How Caitlyn Connors is Redefining the Modern Equestrian through Grit and Glamour
Caitlyn Connors competes at the CSI5* international level, seamlessly balancing a demanding athletic career with her role as a driving force behind Breakaway Farm's training and sales operations. (Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Connors/Breakaway Farm)
International show jumper Caitlyn Connors combines her lifelong resilience in the saddle with sharp business acumen to make her mark at the highest echelons of equestrian sport.
Article by Alex Zimmerman, AKSM Sports
WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Caitlyn Connors has forged a unique path in the elite world of international show jumping, blending raw athletic talent with a sharp mind for business. Based out of Wellington, Florida, and West Chester, Pennsylvania, the young equestrian is the driving force behind Breakaway Farm, a top-tier training and sales operation she runs with her family and international Grand Prix rider Roberto Teran Tafur. Known for her tenacity in the saddle and her polished presence outside of it, Connors has transitioned seamlessly from a standout junior competitor to a formidable professional on the global stage.
Connors’ journey to the upper echelons of the sport began with a crash course in resilience. Growing up in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, just a stone's throw from the prestigious Devon Horse Show, she first climbed into the saddle at three years old. A year later, she acquired her first pony, Lilly, a notoriously difficult mount that sent the young rider tumbling to the dirt nearly every day. Rather than discouraging her, this baptism by fire forged an unshakeable grit.
By the time she was eight, she was helping trainers ride and sell horses, and by nine, she was breaking and galloping racehorses as a summer job. Catch-riding any horse that came her way, from stubborn ponies to spirited thoroughbreds, gave her a fearless foundation that taught her to handle high-pressure situations and difficult mounts with profound composure.
Her relentless work ethic quickly translated into competitive success. As a junior, she became a fixture on the elite AA circuit, climbing the ranks to compete in the highly competitive Under-25 Grand Prix series. Her undeniable talent and poised demeanor did not go unnoticed as people started to take notice of her drive both in and out of the saddle.
Beyond the barn aisles and the competition arena, Connors has seamlessly woven her keen eye for style into her professional identity, cementing her status as a prominent figure in equestrian fashion. At just eighteen years old, Connors took the leap to become a professional, a move sparked by a coveted partnership as a prescribed rider for the luxury fashion house Hermès. It was a dream realization that married her lifelong passion for equestrian sport with her keen eye for high fashion and brand representation.
This elite partnership goes far beyond standard brand ambassadorship; Connors actively represents the French house's sophisticated athletic wear and frequently participates in exclusive brand events and product previews, such as the high-profile masterclass launch of the Hermès Vivace saddle.
Her influence in the equestrian style space also extends to strategic collaborations with specialized luxury boutiques, showcasing her innate ability to merge high-fashion elegance with the practical, athletic demands of international show jumping. By integrating her sharp business acumen with her authentic passion for style, Connors proves that she is not merely competing in the sport; she is actively shaping the commercial and aesthetic landscape of the modern equestrian industry.
What sets Connors apart from many of her peers is her dedication to building a multifaceted career. Unwilling to choose between her athletic ambitions and her academic goals, she successfully balanced the grueling, travel-heavy schedule of a competitive show jumper with a full-time college course load. In 2023, she graduated from the University of Miami with a degree encompassing Business Communication, Marketing, and Psychology.
Her academic background has proven invaluable as she actively manages the day-to-day operations, horse sales, and marketing presence of Breakaway Farm, a stable appropriately named in a nod to her brother's ice hockey career. Connors actively applies this knowledge to the strategic growth of Breakaway Farm as she manages the comprehensive training, sales, and competition at the stable. This dual role of rider and manager requires immense discipline, as she routinely executes the rigorous schedule of a competing CSI5* Grand Prix athlete while concurrently overseeing the daily logistical, financial, and marketing operations of a premier facility.
Today, Connors is a recognized name at the CSI5* level, which is the highest echelon of international show jumping. She has proudly represented the United States on multiple Senior Nations Cup teams across Europe, including appearances in Spain and Portugal. Driven by the exact same resilience she learned as a child falling into the dirt, Connors continues to develop promising young horses while pursuing her ultimate goals at the pinnacle of the sport. "I’m dedicated to this sport because it’s become a huge part of who I am, both as an athlete and as a person," she explains. "I love the constant challenge of improving, competing, and finding new ways to grow."
Looking ahead, she envisions a legacy that transcends her own time in the show ring. "My goal is to keep developing at the highest level possible while also building a long-term career around the sport that lasts beyond competing," Connors shares. "In the future, I want to be someone who not only succeeds athletically, but also helps push the sport forward and inspires the next generation coming into it." Grounded, stylish, and fiercely competitive, Caitlyn Connors is a shining example of the modern equestrian professional.
You can watch Caitlyn ride in tonight’s $210,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon at 7:30 PM EDT live on ESPN and the USEF Network, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV.