In The Spotlight: An Interview with Jennifer Englund

This issue we caught up with Gypsy exhibitor Jennifer Englund of Connecticut, who owns three Gypsy Horses and competes in a multitude of events.

Photo Credit: Wild Ginger Photography

Where did you grow up?

My dad worked for Kodak for over 20 years, and every time his job there changed, we moved. I was born in Rochester, NY, and grew up in Iowa, Texas, Tennessee, and Arizona. We had horses in all of these places thanks to my mom's passion for them.

How did you get into horses?

I was very lucky to grow up with horses in our backyard most of my life. My mom’s maiden name is Knight so I think it's in our blood!

Tell us about your first horse.

She was a flea-bitten grey Arabian mare named Rafiqa. Much of my childhood was spent riding her bareback in a swimsuit and cowboy boots. We would go to 4-H and open shows in Texas where everyone else was on a quarter horse, and people would tell us it was unsafe to put a kid on an Arabian. She changed lots of minds I think! I remember once a storm came in suddenly and blew the roof off a shed next to the ring - she stood there calmly in the lineup with absolute chaos all around.

Photo Credit:: Jennifer Englund

How did you get into Gypsy Horses?

I had been into dressage pretty deeply, including riding at Grand Prix and getting my judging license. I ended up with a young warmblood who should have been a professional's ride (as he is now). He scared me pretty thoroughly, at the same time I was married to someone who didn't support my passion for horses at all. I sold my horse and most of my horse stuff and had a baby, and horses were kind of a painful memory for a couple of years. Then I got divorced and went to live with my parents in Connecticut. My mom had a barn behind the house and had bought a yearling Gypsy Vanner (Callie) a couple of years earlier. She had been doing ground work with her and was planning to send her out to be backed. She asked me to get on one day, and I've been training her ever since. This time around, I'm really loving just riding. When I had warmbloods, I was always in an arena, usually in a lesson, and competing was the number one priority. Now I love to ride on the beach, try new things like foxhunting, and cross-train in different events like trail.

Tell us about your first Gypsy.

She isn't technically mine, but GVM Princess Callie is my gateway drug for sure. She is exactly what people mean by "a good mare" - she's sensitive, she tries her heart out, and and once she understands what you want she gives it back tenfold. She's small (pony-sized), she's not fancy (but her trot is improving), and she's serious (her ears are always concentrating rather than looking around).

Photo Credit : Picture My Heart Photography

Tell us about your current horses.

I have a two-year-old GG Kiss Me Kate son, RNG Kate's George Strait, who is just the coolest horse. He's really going to be something under saddle someday. My family want to ride also, so I just recently brought home a gelding, SGV Q's Quiz of Castlecomer, so we have two to ride now.

What is your occupation?

I run US Operations for a specialty insurance company. We insure against unusual things like cyber attacks and celebrity disgrace.

Tell us about your family and other animals.

I live with my partner (Walter), a professor at the University of Connecticut and steadfast supporter of my horse passion, my four-year-old son (Julian) who is starting to like riding thanks to lead line classes, and a miniature schnauzer (Oliver) who was once a barn and horse show dog but is now ancient and sleeps all day at home.

Photo Credit ; Jennifer Englund

Where do you live now?

East Haddam, CT, a town small enough that there's no public trash pickup so people drive their trash to the dump. It's also home to Ann Guptill, a well-known dressage trainer who medaled at the Pan American Games and is faculty for the USDF Instructor Certification program. We are very lucky to be a short trailer ride from her for lessons.

Do you have other hobbies or interests?

I have a 180-gallon reef tank and have started to try to paint model horses, though the horses and my family are about all I have time for most days.

What events do you compete in with your Gypsies?

We do most of the GVHS divisions except driving, and I absolutely love the challenge of switching gears to do so many different things. We also do dressage (I'll do some USEF shows with Callie later this year - the canter still isn't pretty but getting better), and I’m looking into working equitation for next year.

Do you do anything else with your Gypsy?

We have a great beach less than an hour away that is open to horses in the off season, so we go there when the weather is reasonable. I've tried foxhunting with her (at the end of the day, someone came up to me and said, "There is not a person here who is not absolutely in love with your horse!") and plan to do more in the fall.

What is your favorite event or class to compete in and why?

Trail. It's so useful for one thing - none of my dressage horses could open a gate or side pass to hang a coat on the fence (in fact a coat hanging on the fence would have blown their minds). I think every

horse should learn to do trail even if they never compete. It is similar to dressage in that you end up so in sync with your horse that her movements are an extension of your own thinking.

What is your biggest horse related accomplishment?

I have my USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals, which require minimum scores at every dressage level including Grand Prix. I was riding my instructor's horse for the upper levels, which isn't the same which isn't the same accomplishment as training your own horse, but it's a long road regardless and I feel very fortunate to have been able to learn how to ride and compete at that level without having to also learn to train the horse at the same time.

What is your favorite thing about the Gypsy breed?

How sensible they are. I think there is an enormous market for horses who make riding fun and safe, and this is the only breed I know where those types of horses are the rule rather than the exception.

What is a goal you have with your Gypsies going forward?

I want to bring George to Grand Prix. So much can go wrong, and it may turn out he's not capable (many horses bred specifically for dressage top out when they can't learn one-tempis or passage), but he does flying changes and pirouettes in turnout, and I think he can be competitive up the levels.

Photo Credit : Spurred B Equine Photography