Meet Sponsored Rider:
Elizabeth Siadous

Riding Warehouse has the pleasure of sponsoring Elizabeth Siadous, aka Liz, who is an accomplished hunter jumper rider based in Atlanta, Georgia. Our RW crew has loved supporting the enthusiasm she tackles her equestrian endeavors with, and we invite you to read about Liz's horseback riding journey to learn more about her experience in the hunter jumper realm.

I am from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I grew up very poor and had no idea about the equestrian world. Luckily, my first time on a horse was at four years old with my mom's best friend, Kristin Foust. She was a hunter jumper trainer at the horse park in Baton Rouge where my mom managed the office. I quickly fell in love with being on the back of a horse, and I spent most of my afternoons there learning about horses by exchanging barn chores for lessons and show experience. My childhood and teenage years allowed me to see behind the scenes of what it really takes to run an equestrian facility well.

At fourteen, my family was able to purchase the sale horse I was taking lessons on. Dakota was a chestnut 6-year-old OTTB gelding that became my horse of a lifetime! He took me from 2'6 schooling hunter classes to ribbons in the low JR jumpers, mini prix, and 3'6 equitation classes. We qualified for Zone 7 Finals 3X to come in second place, and I was rewarded with four starred years from the USEF high school athlete program.

I kept working at the barn while attending school and holding one to two other jobs to support my horse dreams. With my strong work ethic, I was offered many opportunities to ride and show other horses. I had a hunger for knowledge and more rides, plus my background on thoroughbred and green horses presented me with several avenues to make horseback riding a career.

When I turned nineteen, I was offered a riding position under Eleanor T. Boatwright in Austin, Texas. I later became the pro rider for Austin Tri-Star, ATX Equestrian, and Scattered Oaks Farm. I established ES Sporthorses at that time as an independent athlete and equine sales agent. At Scattered Oaks Farm, I helped with the breaking of yearlings with top hunter bloodlines while learning the ins and outs of AI horse breeding. This chapter of my life led to a group of investors importing a young Zangersheide stallion for me to stand and promote, which paved the way for my business to make international connections. I began regularly importing European sale horses from there!

I moved to Atlanta, Georgia at twenty-four to continue my career as a rider and trainer. I've worked with various trainers and several nationally ranked client-based programs to expand my professional database, and I continue to do so today. Being a sponsored rider with Riding Warehouse is exciting, because they go above and beyond to supply everything a horse and rider might need!

Q: What lessons have you taken away from horses?

A: The biggest lesson I've learned from riding is patience. No matter what you feel in and out of the saddle, every horse requires patience in some way. Riding puts you in a mindset that frees you from any negativity. For me, that is the sole reason for everything I've been fortunate enough to achieve.

Q: What is your favorite equestrian event?

A: One of my favorite venues to show at is Bruce's Field in Aiken, South Carolina. Coincidentally, I've had a lot of firsts there: my first time jumping 1.40m, my first American Standard Grand Prix, International Hunter Derby, 3'9 Green Hunters, High Performance Hunter, and many wins with a variety of incredible horses.

Q: How do you overcome your fears (if you have any at all!)?

A: I've never been a nervous rider; when I am challenged with something, whether it be a new horse, young horse, new show facility, tricky course designers, or big tracks, I give my mind to the horse I'm on. They don't know what the challenges are, but they know what we are feeling. If we are worried, they are worried. If we are confident, they are confident!

Q: What equestrian advice would you like to leave with readers?

A: If I were to offer any advice to other riders, it would be to surround yourself with supportive and positive people. Having anyone who truly stands beside you with encouragement is a huge factor in your performance. For me, that person is large-animal vet Katherine Paul. She has ridden longer than I've been alive! She's my best friend and role model for all things equine and influences my outlook on life.

Katherine inspires and motivates me daily. One aspect of that is exercising; yoga and running have strengthened my physical and mental abilities. Being healthy and strong is crucial to riding success for many reasons. I would not be where I am without these factors, and I am eternally grateful for each and every horse!

We hope you enjoyed reading about sponsored rider Elizabeth Siadous' life in the hunter jumper discipline. We encourage you to follow Liz's journey alongside us, and we invite you to shop some of Liz's favorite products below. Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service team at 1(800)620-9145 or info@ridingwarehouse.com for assistance. Happy riding!

Stay up to date with Liz by following her on these platforms:

Personal Instagram: @lizsiadous

Business Instagram: @es.sporthorsesllc

Website: www.elizabethsiadous.com

Shop Liz's Favorite Products