Jill Medinger
Sharon White, a renowned three-day eventing rider, is revered for her impressive achievements and thoughtful approach to horsemanship. She has competed in CCI5* events worldwide and represented the U.S. in Nations Cups, the World Equestrian Games, and the Pan American Games. Beyond competition, she is deeply committed to training riders and conducting clinics across the country.
Unlike many top riders, Sharon didn’t come from a horse family and only started riding at 12. Her mother, a horse lover but not a rider, introduced her to various activities before signing her up for a riding lesson at the eventing-focused Great Falls Equestrian Center in Virginia. Sharon was instantly hooked. She recalls, “It struck me that this was what I loved and what I was meant to do. I just wanted to be around horses.” Though she knew horses would shape her life in some fashion, she never imagined becoming the rider she is today.
Sharon’s journey led her to top-level eventing riders who mentored her along the way. “I guess I was lucky enough and hard-working enough that I was able to work for amazing riders and, under their guidance, I was continually given chances and opportunities,” she admits. She worked for Olympians Torrance Watkins, Bruce Davidson, and Jimmy Wofford before founding Last Frontier Farm in West Virginia, which she now calls home.
Photo by: Lars Blackmore
“As a student of Sharon’s, I felt that she was always invested in me and my horse. Win or lose, she always has her students’ backs,” says Abby Niles.
“HOME REALLY IS WHERE THE HEART IS,” Sharon says. Though she travels for shows, clinics and winters in Ocala, her true home is Last Frontier Farm, where she lives with her husband and father. While she and her competition team head to Ocala for the winter, the broodmares and foals remain at the farm. Her husband and father are her biggest supporters, even as non-horse people. “My husband is the most tolerant, amazing man on the planet as far as I am concerned, besides my father,” she adds with a smile. Sharon rides each day in her mother’s honor.
Sharon acknowledges the village it takes to succeed in eventing. From maintaining her horses’ peak condition to trusting others while she travels to teach clinics, she generously credits her skilled team. She never has to worry with grooms like Kate Servais, assistant trainers such as Lea Adams Blackmore, and expert veterinarians and farriers. “It’s never one individual. There is a whole world of people who have gotten me to this point. I value my staff immensely,” she emphasizes. Sharon reiterates that she is an expert at riding and teaching but not an expert in many other facets that go into the care and preparation of horses. Affectionately known as Team Orange, Sharon’s team of exceptional horses, horsemen, and horsewomen is widely recognized in the eventing world. At competitions, both two-and four- legged members stand out in their bright orange gear. “It’s such a happy color,” she responds when asked about the color choice. She laughs, noting that, unintentionally, it also became a great marketing tool for her barn.
Photos by: Sally Spickard Left: Dressage test leading to Sharon’s 3* win at the Maryland 5 Star event in 2024. Right: Show jumping with Claus 63 at the 2024 Defender Kentucky 3-Day event.
SHARON HAS HAD INCREDIBLE HORSES that have earned top placings at major events across North America and Europe. Her current top competitors are Claus 63 and Jaguars Duende, both owned by her.
Sharon purchased both horses as youngsters with the help of her trusted European horse source, Dirk Schrade, with whom she has a long-standing partnership. She recalls not sitting on Claus or Jag before buying them. “I just listened to Dirk,” she laughs, trusting his judgment that they were special. Over the years, Dirk has developed a keen sense of what suits her. “I have put a lot of faith and trust in him, and it has behooved me,” she says matter-of-factly.
Sharon describes Claus 63 as a rather perfect depiction of an attractive horse. “He is so good-looking, it’s shocking. I feel like I’m sitting on a living, breathing muscle with a lot of power,” Sharon laughs. She and Claus have reached competing at the 5*level, and the pair was even selected to compete for the U.S. Eventing Team at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, in 2023, where they helped the U.S. secure a Team Silver medal.
Most recently, Claus was the inaugural recipient of the American Horse Trials
Foundation’s Going For Gold Grant. This allows Claus to travel overseas to compete. “It is amazing to have the opportunity to continue to produce him,” she beams.
Jaguars Duende, now 9 years old, has been with Sharon since age 3. Describing her as mentally one of the best horses she ever sat on and a competitor who wants to win, they clinched the win at the 2024 MARS Maryland 5 Star event at Fair Hill. Recently, they received the USET Foundation’s Connaught Grant, awarded to a promising horse-rider pair poised for future U.S. team representation. Reflecting on the honor, Sharon notes that beyond the financial support, it’s the others belief in her and Jaguars Duende that means the most.
Photos by: Sally Spickard
Left: Claus 63 on the cross-country course at the same event. Right: Jaguars Duende celebrates 3* win at Maryland 5 Star.
BEFORE HORSES, SHARON ENVISIONED A CAREER IN ACADEMIA, valuing learning and growth. A professional eventer, she is now also a sought-after clinician and trainer. “Because I have a passion for learning, I love teaching, and if I can help horses by teaching people about their horses, it’s the best of both worlds,” she muses. Sharon views riding as a lifelong learning journey, believing that teaching enhances her own competitive skills. She gains insights to improve her riding by observing and instructing various horse-rider pairs. “If you really want to do something well, teach it,” she says.
She maintains a strict competition schedule and methodology, emphasizing that horses reflect their riders’ mental states and perform the way they are ridden. Sharon dedicates significant time to clinics, passing down her knowledge and respect for horses to others.
Although Sharon has always been recognized for her talent, at times she questioned her mental fortitude for top-level competition. Determined to change this perception, she committed to strengthening her mental conditioning, incorporating daily meditation, and working with performance coaches to enhance her resilience and focus. This dedication has been instrumental in her elite eventing success.
Sharon is a genuine horsewoman with roots deep in the love of the horse and a commitment to giving back to the sport. She is remarkable not only for her competitive accomplishments but for her dedication to mentorship, horsemanship, and the development of future generations of riders. Her passion, resilience, and unwavering respect for the horse set her apart as a true ambassador for the challenging discipline of eventing.
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