Adult amateurs are one of the most passionate groups within the equestrian community. My personal experiences have connected me with like-minded individuals that truly love their horses and have CHOSEN to make their equestrian pursuits part of their lifestyle. As I grow older, my small circle of friends consists mainly of adult amateurs. Most of us share similar experiences that include the ever present balancing act between life at the stable in relation to both personal relationships and professional careers, financial sacrifices, and even business/education decisions that allow us to make riding possible.
This week we catch up with Sarah Mahoney, the woman behind the hashtag “AdultAmmyStrong”. Sarah uses social media, clothing and accessories and most recently a blog, to connect the adult amateur community. As you will learn, we have an amazing support group that crosses disciplines and expertise and is much stronger than you might have ever envisioned!
The objective of AdultAmmyStrong is to connect and support adult amateur equestrians balancing life in and out of the saddle. We face many unique challenges balancing our daily lives (jobs, families, grad school, etc.) with our passion for horses and riding. Adult amateurs drive a lot of the equestrian and competition industry and it's my goal to showcase the strength and determination of the A/A and A/O community to increase awareness of just how exceptional the adult amateur really is.
Give a brief description how the concept of Adult Ammy Strong originated. Who was involved at inception?
AdultAmmyStrong came to be in September of 2015 after my trials, tribulations and successes of getting back in the saddle after a decade-long break to go to college and begin my career in the marketing/public relations world.
The term "AdultAmmyStrong was something my barn mates and I in Augusta would say because we would have conversations about dealing with scheduling lessons and times to ride with work, children and family schedules and other life circumstances. At first it was kind of an inside joke, but when I moved to Jacksonville, FL and began my search for a new job and a new barn, I thought to myself, “I can’t be alone in juggling all life can throw at me with wanting to ride and show.” So, AdultAmmyStrong was born as a way to connect other adult amateurs facing similar circumstances.
What disciplines do you cover?
I cover any and all disciplines from competitive hunter/jumper, eventing, etc. to the weekend trail rider. While most of my audience is in the hunter/jumper/eventing world, if something comes to me about a saddle seat or reining rider I am more than happy to showcase the diversity of adult amateurs and what makes us a breed of our own, so to speak.
Why do you feel it is important to connect adult amateurs?
Juniors and professionals seem to get a lot of press due the popularity of their events - equitation finals, grand prixs, Rolex, professional rodeos, etc., but there isn’t much showcasing the adult amateur rider and I think it’s time to change that. We work just as hard with our horses to get to the level we ride and compete in, or just to ride at all, that I believe it’s time to spotlight the amateur community for their strength and dedication to the sport. As adult amateurs we spend the time and the money in this exceptional sport because we love what we do!
Is there a “typical” adult amateur profile that is drawn to your community?
No, there is no “typical” adult amateur that’s drawn to the AdultAmmyStrong community and I think that’s the beauty about it. I’ve showcased A-circuit riders to those only doing local shows every once in a while and those who ride purely for the love of the horse and have no interest in competing. We are a wide-ranging community and each of us has something unique to share.
Where do you see AdultAmmyStrong in 5 years?
That’s a good question. I would love for the brand to be well known across the country and overseas. We have an amazing audience building and I would love to be able to showcase riders from across the world. The more stories I can share the more amateur riders will find a similarity between themselves and other amateurs, know they aren’t alone in facing challenges of riding vs. ‘the real world’ and hopefully build supportive connections between one another.
Tell us about your clothing line.
The branded clothing available is a comfortable collection for time at the barn as well as a relaxing weekend. Having a jam-packed schedule and needing something that can transition from barn time to grocery shopping and other errands is essential for the busy adult amateur. I believe that if you’re not comfortable in clothes the less likely you are to wear it, which is why I ensure each piece is comfortable (I test pieces before offering them for sale) and is available in a wide range of sizes because one size doesn’t fit all. I see the collection also as a way to initiate conversation. If you’re out running errands after you ride and someone stops to ask you about the shirt and your riding, then it’s a great opportunity for everyone to be an advocate of the AdultAmmyStrong community.
