as they are for horses? It's just that we need to understand what elements or activities apply to each. For example, we try to avoid vehicular traffic crossing the paths that horses will be taking when lead by a rider or groom because we know that not all drivers are conscious of where they are driving.

Yes. We design for private and commercial and all types of equestrian facilities. We have designed both very small (half-acre sites) and projects on hundreds of acres. We have enjoyed master planning and design of breeding / broodmare farms for Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabians and Warmbloods, training facilities for Hunter/Jumper and Dressage, Polo facilities, Race Tracks and facilities for Equine Therapy. We don’t care if the project is for multi-million dollar horses or horses that were given away. We just want to create well designed spaces for all.

We actually design projects for single family residences, public parks, commercial properties, resorts, institutions and a variety of other types of projects but our work on equestrian projects has a very special place in our portfolio for many reasons but one is that it always brings me back to my childhood being with these beautiful animals that are so sensitive to us.

I consider it an honor every time we are asked to design anything to do with horses.

www.wynn-smith.com

SEAN CADDELL

PACIFIC SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

For nearly two decades, Sean Caddell has successfully pushed the envelope in real estate and established himself as the top agent in San Diego’s luxury coastal and equestrian communities. He skillfully blends his passion for architecture and design with his practice of fine home representation. His clients return to him time and again because his deep understanding of their unique needs is invaluable. His commitment to providing extraordinary results has driven his digital marketing strategies to new levels, with distinct offerings like his own mobile app and special press and TV features. Sean graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and an emphasis in advertising. He began his career managing corporate relations for firms in the financial services industry. He parlayed that experience and partnered in a firm that provided contract staffing to the mortgage banking industry and to commercial banks such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and HSBC throughout California. His understanding of the financial industry has helped guide his clients to success and close even the most challenging of deals. Sean’s concierge approach paired with his unmatched industry knowledge has led to over hundreds of millions in sales and garnered him numerous awards like Equestrian Living magazine’s Top Equestrian Agent honor. OceanRanches@gmail.com

LINDSEY VORWITH

THE AVENUE HOME COLLECTIVE

lindsey@theavenuehc.com

Theavenuehc.com

Stepping away from cliche, Lindsey Vorwith is an esteemed negotiation prowess with an eye for artistic sophistication. Representing buyers and sellers across the San Diego region, Lindsey’s depth of realty expertise spans from representing multi-million dollar equestrian luxury properties to first-time home buyers looking to purchase their forever family home.

A tireless champion for every client she represents, Lindsey takes the time to not only understand her clients needs, but walks each and everyone through the process from start to finish. For every client represented, Lindsey brings to the table a tailored list of vendors to ensure a stress-free home buying or selling experience. Whether it’s finding the perfect stager or filming a top-tier property video, Lindsey’s expansive network and expertise of prestigious vendors will be sure to meet the needs of any client.

A born and raised San Diego native, Lindsey resides in the rural Vista area. She holds a business degree in Management and Entrepreneurship. When she’s not representing client transactions, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four dogs, riding horses and spending time at the lake with her family. Lindsey’s an avid animal lover and volunteers with The Animal Pad to help shelter dogs find their forever homes.

CAREN KELLEY

LUXURY & EQUESTRIAN GROUP

Caren@equestrianre.com

Equestrianre.com

Caren Kelley is the National Equestrian Director for Compass and leads the Equestrian Real Estate Group. She is an expert in equestrian, land and luxury residential property sales. With over $1.5 Billion worth of successfully completed transactions, including many of the most notable, high value properties in Southern California, her experience, market leadership and caring commitment adds value to every client.

Prior to joining Compass, Caren founded Equestrian Real Estate which quickly became the clear market leader in equestrian property sales in Southern California Among her notable recent accomplishments are Seller representation of a $28 million ranch sold to a top thoroughbred owner in 2015, the sale of 400 acres for $12.75 million, the representation of a luxury Rancho Santa Fe home seller in 2012 which set the highest price point in the Covenant for almost 5 years, and the sale of the iconic “Oaks” property in San Juan Capistrano, formerly owned by Joan Irvine Smith.

Along with Caren’s values of trustworthiness, commitment and determination, her clients also benefit from her uniquely targeted niche marketing and an industry leading social media presence

A M E R I C A N

Photography by Charles Davis Smith

We asked American Stalls CEO Yash Balasaria to tell us about their recently completed project, designed for a motherdaughter duo with great taste and the cutest little hair bows you ’ ve ever seen in a barn.

“American Stalls worked with a prominent family in Stephenville, Texas for their recent private horse barn project. This equestrian complex was designed with beauty, function and longevity in mind The barn features 5 custom arched stalls with spacious covered runs, a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment and an attached covered arena encompassed by a large pull through driveway. The family opted for a mixture of stone and metal to perfectly pair together, creating a modern and clean aesthetic.

Inside the barn, it houses American Stalls’ extensive live of luxury custom solutions This includes Custom Stall Fronts, Mesh Partitions, hinged Barn Doors, Dutch Doors, Rubber Pavers, and Interlocking Rubber Mats. Across from the stalls is a feed room, tack room, bathroom and wash bay. Each stall provides access to a large, covered in and out run, approximately 15′ x 18′. The contrasting chevron print wooden wall brings in an element of warmth while lending a practical design feature

The end result is a barn that is custom tailored for this family’s enjoyment for generations to come. ”

Y A S H B A L A S A R I A

AMERICAN STALLS

Yash@americanstalls.com

Americanstalls.com

At American Stalls, we work instinctively and from the heart to serve our clients. An American Stalls purchase is an investment in stabling products, but also a seed for a long-term relationship with our firm. We deeply care for our people and make it our mission to build long-lasting, genuine relationships with our clients.

We specialize within the equestrian industry by offering luxury stabling products and service of exceptional quality Our objective is to be recognized as the company that supplies the finest horse stalls and barn equipment in the world.

We supply products that deliver long-term value using the finest raw materials, superior design and finishes, and support them with a deep drive for personalized service.

Doing so allows American Stalls to satisfy the needs and tastes of our discerning clientele while maintaining our position as the trusted supplier of the best equine equipment

A N D R E A K N O W L E S

Equine Residences is owned and directed by Andrea Knowles. With more than two decades in the design business, Andrea leads a team of experts in creating an exquisite, healthy and happy environment for your horses and you

Equine Residences offers a wide-range of services; from creating your facility ground-up, interior design, full decorative redesign and remodels, to architectural elevations, site &master planning, renderings, construction management and landscape & hardscape design.

Equine Residences is focused on listening to our clients. We pride ourselves on our collaborations with them to channel their visions. Whether they need a few hours of time, or to have us generate a project’s full scope of work, we are always up for the challenge Equine Residences practices sustainability and focuses on using solar and water recycling wherever possible. We enjoy offering our clients multiple solutions for their projects. We are experts in working toward a goal of getting a project ready for sale; we know the real estate marketplace extremely well, and will always make advice to our clients toward that end, as well.

C I N D Y S A N T A C R U Z

Cindy@cscequinedesign.com

Cscequinedesign

I have been a horse owner, jumper, and dressage rider for over 40 years. After growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico, I moved to the US where I lived for over 20 years in Maui, Dallas and San Diego. I moved back to Mexico in 2020 to complete my work as an equestrian consultant on the design of One and Only Mandarina Equestrian and Polo Club for RLH Properties. Most recently I designed the future equestrian “Hacienda" at Xala, a resort currently under construction on the coast of Jalisco anchored by a Six Senses hotel. I am currently working on a large state of the art jumper facility in Guadalajara and currently reside in Puerto Vallarta. Throughout my life, I have boarded and ridden horses in many locations and facilities. That experience has allowed me to develop a very deep understanding of what works and what does not when it comes to horse care, facility design, and keeping clients happy. After all, I have been a client myself and have a very high standard of care for my horses. I have learned through personal experience the importance of site layout and the specific materials selected for footing, fencing, walkways, stall components, irrigation, ventilation, and surrounding landscaping. All of these can be greatly affected by weather and location, so a knowledgable selection is crucial for the best results.

I am a true believer that ensuring our horses' physical and mental well-being and safety will help keep them sound and happy in the long run. My goal is to work with clients to construct their dream barn by creating an aesthetically stunning, horse friendly, practical, and low maintenance facility where their horses can thrive and have the freedom to be “horses.”

SUMMER EVENT

at the Burtech Family Vineyard, Encinitas, CA

On July 17, 2023, we hosted our first event that brought together the luxury equestrian building community in Southern California. Set against the stunning backdrop of a horse property with a vineyard, the atmosphere was truly remarkable. As our guests arrived, they were greeted with the aroma of amazing wine and artful charcuterie boards. The conversations flowed effortlessly as likeminded individuals connected and shared their passion for the equestrian world.

Throughout the event, friendships were forged, and valuable relationships were formed. The combination of great wine, delicious food, the charming environment and engaging conversations made it an unforgettable experience for all. We are thrilled to see how this event has laid the foundation for future collaborations within the luxury equestrian community.

Thank you to our sponsors, American Stalls and Hunter Design for hosting such a spectacular event! Also thank you to the Burtech Family Vineyard for hosting us on their property.

All photographs by Honey Photographs

From left to right: Yash Balasaria, Jessica DiCostanza, Evan & Ashley Donadt, Tim Smith; Sean Caddell, Jackie Hooper, Tim Smith, Lindsay Hunter; Tim Smith, Kim Kelly, Jose Cervantes.

Event co-sponsors

Lindsay Hunter, Hunter Design and Yash Balasaria, American Stalls.

Clockwise from left, Tim Smith & Caren Kelley; Joe Acevedo & SallyAnn Konigkramer; Lindsey Vorwith; Jackie Hooper, Sean Caddell, Evan & Ashley Donadt; Andrew Scott, Caren Kelley, Jessica DiCostanzo, Yash Balasaria, and John Margolis.

A S H L E Y D O N A D T

Donadtdressage@gmail.com

Donadtdressage.com

DONADT DRESSAGE

Driven by her passion and a true joy for horses and teaching, Ashley moved to California from WA state in 2012 to follow her dressage dreams. She worked as a groom and assistant trainer for many top barns and trainers in San Diego before starting her own training business, Donadt Dressage, in 2017.

As a Grand Prix rider with high ambitions of her own, she is always seeking further learning opportunities, and enjoys sharing those experiences with her students. She continues her own training regularly with local 3x Olympic Medalist, Guenter Seidel, in her aspiring efforts to advance her riding to the elite levels of Dressage.

Ashley offers full service training and care out of her home base, Highpoint Rancho LLC, located in the heart of Rancho Santa Fe. She is also available for private training sessions or clinics at your own home Equestrian facility.

AERIAL9 MEDIA

E R I K L O C K H E I M E R Erik@aerial9.com

Erik Lockheimer, the founder of Aerial9 Media, has been at the forefront of real estate marketing and media since 2015. Aerial9 Media has carved its niche by offering high-quality media content designed specifically for real estate professionals. What truly distinguishes Aerial9 Media is its unwavering dedication to exceptional customer service and attention to detail, a cornerstone of Erik's leadership philosophy.

With a mission to expedite property sales by enhancing visibility through top-tier media services, Aerial9 Media is dedicated to delivering results that exceed expectations. Erik and his team pride themselves on prioritizing client satisfaction, ensuring each collaboration is characterized by meticulous attention to detail and unwavering support.

At Aerial9 Media, the goal is to forge partnerships with leading real estate agents, empowering them with a comprehensive suite of services designed to elevate their brand presence and accelerate property listings. From inception to execution, Aerial9 Media offers an end-to-end solution, enabling clients to showcase their listings effectively, maximize market value, and cultivate a lasting brand identity in the competitive real estate landscape.

J E S S I C A D I C O S T A N Z O

EQUIVONT

Born and raised in California on the back of a horse, Jessica had the opportunity to move across the country. As a working amateur, she began researching options for bringing her horse along with her.

Where to board? Who to train with? What farrier options were there? Who transports horses across the country?

After spending hours searching on the web, she became frustrated with the outdated, irrelevant information available. Existing directories provided a name and a phone number at best and there was no way of telling if this professional was even in business any more After leaving countless voicemails that went unreturned and thumbing through archaic websites, it was obvious there is a huge disconnect between riders and the professionals. In any other service-related industry consumers search online to find out what their options are. Whether it be a restaurant, a plumber, or buying a car. Why wouldn’t horse people adopt a similar approach?

This experience powered the concept of Equivont. Jessica teamed up with Jacki to bring this word-of-mouth industry up to the digital era.

Equivont partners with reputable and relevant businesses and professionals who WANT TO BE FOUND by the equestrians who are searching for them

C H R I S T I N A

C I A C C I O

EQUESTRIAN PHOTOGRAPHER

A girl from the opposite side of the horse world, Christina Ciaccio was thrown into the life of the modern day working cowboy by what must have been fate. She did what any photographer would do, she picked up her camera.

When Christina is not out on a ranch or riding her horses, she is working on her business Christina Ciaccio Photography & Advertising, spending her days shooting fashion campaigns along with other luxury goods and services.

Christinaciaccio com

T H E C O W B O Y S O F

S A N T A Y N E Z

Photographer Christina Ciaccio captures the coyboy life

A TASTE OF THE WILD WEST

By Christina Ciaccio

After relocating to Santa Ynez, CA in 2020, I surprisingly found myself immersed into what seemed like the wild west. I had heard about the vineyards and the beautiful serene country, but had no idea I would encounter real working cowboys and cattle ranches.

I was no stranger to horses, being a lifelong equestrian, however growing up in Orange County and competing in the hunter/jumper world, was a far cry from ranch life in Santa Ynez Within the first few weeks I met Juan Laura, a third generation saddle maker, at his saddle shop in town. Rows of western saddles and tack surrounded him in his outdoor western shop. Juan is the real deal and if the cowboys need something fixed, Juan’s the guy to do it. While I was at Juan’s, a cowboy drove up with his truck and trailer. His horse was tacked up, ready to go to work, as well as his working dog who sat patiently in the back seat Little did I know that this working cowboy, Jorge Padilla, was about to introduce me to a culture that would change the course of my life.

A few weeks later, I had received an invitation from Jorge to go to my first branding. I told him I can ride, but my horse is not a ranch horse. So he said he would bring me a horse.

The next day I met him at the branding I had never seen anything like it Trailers were parked everywhere with local cowboys getting their horses ready. Jorge had brought me one of his reliable ranch horses and I was thrilled to be able to ride out and gather the cows with a few cowboys. Once we brought the cows into the corral, a few other cowboys began to sort the calves from the moms

I couldn’t help but start taking pictures. One guy was at the gate letting the cows through, but blocking the calves from going out. The other cowboys were responsible for sending the cows his direction.

Once sorted, two teams of cowboys would each rope a calf, a header and a heeler, and once successful, three cowboys would run out and bring the calf to the ground. Someone would tie the calf’s legs together, and then one cowboy would tag the calf’s ear, one would castrate, another would brand, and yet another would vaccinate. It was fast paced and if you didn’t stay on your toes you would be run over, either by the horses, calves running, or the cowboys

I was doing my best to stay out of the way. After a few hours all of the calves had been worked through, and I knew I was hooked.

AFTER A FEW HOURS, ALL THE CALVES HAD BEEN WORKED THROUGH, AND I KNEW I WAS HOOKED.

CHRISTINA CIACCIO

“MY HOPE IS TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THIS SMALL LITTLE PIECE OF WESTERN LIFE THAT STILL EXISTS HERE.”

I began photographing all aspects of the working cowboy and ranch life in the next few years The entire process of a cattle ranch from preg checks, fixing waters, feeding, gathering, weaning, and even loading the calves who had grown up and were ready to ship out. The life of a working cowboy is not glamorous, but it is a lifestyle and they love it. To have seen first hand the grit and even patience the job requires has been such a gift. The values that are upholded in this world and the culture the ranch life embodies, is something we need to preserve for future generations Cowboys are a dying breed in California, but my hope is to shine a light on this small little piece of western life that still exists here.

ROOSEVELT COLLECTION AMERICAN STALLS INTRODUCES

Inspired by the bold spirit and timeless elegance of one of America’s most iconic figures, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt The Roosevelt Collection epitomizes the strength, durability, and sophistication

Just as Roosevelt was renowned for his robust nature, rugged adventures, and refined demeanor, our line of brass hardware mirrors these qualities Each piece is carefully crafted to reflect a sense of adventure, durability, and grace

Crafted from the finest brass, the Roosevelt Collection showcases a selection of Bridle Hooks, Single Hooks, and Double Hooks These pieces are not merely functional, but are a testament to intricate design and lasting craftsmanship

We, equestrians, understand the value of reliability Whether in the midst of competition or the quiet moments in the barn, you need hardware that stands the test of time and daily rigors The Roosevelt Collection is built to endure, without compromising on elegance or style

Americanstalls.com

PETER ZIMBLE

CAROLWOOD ESTATES

Peter has three decades of entrepreneurial success building companies in over 100 countries His experience, creative deal-making and the ability to navigate seemingly impossible political hurdles have enabled him to create and run some of the most innovative tech companies on the planet These companies built internet infrastructure and provided ongoing Internet services to foreign governments and telecom providers including Iraq, Afghanistan, Latin America, Africa and Cuba

Peter has called Los Angeles home for 30 years and has parlayed his competitive international approach into the luxury real estate market His adventures in crafting deals with foreign government officials have instilled diplomacy and discretion, which brings a unique and skilled perspective for the benefit of his clients

A native of Boston, he studied art, art history and architecture Peter enjoys sailing, skiing, the Red Sox and the unique challenges every client puts in front of him Always striving to approach deals from every angle, Peter never gives up until his client’s goal is achieved

Peter is active in the Los Angeles disability arena and pledges his time to several boards and organizations He is passionate about finding new ways to advance the support, health and happiness of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities Peter donates a portion of every transaction to benefit this mission

MODERN EQUESTRIAN SHOP

Equestrian Home Decor Collection Curated by Interior Designer Lindsay Hunter

As an interior designer, I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to bring a client’s dream to life by incorporating their life as an equestrian with the modern comforts of home. I love the search for the perfect piece of furniture or accessory- it makes me feel like a museum curator pulling together one-of-a-kind treasures to create a cohesive collection that tells a story

For almost as long as I’ve been an interior designer, I have wanted my own shop to showcase a collection of my favorite treasures. I am inspired by the elegance and history of equestrian culture, particularly British, and I designed Modern Equestrian Shop so that equestrian-enthusiasts could create the equestrian look in their own homes. From equestrian artwork to cozy cashmere tartan blankets and saddle leather boxes with brass stirrup buckles, these items are meant to compliment an equestrian’s collection of tack and treasures from the barn to create a cohesive equestrian aesthetic in the home.

www ModernEquestrianShop com

HUNTER DESIGN

I N T E R I O R D E S I G N