About Us
My career as a Registered Nurse at a high-risk obstetrical unit has been rewarding yet challenging. After the Covid-19 pandemic I realized I wanted to make a career change but was concerned about finding a career that was still rooted in service. Horses have always been a passion of mine, yet I never imagined a career related to horses that fulfilled both my passion for riding and service to my community. With the advice and support of many friends, I began to think seriously about options in the equestrian field. First I looked into purchasing existing companies, but quickly realized that the company I envisioned did not yet exist. One day I met a friend for lunch to discuss possible directions. She had experience with starting a successful clothing line, and she agreed to mentor me in my own journey. The next morning, I received a call from her—last night she dreamt that I opened a company called All Things Equestrian. In what felt like too fateful an instance to ignore, I purchased the available domain name, committing to the start of a new chapter in my life. That was February 2022. I have since created a quality shirt that is cool, comfortable, stylish, and meets the demands of Florida riders. My journey up to this point has been so rewarding, and I have been fortunate to be able to launch this business while continuing my work as a nurse. But this venture is just beginning. Our next steps with ATE are to expand to a point where I can make the company my sole focus while also expanding the percentage of profits that I can give back to the community.
As a South Florida resident and rider, I have long struggled to find riding clothes suited to Florida’s extreme temperatures and weather conditions. Most riding shirts on the market claim to be cooling fabrics, yet in reality hold the heat. Our innovation at ATE was to create a long-sleeved riding shirt that blocks Florida’s harmful UV rays while keeping riders cool, dry, smell free and comfortable. Our fabric is made from a light, moisture-wicking material that is anti-microbial and SPF 30. The fabric is so light that customers often comment that it feels like they are wearing PJ’s. Inclusion and functionality are high priorities in our designs, which are available in a range of sizes suitable for diverse body types. Fun colors and patterns reflect the carefree South Florida lifestyle and make our shirts stand out. Originally designed with English riders in mind, we have since expanded our design to consider the needs of Western riders, and our button-down pullover style ensures a design that will not catch on a saddle horn. ATE shirts meet a long-standing demand for comfortable riding wear to satisfy both horse and rider. Since we are all about everything equestrian, we recently added a dress. The ATE dress has fabric that is comfortable, flattering for every body type and wrinkle free making it perfect for a horse show weekend. We excited see what the future holds as we expand the brand.
We developed ATE with the needs of our community in mind and from day one our priority has been to give back. This is why we decided to give ten percent of all profits to non-profit organizations. We chose organizations that support mental health because it is an issue our household is passionate about and we want to do our part to make mental health services accessible to everyone. Many years ago, as a single mom I could not afford to pay for a therapist that specialized in eating disorders. I was filled with fear and shame over my inability to stop binging and purging. Desperate for help I shared with my pastor my struggle and with the support of the church I was able to get the counseling that I needed. Thankfully we were in a position to get her the help she needed, but the experience added to our understanding that not everyone is fortunate enough to have access to such services. Both of these experiences have shaped how we give back to our community. Although I believe that eating disorders are about so much more than body image, related mental health issues are exacerbated by the underrepresentation of diversity and size inclusivity in the equestrian community. In addition to our brand’s inclusive sizing and our current donations, our next step at ATE is to support smaller organizations such as Manna Fund, a non-profit dedicated to financially supporting individuals who need the most immediate and critical level of care for eating disorders. ATE is about so much more than providing comfortable gear for riders, it is about uplifting our community and giving back to those who need us most.