Kat's Korner Elite Equestrian Column 2025

KORNER

AT'S

2020-2025

Elite Equestrian Magazine

katfuqua.com

KAT’s Korner

“I’m just a regular horse crazy kid who loves & rides horses. I want to share my ups and downs in the sport, and let you know trying is everything. Believe in Yourself.”

Kat Fuqua 5 times USEF Horse of the Year awards USDF Bronze Medalist competing PSG Grand Champion & 2 times Champion at USEF Pony Finals Champion at USEF Pony Medal Champion at Washington International 10 times WEF Circuit Championship Awards

Questions

sent in to KatFuquaEquestrian Instagram

Luisa Zieglerova. Do you have any tips

on getting

a pony’s

head down?

Kat: Make sure that you have your pony going forward before you supple your reins with a light contact. If your pony is green have patience and take your time.

Dahmoon Alghamdi. How old are you?

Kat: I am 13. I have been riding since my mom put me on my miniature horse that she walked me around in hand at my one-year old birthday party.

Giagrigorian.eq. What are your tips about getting into Pony Finals?

Kat: Focus on your training and riding. Keep practicing and the ribbons will come. I always watch my favorite riders on video. I study their position. Work with your trainer and you can also get good learning exercises in magazines. Learning & Practicing is the key. Remember Never Give Up & Believe in Yourself.

Isabella_poole07. How do you get over your nerves before going into the ring at a show?

Kat: I always make sure I learn my course well and know exactly where I’m going. Try to watch as many rounds before you show. You can learn if the lines are long or short to know how to ride your pony or horse more forward or collected. Be prepared.

McKeena Goodson. How do you afford lots of horses? Do you have a job besides riding & school? Do you want to go to college?

Kat: I’m only thirteen so I don’t have a paying job. My parents leased me my first pony. I could not get a second one until I let the first one go back. I cried and cried. Because I kept growing I had to get a

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medium pony from my small then eventually large ponies. I always cry every time I have to let go of my ponies or horses. I had trainers who let me ride their ponies. I sold my ponies for the next one up. I learned that nothing is free. That is the hardest part of the sport. I love them each so much. My parents only support me because I work hard practicing. I am respectful to everyone, my trainers, horse helpers and farm staff. I always jump in to do the work, including tacking up, cleaning tack, bathing my horses, turning them out and putting them on the walker. I even walk my courses alone if I have to in case my trainer is helping another client. I go to regular school full time. When I take a Friday off I always do the homework or tests in advance. I focus on good grades, a strong work ethic, eat healthy and sleep well. I definitely want to go to college, and maybe one will want me on their Equestrian Team.

Kennedyki.eq. What’s the highest you have jumped?

Kat: I have shown six times at an International Hunter Derby with 4’ to 4’ 3” options with CupidoZ, Consent & Cornell22. I have practiced up to 4’ 9” with Cornell22.

Dohmoon. How did you get so far in your career?

Kat: I have been showing and riding for at least nine years, and competed at WEF for seven years.

While other kids are going to the beach for family vacations or snow skiing, water skiing, camping, or traveling, I am always with my horses practicing, showing or just taking care of them.

Katy Hackett. If your parents are dressage riders, what made you switch to the Hunters.

Kat: I never switched. I started out on a lead line class in the Hunter Discipline when I was four. I love jumping and my mother encouraged me to follow my heart. However, she always brought in top dressage trainers to teach me strong basics in her sport. At three years old my first real trainer was Gil Merrick, my mother’s friend who worked for USEF as the 2008 Dressage Team Leader for the Olympics. He also interpreted with the US Coach Klaus Balkenhol from Germany. He was really nice to me.

Belmont Training Stable, Santa Cruz, CA. Is it stressful to compete against adults or very talented riders like yourself?

Kat: YES. You really have to focus on riding every stride, and shake off thinking about the famous people in the class. We all started out the same in the beginning. They are all very encouraging.

Caballo videography. I was wondering if you have any tips for equitation testing?

Kat: My trainer Jimmy Torano always scolds me to keep my heels down and quiet. He also tells me to keep my hands closed and in front of me with a quiet upper body.

Maxima LaNasa. How many horses have you owned in a lifetime?

Kat: A Baker’s Dozen, Owned & Leased☺

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Let’s Just talk about it!

KORNER

KAT’S

I CHOKED in national competition.

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I felt prepared and confident but I was really nervous because I didn’t want to mess anything up in the ring. I showed my Small Junior under 15 Cornell22 first. I was happy I got to do him first be

sible for my horse to jump out in one stride. So then I pulled out. I was devastated and had to take that long walk out. Jimmy my trainer was very nice about it, and just said I got too tense and froze up.

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People assume I don’t have nerves, but I’m really just a regular girl.

I went home to Atlanta and focused on all that went wrong but also on all the things that went right with my Hunters.

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TRAINING & Showing

Kat Fuqua

But the happy feelings didn’t last long and my nerves hit again wait

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• 2020 USEF Horse of the Year Grand Champion Junior Hunter, Consent • 2020 USEF Horse of the Year Reserve Grand Champion Junior Hunter, Grand Remo • 2020 USEF Horse of the Year Champion Small Junior Hunter <15, Consent • 2020 USEF Horse of the Year Champion Large Junior Hunter <15, Grand Remo • 2020 National Horse Show Grand Junior Champion, Large JR Champion <15 & Small JR Champion <15 • 2020 National Dressage Championships awarded KAT 3rd in the country with her DreamGirl for FEI Children’s Dressage.

• 202O Earned USDF Dressage Bronze medal and successfully showed FEI Prix St Georges.

• 2018-19 Four times USEF Pony Finals Champion, including Pony Medal • 2018 Washington International Horse Show Large Pony Hunter Champion • 2018 Five times USEF Horse of the Year awards

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KAT’S

KORNER

BALANCE

By Kat Fuqua

I’ve taken up Dressage at a serious level with my Dream Girl, hoping to make the 2021 NAYC Junior Team Region 3.

EQUINE Lifestyle

Over the years I have realized one needs to have balance in your life..

For me, I’ve been riding ponies & horses all my life.

While most of my friends go off to the beach or mountains during spring or summer break, I was always going to the barn or another horse show. I go to full time school with children who do not ride horses. I learn about other sports in PE and what my non-horse friends like to do. I get to touch on and play basketball, soccer, softball and run track. I like softball and basketball the best because you don’t have to run as much. I’m pretty good about aiming for the hoop, and I can hit the ball. I like playing on a team with my friends. It really feels fun and there’s no stress like my horse competitions. This year I’ve unfortunately been doing remote learning so I really miss my school friends. The upside is that I can be in Wellington during the week while in school remotely and then go to the barn to train. So I have to come up with another significant balance to offset the same routine of training and showing my hunters with the same team of people. Don’t get me wrong, I love them and the stability and commitment of my team.

It’s kind of like going to the ice cream parlor or Dunkin Donuts and getting a different flavor. It just feels fun.

Grand Remo, 2020 USEF JR Horse of the Year & 2021 WEF JR Circuit Champion

A change for me in the horse world is the dressage.

About a year ago we imported my dressage horse Dream Girl from Holland. Since then we’ve competed at the 2020 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions and earned third overall in the children’s division. Now we are competing at Prix Saint Georges, and I earned my USDF Silver Medal. I really feel this is a nice change and I think both the Hunter/Jumper and Dressage disciplines complement each other and help me improve my skills in both.

Kat earns USDF Silver Medal showing Prix Saint Georges this past February in Atlanta between showing Hunters/Jumpers at WEF in Wellington.

My balance is between riding the Hunters & Jumpers and Dressage to mix it up for a change.

Maybe one day I can ride a polo pony or a reigning horse...

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KATS

KORNER Set that Goal

by Kat Fuqua

2021 FEI North American Youth Championship JR Dressage. My first time on a team taking home 3 Bronze medals with Dream Girl, later to be named USEF JR Dressage Champion. Photo by Andrew Ryback

Brandywine 2021, Low JR Jumper, My first 5 months to compete Jumpers. Photo by Anne Gittins

TRAINING & Showing

GOALS TAKE YEARS SET THEM TODAY Goals are the most important thing you can do for yourself, setting goals makes you hungry and ambitious. They make you strong and competitive. Lots of people set short term goals that they are sure they can make, which are great and keep 2021 Grand Champion USEF Jr Hunter Finals with Grand you busy. But the best feeling is when you set a huge goal that when you set it, you know it was a big stretch and would be hard to make. But in the end you did Remo. My first JR Hunter Finals win besting over 300 entries it. Even if you think there’s no way you can ever do this; if it’s something you after 3 years of trying. Photo by want to do, set that goal. People on the outside looking in believe you can do it, Anne Gittins even if your doubtful. Feed off of that energy THAT YOU CAN AND WILL DO IT. Because then you are setting yourself up to succeed and to do well by telling yourself you can. Every time before I go in any competition my mom makes me say, “I can do it and I will do it”. This motivates me to be great and fight for what I want to do. In 2014 it was my absolute goal to win USEF Pony Finals. After four years of getting no ribbons, I kept coming back and telling myself that I could do it. On my fifth year I won Grand Champion Overall with Brighton. As my mom says “ you can do it if you put your mind to it!” So no matter how many years your goal will take, set it and work towards it every day until you get it done and believe in yourself.

WEF 6 2018, with RS Levitatioin AKA Jet, and 11 year old Kat. My first time in the international ring.

Photo by Sara Hellner

Photo provided by and usage permission obtained by Fuqua’s

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KATS

KORNER

Questions

with

Katfrom

Instagram KatFuqua01

Kat with Gargarin aka Giggles at 2022 WEF.

do you stay confident when you are 1 How not making much progress?

2021 National Junior Hunter Championship, Consent.

Photo by Phelps Media

- @lizmcdonald Anytime when I’m starting something new for the first few days/weeks it feels challenging, and even though I’m working hard I don’t feel as though I’m improving. When I started dressage it was hard for me to get the correct leg placement, and even to do a full test of sitting trot.

Everyone starts somewhere and when something is new it’s going to take a while to get down, especially when you’re working with a live animal who doesn’t speak your language. I just try to be patient and keep working hard towards my goal even when I don’t feel a difference. Just know in your mind you can do it if you put your mind to it.

do you balance everything? (School, 2 How Mental health, social-life)

TRAINING & Showing

@catemeyer01 The school I go to I have been going to since Pre-K. When I started showing and had to start missing school I was in 1st Grade. My mom explained to them that I’m very competitive and it’s my passion, they’ve always been extremely supportive of me and help me when I need to catch up on work from the days that I’ve missed. I try to spend a lot of time with my school friends and friends that don’t ride horses to have a balance. It’s important for your mental Health to have a break from your sport and have fun with friends!

3 What’s your mental prep before showing?

- @sth.dressage Before I show I make sure to watch a few people before I go, to make sure I have a plan for my course or test. It’s important for me to do this because I want to go in the ring confident with my plan. I try not to think so much about winning, more just focusing on each movement or jump individually.

4 Do you want to go pro in the Future?

@claire.friedlander Yes, definitely want to go Pro in the future I’m just not sure how soon after my years as a Junior.

USDF Silver Medalist at FEI PSG Open, scoring 69.211% at the Global Adequan Dressage Festival.

5What started your interest in horses?

- isabella.eqqq My parents were both Grand Prix Dressage riders so I grew up into a riding family. My mom got my Miniature Pony “Butter Cup ” for my 1st birthday.

She held me up on her while he was lead around. So from 1-5 years old I learned to ride on her and loved it. I started seriously showing at six. I went to my first WEF and since then it’s been my passion and favorite thing to do!

6 What’s your favourite thing about the sport?

emilywilson.eq My favorite thing about the sport is being able to have such a strong bond and trust with my horses. I know my horses trust me and I trust them. It’s such a cool feeling to feel like you can understand them.

7Do you have a workout routine outside of riding?

-anushkachavda_eq Yes! 3-4 days a week I do an 8 minutes glute and an 8 minute ab workout. I found both workout videos on YouTube. I also try to do a mile on the elliptical 4 times a week. EE

CORNER KAT’S

GOALS for 2022 and 2023?

EQUINE Lifestyle

Susan Stickle Photography

This year US Equestrian honored me with including me on the Emerging Athlete’s program for Dressage since last year DreamGirl took us to USEF JR Champion status. It was like no other program to get to attend the Robert Dover Clinic, and meeting the six time, four time Bronze Medal Olympian. He is really nice and cares about all of us learning to improve our skills. Then to train three days with George Williams, who heads the program and is USDF President and himself an accomplished Grand Prix Champion was the best! He says, “whatever happens with your test, don’t give up, but keep going and riding each movement”…..He is kind and soft spoken and gives you confidence by his quiet nature. My assigned goal is to qualify for the OPEN PSG Great American Regional Championships. I did and I also qualified for the Intermediare I. In fact I held in first for several months at I-1USDF Horse of the Year with scores as high as 72-76%, but fell to fourth with Olympians reaching their goals. I even showed my DreamGirl at the Intermediare II they call the baby Grand Prix as it has one tempis and piaffe/passage. Given the fact my mare never showed that high level, I am proud we competed twice with a respectful score of 60%. The team leaders would like for me to try to qualify for National Championships but competition is fierce since I’m designated in the Open. But I’m not going to give up!

Unexpectedly I competed my two jumpers at the Junior High level 1.40m. Nate Archibald is a kitten on the ground and in the stall, but a fire spitting dragon in the ring. He makes me laugh out loud. I love it so much and my jumper Giggles qualified for the Devon High Championship classes where I was 10th of 24. It was really special in so many ways. I went at a fast track into the Jumper discipline which I only started last year. I’m qualified with both at Medium Juniors at Washington International Championships. And Nate is first wait listed Highs…It really blows me away. for One of my major goals this year is to make time away from the horses, and spend time with my family and school friends. In fact, this is one of my strongest goals now being in high school to attend school functions, dances and football games with my friends. I love seeing my five cousins from Chicago: Tess, Grace, Anna, Elise & Kate at their vacation home in Maui. We have being meeting there since I was three

or four years old….but I got distracted going to horse shows. So time with my family shows me how important time together can be and I never want to stop seeing them yearly.

My goals for 2023 are to keep getting more experience and consistency in the High Junior Jumpers and to qualify for the European Young Rider Dressage Championships and circuit tour. I secretly would love to do well in the Big Equitation, but I realize I spread myself thin. I am showing the Big Eq championships this year with Class Act. I got him in early September so it’s kind of a crash course to figure it all out. I am proud that we were Reserve Champion in the Maclay Regional Finals in Lexington, a very competitive group. With my trainers at Ashland Farms, Emily & Ken Smith, I am eagerly excited about new learning opportunities where all my foundations of riding are applied in all the disciplines. They are really helping me focus more on riding well and not on riding a specific discipline. I couldn’t be happier.

If you had to choose between dressage and jumping what would you choose and why? @Willagdressage That is a really hard question because I love both so so much. I’ve been competing in the Hunter/ Jumpers the longest but my background really comes from the dressage flatwork training. Bronze Medal Olympian Michelle Gibson has been training me over the years since I was six years old. It’s a really hard choice and I love them both so much because they both complement and help each other. I think I can do both.

My mom instructed Michelle to teach me how to do canter pirouettes because she studies the online videos of some top German Jumper Olympians she says does. My mom has always been involved as my position coach and loves learning the Hunter discipline through all my trainers over the years. Some say hunters should be dressage over fences. Mom showed Grand Prix Dressage as an amateur even a month after I was born. Mainly she likes to brag that she teaches me from all her mistakes in horses and really wants me to have no fear with horses, pursue my dreams, and have balance outside of horses. She keeps me in a safe environment, and we love and respect the horses and the people who take care of them.

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Believe it or not, I usually become pretty nervous before competing my sport horses, especially at National Championships. Although, over the years, I’ve gotten better about not showing it. I usually start feeling nervous the night before. I tend to obsess how I’m going to conquer the course or the test. In my mind I ride through it and try to visualize riding precisely with my hands, seat and legs. Also, for each discipline, I have to use each aid differently while the basics are similar. For example, in Hunters, I ride with a light seat and loose contact. For Jumpers, I need to engage the hind legs and have a tighter grip on the reins to make the tight jump off turns, assuming I ride fast enough in the first round. In Equitation, I believe it is a mix between Hunters & Jumpers. I’m still trying to figure out the track that is not given. Plus I need to ride a steady smooth pace in a flawless forward rhythm. Finally, in Dressage I ride with a deeper seat, and much more connection with my hands, but not pulling backwards. I need to maintain a relaxed over the back horse throughout the entire test. I overthink about how I need to execute my rides. So the time leading up to competition can be agonizing. I know a lot of top riders who work with sport psychologists to help their mental preparedness. I have myself a couple of times, but for me they weren’t that reliable.

It’s important to do what’s best for yourself, to help you get your focus. And it really takes a lot of practice to see what works best. For me, I don’t think the nerves will ever go away because I care so much to succeed. And that doesn’t always mean to win first, but means more about overcoming my own personal fears. Nutrition is important. Before I even leave my home or hotel, I drink a bottle of water and try to have a light breakfast. So I have energy to ride and my stamina is stronger.

What I like to do for at least 30 minutes to an hour before I compete, is listen to music and watch the riders that are going ahead of me. I like to have no distractions so I can be completely focused. When it’s time to get on I make sure to check my horse’s tack and give my horse GumBits, which relaxes them from the chewing. Last I tell myself, “I can do it, I did do it, and I will do it!” I continue with saying “God loves me,I am right by God, hold steady..”…a little pray that continues on that my mom taught me since I can remember. Each ride is a learning opportunity. That part you can never forget. And then pat yourself on the back for doing it! Kat Fuqua Devon Horse Show Grand Champion Hunter 2022 Reserve Champion US Dressage Champion Prix St George open 2022 USEF National Hunter Grand Champion 2021 Pennsylvania National Grand Champion Hunter 2021 Washington International Champion Hunter 2021 National Horse Show Grand Champion Hunter 2021 2020 USEF FEI Junior Dressage Champion 2021 NAYC 3 Bronze Medals Dressage 2021 USEF 8 Time Horse of the Year Awards 2017-2020 WEF 10 Circuit Champion Awards 2017-2022 USEF Third Overall FEI Children’s Dressage 2020 Pony Medal Finals Champion 2019 Pony Finals Champion 2019 Pony Finals Grand Champion 2018

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2023 USA DRESSAGE TEAM YR European Tour USEF JUNIOR DRESSAGE CHAMPION National Dressage FEI PSG Reserve Champion 3 times Bronze Medalist NAYC USEF 3rd Festival of Champion, FEI Children’s USDF SILVER & BRONZE MEDALIST

KAT’s Korner

“I’m just a regular horse crazy kid who loves & rides horses.

I want to share my ups and downs in the sport, and let you know trying is everything. Believe in Yourself.”

MAKING

USA

CHAMPION JUMPER JR/AM 1.35m EQUITATION Regional RESERVE CHAMPION MACLAY USEF CHAMPION PONY MEDAL FINALS HUNTER 10 times USEF HUNTER Horse of the Year Champion 7 times GRAND CHAMPION Hunter Champion 10 times CHAMPION Hunter Champion Finals 10 times WEF CIRCUIT AWARD CHAMPION 2 Finals times HALL OF FAME HUNTER CHAMPION USEF GRAND CHAMPION PONY FINALS 4 times GRAND CHAMPION PONY Hunter Finals

TEAM DRESSAGE

IN 2020 at age 12, I imported DreamGirl, my Dutch Warmblood and started competing up through the levels at Training to Intermediare II last summer. After winning Junior Champion at Festival in 2021, I earned a spot on the USEF Emerging Athletes Program. It was very cool because I got to participate at the Robert Dover Clinic in 2022. I got to train with George Williams, the USEF Youth Coach, who taught me details. He drilled to be more effective in my technical corrections schooling the pirouettes. He broke down for me that the movement comes from half passes. George had me work on a small circle to get quality �irst.

Many people think I am new to Dressage, but actually I’ve been doing it my whole life. My mom taught me basic dressage as the foundation for all my hunter ponies and horses. In fact at age 7, my mom schooled me to leg yield in the canter so I could effectively center my position over the jump. She always said, “inside leg says bend or move over, and outside leg says go forward.” She also taught me to ride every gait in shoulder fore, even though my hunter trainers emphasized to ride straight. It encouraged the inside hind leg to come under and be more active, keeping the shoulder up to lift and jump.

At WEF 2019 my mom asked Olympian Lendon Gray, who started Dressage4Kids, to come over to the Hunter side and train me in the �lat on my then new young Hunter CupidoZ. Lendon taught me the very very basics of putting my horses on the bit, which was hard for the hunters. She set up a strategy plan and goals for getting a dressage horse and learning the levels. I followed her advice and wisdom. I’m very grateful she made time for us at a 30 min or less notice when I could lesson between Hunter rounds. As soon as the USEF press release came out that I made the Team, Lendon was the �irst to congratulate me. And it is all my trainers regardless of the discipline over the years that have taught me so much that help me achieve my goals. All of my trainers!

It is the best honor ever to be selected to represent our country in the European Championships. DreamGirl and I are both 15 years old and we will work really really hard to make you proud of us.