Harriette Toby 2016

HARRIETTE

and Toby

SUMMER 2016

“Her love for Toby is endless.

HE IS CONSTANTLY ON HER MIND” —P. 23

“Through The Years”

GERLINDE PEISER

A PHOTO JOURNEY

The ups, the downs, the beauty of riding.

FWD by

Rachel K. Zhang

From Sea Island

TO SHANGHAI Page 5

HARRIETTE

In this issue

SUMMER | 2016

Features P. 5 — “From Sea Island to Shanghai— Harriette to Toby” Harriette’s mother Susan T. shares how she has changed and grown throughout these years.

P. 9 — “From the Community” Messages from the Shanghai equestrian community, which this duo has tremendously impacted.

P.11 Photo Gallery—‘Through the Years’ >>> P. 23 — “This is Our Passion” Ava R., close friend and nonequestrian person gives some insight in to life with Harriette.

P. 29 — “Dear Harriette…”

A message from Gerlinde, who has followed their journey since the very beginning.

P. 35 — “Not Goodbye, But a See You Later” The pairs incredible relationship, as iterated by Dila K., close friend and non-equestrian.

P. 43 — “My Two Cents on Harriette” An account of the two from Scott T., non-equestrian and father of Harriette.

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On the cover January 27th, 2019 This photoshoot is one of the many large ones we did, and it was mainly to get a few photos for the company Instagram.

It’s not particularly easy to capture a good photo of these two—Toby is not an easy horse to work with. So although there are many beautiful moments captured, there are at least five bad photos for every good one.

It wouldn’t be a magazine about Toby if it didn’t include some of those!

—Rachel

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FOREWORD

By Rachel K. Zhang

When I first met Harriette Thomas I was a new student, and it was seventh grade b o n d i n g d a y. A m u t u a l f r i e n d introduced us on the bus ride back, and within the first five minutes we realized that we both had one huge catalyst of a “similar interest.” It is a well kept secret between the equestrians of the world that whenever you’d meet a fellow horse-crazy girl, you’d be immediate best friends.

So from then on came years more of hour long car rides to the barn, endless video shares, and doing everything except for actual schoolwork during school

school. It wasn’t just about our horses or the teachers and classes we both hated —Harriette is a “forever” friend, a confidante, a partner-in-crime. She has a way of being a bad-ass rider and the most supportive person in the world all while maintaining her own 4.0 gpa.

From Secret Indian Societies to rapping all of Hamilton in the car, we’re all truly grateful to have this girl in our lives.

Eventually, Harriette also became my business partner. We were always planning things—Getting sponsors for our Instagram influencer account (@shanghaiequestrians), building our own

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own two metre tack locker, creating our own athletic apparel brand. (P.S. They are the reason I picked up photography!)

Many plans were abandoned on the way, but we did carry through with the last idea.

It’s called Hart Outfitters.

I remember the first time I met Toby.

Harriette ran to me exclaiming about how she has “found a horse!” And how “you just have to meet him, Rachel.”

When I came to the Qing Qing Equestrian Centre, she pointed to one of the many dusty, run down concrete stalls and out poked the head of a small pony.

We created our own designs, made countless mistakes, squandered thousands of RMB (sorry parents!), and lied about our age (we did that a lot). And we love every second of it. From a small idea pioneered from the eighth grade hallway in the middle school building, we poured our hearts and souls into this company, which suffered through three name changes and crippling debt—among many other things.

He had what seemed to be a permanent scowl complimenting the star and stripe on his face, uneven muscle distribution across his chestnut body, and a white sock on his left hind leg giving us a piece of his mind. Approaching him was less than favourable, he had an aggressive temperament and did not hesitate to give us a nip on the shoulder (or anywhere else).

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Flash forward about three years,

and nothing much has changed.

(Kidding!) Though despite all of his faults, Harriette sure loves that horse.

It’s amazing to be able to follow Harriette and Toby’s progress— From being able to ride him without side reins, to riding their first course, to their first ever horse show. It’s hard for a lot of people to understand the bond between a horse and rider. No, Harriette will not be getting pizza after school because she wants to go ride her horse. No, Harriette can’t sleepover tonight because she has an early barn day tomorrow. And no, unfortunately she will not be able to make your party because her horse is getting his shoes done!

And she needs to be there for that.

It’s been a long road since the first days I met both Harriette and Toby. It’s impossible to truly articulate the impact these two made on everyone around them, this city, myself, and mostly each other. But here is a little insight into it. A little peak through the window.

Little did any of us know that that bonding day would come to change every second of the rest of our lives. Needless to say, our mutual friend spent the entire bus ride stuck between the two of us talking about saddle brands, types of grain, and various equine diseases. **

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FROM SEA ISLAND TO SHANGHAI, Harriette to Toby

By Susan T.

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t the age of 4 and a half, when Harriette first rode a horse, on Sea Island, Georgia, we soon realized we had probably started, or awoken, something eternal and expensive – a deep

connection was evident! At the end of the ride she immediately asked to book again. We marvelled at the degree of partnership she achieved through pure intention.

Fast forward twelve years, past lessons on a miniature horse called Rosie, first show and ribbons at 5 – wearing a borrowed show jacket with the sleeves rolled up – to riding various ponies on Bainbridge Island, until she found her own - Dixie Mae. When she outgrew ponies, Dixie Mae retired at the foothills of the Olympic Mountains and Harriette leased the wonderful Dot, an Appaloosa mare who always looked just a tad out of place in the Hunter classes.

And then to China and what to do about riding? At the end of the first year of no riding, Harriette declared she had tried every ball sport and now needed to ride again. Our search began and Harriette was helped by her intrepid horsey friend and future business partner, Rachel. They told stories of the crazy horses they were riding while I used breathing techniques to calm my nerves.

Eventually, they landed at Qing Qing in Songjiang with the two Mongolian gentlemen Bao, Xiao and Da. The school horses were school horses, doing their very best. Then space freed in Gerlinde’s schedule. Gerlinde, our now dear friend, has trained we humans, our dogs and our horse with the greatest of skill and patience, love and laughter. Buying Toby created a safe training project for Harriette with Gerlinde’s expertise. I said it was sheer madness to buy a horse in China but my husband insisted. He has always loved horses!

CONTINUE >>>

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In three years, Gerlinde has transformed Harriette and Toby. Sadly, Toby is not so very much better behaved in-hand than he was at the beginning – a little like a large, teething puppy – but under saddle he is really rather magnificent, if you will forgive my bias, and Harriette is now the rider I wished she were for all the years I was watching her in the U.S. and wishing she were training in dressage/ centered riding rather than the hunter/ jumper discipline.

So, what now? How deeply does a sixteen-year old’s heart break when she has to leave her 6-year old horse behind right when he is truly showing himself to be the most willing, committed and loyal companion one could ask for and even nibbling her a little less.

She tries not to think about it all too much. I sob privately at the thought of her grief. Harriette is having to dig deep for an extraordinary kind of bravery, one that requires faith because nothing else will do. This will be one of her final lessons from Toby. He has graced her life for three full years and she describes him as her “rock” and feels deeply the lessons their partnership has taught her. The love and bond between them are perhaps the greatest gift and because of this, all the other lessons will be well learned.**

“She describes him as her ‘rock’ and feels deeply the lessons their partnership has taught her.”

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SNAPSHOT MEMORY! 01.28.18 During early 2018, Shanghai experienced an unprecedented three snow days! This resulted in not only a no-school day but the destruction of a very expensive track.

Back at the barn we (Harriette and Rachel) set up an impromptu photoshoot in the snow, resulting in a set of gorgeous photos—albeit there was only about an inch or two of snow.

With our friends Marie and Michelle at the barn as well, we decided to make a small snowman. We called him Henry, and were happy to give him a carrot nose and present him to Toby.

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Needless to say, Toby had no issue destroying (and devouring) Henry.

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MEMORY

F R O M

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FROM THE COMMUNITY

CO M MU NITY

F R O M

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MARIE HERGOTT Hey Harriette it’s so sad you’re leaving. I remember when I first met you and Rachel I was pretty jealous. You got along with everyone and had so much pretty tack. But once I got to know you better it’s obvious why you get along with everyone, you’re so so nice and have a great way of expressing yourself (anyways with me). I’ll never forget your bond with Toby, you control him better than anyone could, I wish I had a bond like that. This is all to tell you that we’re going to miss you a lot! Hope you’ll come back and visit.

FINJA PEISSEL Dear Harriette, I am very sad that you are leaving! We had lots of fun together in the stable sharing the love of our 2 very best horses! They are so different, we often laughed about this. Also the way Donkey would make sure no other horse could even come close to his Toby! During lessons we often had a lot to talk about, driving my mom nuts by not working our horses in the concentrated way she thinks necessary. Competitions were so much fun together, the fun would start already when we would make our horses look beautiful and plaIt them. We would encourage one another and always felt we were not biased at all thinking we were the best!

MICHELLE WU Hey Harriette! I just wanted to say thanks for being such a great friend all this time :) I think its been what, two years? I remember when we first met, I thought you and Rachel were really cool, and I remember we used to help you guys with Toby and Fox a lot, and Isaac/Owen would tell us you guys were using us as ‘slaves’ anyway we somehow became friends really quick, and now we’re both leaving Shanghai I’m gonna miss Joey and I know you’re gonna miss Toby too, but I hope you’ll make some great memories wherever you go we’ll miss you a lot! hopefully we’ll both see each other again when we visit ;)

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PHOTOS ‘Through the Years’ PH OTO G R A PH Y A N D CO M M E N TA RY BY R K Z

November, 2015

To this day I like taking credit for reintroducing Harriette to riding and horses in Shanghai. It started out here, at the HuiHuang barn in Pudong, over an hour away from where we lived. We’d pack some lunches to share, hop in the car, and set off for a full day of riding.

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May, 2016 Three year old Toby with Harriette, during one of their first rides together. Featuring him being an a** to walk around and Donkey.

Photoshoots on hot summer days during 2018, featuring Hart Outfitters.

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Where Rachel finally picks up a camera in 2017 and learns more about photography with her favourite two models.

Featuring L’Equitation International.

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Photos from early 2018, where there were three days of snow in Shanghai.

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Some of the many photos during 2018-19, with many more scattered throughout this publication.

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This is our Passion

“Everyone knows making the Instagram feed is somewhat of an honor. This is an honor most often given to Toby.”

Written by Ava Rimondini If Harriette ever can’t hang out, you know it’s because she’s definitely going to the barn. Her unrelenting dedication to the thing she loves is extremely admirable, no matter how many times we can’t get food together because of it.

Although I don’t know too much about riding, I can guess that the horses are an extremely important aspect of the sport (obviously). And it’s clear that Harriette loves horses immensely, as the way she talks and obsesses about Toby is like the way one talks about their child. I also consistently see Toby featured on her social media (even more than her best fiends get featured), and everyone knows making the Instagram feed is somewhat of an honor. This is an honor most often given to Toby.

I was even lucky enough to meet Toby at the beginning of freshman year. Although I will admit I was a little scared of horses prior to meeting him, seeing Harriette so comfortable around all of the horses at the barn made me slightly (only slightly) less scared.

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Meeting Toby, I could see all of the time and care that Harriette dedicates to him.

It is clear that her love for Toby is endless, as I also know the lengths she has gone to to try and make sure he stays with the best people possible when she goes back to America. In the weeks leading up to the end of the school year, I know that Toby was constantly on her mind. Since I wasn’t too familiar with riding before meeting Harriette, I am still so amazed with how much love she holds in her heart for Toby.

Harriette has also taken this love for Toby, as well as horses and riding in general, and turned it into a business. I am so glad that I was able to witness the growth of this business over the past two years. Harriette turned her passion into a company that caters to people with similar passions — and I love that. I am so excited to see Hart Outfitters grow even more and the continued dedication and work that Harriette brings to the company.

With all of that being said, I truly think riding may be Harriette’s one true love. I have so much respect for the amount of time and effort she has put into caring for Toby, becoming a better rider, and building a business centered around horses and riding. I hope that Harriette continues to dedicate time to “horsing,” which is what I used to call riding before I became a seasoned expert through learning from Harriette.

And finally, I will miss the conversations about horses and riding that Harriette has when I’m around that I can never seem to understand. **

“I truly think riding may be Harriette’s one true love.”

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SNAPSHOT MEMORY! It’s evident that Harriette REALLY cares about that horse of hers— despite his less than polite manners the ground. Often times it is very necessary to provide him with something to chew on whilst being groomed or tacking up.

Harriette typically sneakily steals hay, much to the stable hands disapproval.

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M EMORY

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Dear Harriette…

F RO M GE R LI NDE PE IS ER

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“ T H E S E A N I M A L S N O T O N LY TEACH US RIDING BUT ALSO A L O T M O R E F O R L I F E ."

CONTINUE >>>

D E A R

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Dear Harriette…

You really are a wonderful person!

I have enjoyed every minute of us working together these last 3 years. Right from the start you were always willing to accept anything I suggested and trusted me completely to know what was best for you and Toby. You certainly were frustrated sometimes if things didn’t work out as you wanted, but you never let me or, as I assume anybody else, feel bad about it.

We horse people know that these animals not only teach us riding but also a lot more for life. In a very practical way, we riders learn that sometimes things need time and cannot be forced. Even owning your own horse doesn’t always mean success and great riding every day. But for some reason, not always understandable to other people, we love it anyway! How happy we are when things turn out and there are these great moments of harmony and working together with the horse we strive for every day.

You and Toby have learned so much, I am very proud of you!

HA RRI ET T E

I so much hope we will stay in contact! Just send me updates of what you are doing, even if it has nothing to do with horses. I will still be happy to know how you are doing and which path you will choose in your life. As your Mom says, we feel almost like family! The great thing about riding is, that you can take a break, come back to it, and at any age still improve! It is a great asset to have such a passion in your life!

I wish you all the best for your future, stay the happy, positive and very caring person you are.

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The great thing about riding is, that you can take a break, come back to it, and at any age still improve.

Love you, Your riding coach and friend, Linna

D E AR

H A RRIE T TE

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SNAPSHOT MEMORY! 01.28.18

S N A P SH OT

M EMORY

This series of photos were taken on an extraordinarily hot day, and I remember it being a few days before we started our eighth grade year. I found it on my personal WeChat moments page, with the following caption: Harriette: TOBY DON’T EAT MY SADDLE PAD Toby: I’m sowwy *slowly bends down to eat saddle pad in Harriettes hand* Harriette: 😡

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Not Goodbye

BUT A SEE YOU LATER Dila Kundakci

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When I was asked to write this, I didn’t know much strong words to describe the relationship of Harriette and Toby. However, if any word could describe the relationship of a mother and her child, a sister and her brother, and best-friendship all together, that word would be just perfect to describe Harriette and Toby.

To be honest, I don’t like Toby much, because he is really rude to me since he wants to be liked better than me by Harriette when he already is? I don’t know why he is so greedy… like okay Toby have it all!?

“You already have her every day after school, what else do you want?”

Jokes aside, Toby is a close buddy of mine because he keeps Harriette motivated and happy, also her heart at the warmest stage (because I am really scared of how Harriette would turn out in the terrible Innovation Institute mornings when she hasn’t seen Toby the other day, scarier than Coraline’s mother I imagine, which is the farthest my imagination goes for the word horrifying and I am not even joking).

Although some would call it ‘psychotic’ to watch their horse sleeping every five minutes from a secret camera, we, as her friends and family know that it is only because Harriette cares for Toby much more than she does for anything else (because if that is not the reason…I am calling rehab, sorry Harriette).

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observe Harriette closely when she is If you talking about Toby, I am sure you can see the extreme happiness and passion that she feels, and the endless love she has for Toby. She does love riding, as one can clearly tell, but I believe that is majorly from the bond she has with Toby. Because I know for a fact that leaving Toby was one of the hardest things she had to do, and whatever she will be riding in the future, it won’t be the same as Toby.

I am so amazed with how much love she holds in her heart for Toby. She loves Toby in a much grater level that he gets featured in her Instagram and Snapchat much more than her best friends does, whereas her best friends rarely gets a ‘lol’ to their extremely entertaining memes (I promise I am not petty).

“I know for a fact that leaving Toby was one of the hardest things she had to do, and whatever she will be riding in the future, it won’t be the same as Toby.”

I once experienced myself that one of the doctor person cut toby’s nails too short, and oh boy… I once saw Harriette that mad when I spoiled the Endgame for her… did NOT end well.

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I admit, I will miss having conversations about horses and holding the rope thingy that I never understand what is for. I am really lucky that I had the chance to witness this unique relationship, because although, I accept, I am a tiny bit jealous of Toby, their relationship not only taught me that riding is an ACTUAL sport (please don’t kill me), but also compromises that comes with great passion, and love (Yes, a Frankenstein reference. And yes, I don’t know how I didn’t get a 110% on my essay).

“Despite the many kilometers between Toby and Harriette, their bond is unbreakable.”

Even if they don’t see each other for years, when they do, I know Toby will still shake his head to the left when Harriette stands straight in front of him and looks at his left side. **

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SNAPSHOT MEMORY! 10.08.16

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We had multiple sponsors and ambassadorships through the existence of our Instagram promoter platform, @shanghaiequestrians. One of the first ones was Aztec Equine, a small paracord horse tack company based in Alberta, Canada.

We did many small photoshoots (all with just our phones at the time) with the products that we received from them, including reins, lead ropes, halters, name tags, and reins.

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F R O M

FLORIDA

Harriette,

A Message

F R O M

FLORI DA

We met in 6th grade drama class and I never would have guessed how close we would become. When I left SAS I knew we would stay friends for life and I was right. Even with a 15 hour plane ride between us we found a way to make it work. From summers in New Jersey to winters up in Fishkill we always picked right back up. I love you so much and I’m so happy you’ll be closer to me! I know it’s gonna be a rough move but I’m always here for you. Love you the most and can’t wait to see you soon!

LOVE , L AUR E N

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F R O M

DAVI S

FLORIDA

M

y Two Cents on Harriette B Y

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T .

I

know I’m the one who has voiced that I was the one in the family to remain “blissfully ignorant” of all related. am not things things horse horse related.

AsAsI Iam particularly comfortable around horses, I have not spent much time at the barn, but have fully supportive of haveinintruth truthbeen been fully supportive Harriette’s journey withwith TobyToby during our of Harriette’s journey during time in China.

Harriette our time in China.

Harriette has has gown gown tremendously with her 4 legged best friend since she acquired him.

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The level of responsibility, dedication

and love she has developed because of that relationship is invaluable to who she has become as a person.

The additional passion that was also spawned through Hart Outfitters with Rachel has been an equally invaluable relationship and experience. I think Harriette’s life has been drastically formed through these 2 experiences which Toby should take credit for.

I did nothing other than write a small check at the beginning to help facilitate, and watch her run to becoming an extraordinary young woman.**

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W R I T E R S (i n o rde r o f a ppeara n ce) : R AC HE L

K

Z HA NG

S US A N

T.

M A R I E

HER G OT T

F I NJA

PEI SS EL

M IC H EL L E AVA

R IM O N DINI

G ER L IN D E D IL A

W U PEI S E R

KA R AD I KC I

L AUR E N S COT T

T.

DAVI D

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G R APHICS AND D ESI GNS BY R ACH EL K ZHA N G

H A R R I E Tand T EToby