Q1. Let us talk about your
equestrian sports career -
at what age did you start?
And did you ever feel that
you would be a Grand Prix
Champion, winning the United
States Dressage Federation
Gold Medal?
RRS: I started riding at an
incredibly young age. I was born
with a passion for horses and all
things equestrian sport. I began to
compete (in equestrian sport) in
Three-Day Eventing as a teenager
when my family lived in Northern
Virginia (hunt country). I found
the dressage phase fascinating,
and my pursuit of studying and
competing with the ‘best of the
best’ lead me to Europe to train,
study, and compete while very
young. I always dreamed of
competing internationally and in
the Grand Prix arena. This dream
was only realized thanks to my
incredible support team and
family.
Q2. Grass roots are so
important in developing
the skill set of an individual,
especially when it comes
to sports. Coming from a
breeding background in
equine sports, have you ever
been involved with any grass
roots development programs?
If so, with whom, and what
skill set did you provide these
youth?
RRS: Yes. I’ve been honored
to serve as a clinician for both
the United States Pony Club
and Brown University’s NCAA
equestrian team. I love having
the opportunity to interact and
share my experience and journey
with up-and-coming athletes.
Q3. Having competed in
competitions around the
world, including many in
Europe, you were one of the
youngest competitors to earn
the United States Dressage
Federation Gold Medal and
the youngest competitor
ever to win the Grand
Championship at Dressage
at Devon. What goes through
your mind before preparing to
compete?
RRS: I’ve always felt that you don’t
attend a competition until you’ve
completed all of the necessary
preparation and work at home.
One should go to a competition
to show what they can do, not
what they are working on. Before
I go into the competition arena,
I try to focus on staying in the
moment and executing my
program, as practiced.
Q4. Tell us how you felt
when you won the grand
championship at Dressage at
Devon, an accomplishment
you have noted was a career
highlight.
RRS: It was an experience I will
always look back on with great
affection. Winning the grand
championship at Devon was
a major goal of mine that I set
early on during my program’s
inception. As a teenager, I sat
alone in auction halls in venues
across Europe while I selected
my original roster of Dream Street
Stallions, which included Starlight,
the stallion that won the grand
championship at Devon. So, to
see this dream come to fruition
only a few years later was an
absolute blessing.
Q5. You have plenty of
accolades when it comes
to ‘Horse of the Year.’
Which horse that you have
developed is your favorite,
and why?
RRS: I have been truly fortunate
to have had so many incredible
horses in my life. As a young rider,
I had horses who were wonderful
teachers. Later, as a professional,
I was lucky enough to have some
amazingly talented competitors
in my program. I really would
not be able to pick a favorite. I
will say though that a standout
of mine is Lullaby (Londonderry x
Donnerhall). He perhaps was not
the most successful in sport, but
he had an incredible personality.
His character made him an
absolute barn favorite.
Q6. You are a formidable
expert when it comes to
horses. What do you look for
when purchasing a horse?
And what standards do you
apply being the Founder of
Dream Street Stallions, Inc.?
RRS: I think most top competitors
look for all the same standard
qualities necessary to succeed
in sport: quality conformation,
expressive paces, and a strong
work ethic. I, too, look for the
aforementioned qualities, but I
also look for something extra. It
is a quality that perhaps is not
tangible, rather a presence that I
July 2020
Polo De’Marco