About Ralph
Since Ralph can remember, he has had a strong connection with and love for horses. Ralph is the first in his family to pursue the sport, yet his parents have been a source of continuous support and encouragement every step of the way. Ralph understands the commitment and sacrifice that entire families often make for the sake of one passionate equestrian in their midst.
Now 26 years old, Ralph began riding lessons at age 6 at a local riding school in North Royalton, Ohio. Within a few months, it was clear that Ralph not only had the interest in riding, he had talent as well, and he soon moved on to more formal training in eventing. At age 10 (1995), he began his eventing career in earnest at a small barn in Strongsville, Ohio.
Ralph's enthusiasm and aptitude for the sport continued to grow. The following year, he met renowned rider and trainer Jeffrey Taylor (owner and operator of Blue Ridge Farm), who took Ralph to the next level in his training. They realized that if Ralph was going to continue to mature as an athlete, he needed his own pony. The process of selecting this horse taught him a great deal about himself, the sport and the business—balancing safety with performance, attitude, and potential. After an exhaustive search, Jeffrey found Casper, who would become Ralph's first pony. At age 12 and not yet five feet tall, Ralph, riding Casper, competed in his first event. At year end, they were second in the country for points earned at training level with the United States Eventing Association.
As Ralph's skills evolved, he continued to seek out horses to grow with him. This experience piqued his interest in identifying horses with great promise, and working with them over time to hone their abilities. He learned the crucial lesson that all gifted horsemen know—all horses, no matter how green, have something to teach us. Each encounter, whether positive or negative, makes us wiser and informs our future path. Under his leadership, two of Ralph's horses have advanced from the track to the three-star level, and one to the four-star level. Numerous horses have advanced to USEA preliminary and intermediate levels. Another was a USEA Preliminary Horse of the Year.
In addition to working with a number of horses, Ralph has also enriched his knowledge by training with several of the world's best clinicians and competitors. Each experience has contributed to Ralph's unique approach to interacting with his students and horses. A few of his most admired teachers and clinicians include Kyle Carter, Lucinda Green, Leslie Law, Kim Severson and Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel.
Through his competitive career, Ralph has also learned the invaluable lesson of how to drive improvement through negative experiences. Indeed, in many cases the worst performances can lead to the most significant advancements in skill. While Ralph continues to compete on his own, his love for the sport is multi-faceted. He believes that producing and developing great horses, finding them riders, and working with other riders to broaden their skills will in turn make him a better competitor, and continuously increase his understanding and knowledge. Ralph is a perpetual student of this incredibly nuanced and rich sport, to which he plans to devote his professional career. He continues to work and ride with the industry's top professionals, and keeps abreast of the most current trends and techniques.
Ralph is a member of the United States Equestrian Association (USEA), and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
Competitive Milestones
| 2009: | Rolex CCI**** (Lexington, KY) 1 of 4 double-clear cross-country rides (Arctic Dancer) |
| 2009: | Florida International CCI** (Ocala, FL) 1st place (Franklin) |
| 2007: | Fair Hill CCI*** (Elkton, MD) - 11th overall; 7th in the National Division; 2nd Highest Place Young Rider (Arctic Dancer) |
| 2007: | Morven Park (Leesburg, VA) Advanced Division - 1st Place (Arctic Dancer) |
| 2005: | Richland Park (Richland, MI) Advanced Division - 1st Place (Arctic Dancer) |
| 2004: | Radnor CCI** (Malvern, PA) 5th Place Overall; Highest Placed Young Rider (Arctic Dancer) |
| 2002: | Mid-South CCI* - (Lexington, KY) 2nd place; Junior Olympic Silver Medal (Arctic Dancer) |