Molly Rosin Finds Success From East To West

Molly Rosin’s life has always been defined by the immaterial. Ribbons and medals may be the tangible goals for the talented advanced-level rider from California, but more important than the rewards are the people who have helped her along the road to success.

That path, like the one countless West Coast upper-level hopefuls have followed, has spanned the country. Rosin, 30, is now based a continent away from her origins, in Oxford, Pa. But a horse whose unusual name serves as a daily reminder of her ubiquitous supporters—a Hungarian Warmblood called Havarah’s Charly—has come along for the ride.

The name “Havarah” is derived from the Yiddish word havareim, which refers to the group of people with which one spends special moments in life.

“All of my students have become more than just students,” Rosin explained. “They are my havarah—the group of people I want to share life’s pleasures with. Without the trainers, professors, family and friends I had in California, my success on the East Coast wouldn’t be.”

Rosin’s come a long way since her first eventing experiences with an aged Morgan mare, but even then she had her sights set on representing her country. Many young equestrians entertain similar lofty goals, but Rosin got right to work to make them become a reality.

With the help of her havarah, she’s now started to reap the rewards of years of hard work. She runs an eventing teaching and training business, named Havarah Equestrian in recognition of her special clients and horses, that spans both coasts, and she’s made the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Developing Rider list. And three years after winning the preliminary American Eventing Championship (N.C.), she and “Charly” are making a mark on the top level of the sport.


From Eastern Europe To The American West

Rosin joined the U.S. Pony Clubs at age 10 and progressed through the rating system at a fast pace, achieving the difficult and coveted “A” rating at age 17. In 1998, she successfully completed the CCI** at the North American Young Rider Championships.

Rosin went on to compete in equitation with California State University, Fresno’s varsity equestrian team on a full scholarship, where she also obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences with a concentration in equine studies.

Upon graduation, however, Rosin decided to follow her childhood ambitions to teach and began training out of her mother’s Foothill View Equestrian in Madera, Calif. A year later, she moved to Pleasanton, Calif., to manage the Tassajara Equestrian Center and established Havarah Equestrian.

Hungarian Warmbloods aren’t common competitors in upper-level eventing, but Tassajara imported and sold them, so Rosin’s appreciation for the breed began to grow as she spent more time with the farm’s sale projects.

She saw many horses come and go, but one named Charly caught her attention. The bond they quickly established didn’t escape anyone else’s notice, either.

“I was at school, so Molly was riding the new imports,” explained Ildiko Hites, Rosin’s childhood friend, who now manages the farm, which is owned by her parents. “She just totally fell in love with Charly. They got along right away, and she saw the future in him.”