It’s hard to say why Lauren Fischer stood out to me so much during the three days of competition in the Neue Schule/USEF National Jumper Jumper Championships at the Pennsylvania National.

She jumped four clean rounds to help Zone 2 take the team gold and claim the individual bronze medal. And her horse, Tosca du Feugre, was an impressively powerful jumper.

But it was Fischer’s obvious pure joy in her horse’s performances that really stood out. After every round, she gave “Tessa” huge pats with a wide smile on her face. “She does a lot for me, and the least I can do is appreciate her for it,” Fischer said. “I really appreciate my mare because she is a super horse. She has so much scope, and she’s such a great jumper. She really gives me 110 percent.”

And when we gathered at the in-gate for interviews, Fischer didn’t hand Tessa off to a groom. She and her mother, Cheryl, took care of Tessa all weekend. Lauren even braided her for each class.  

“There are no shortcuts. We were mucking the stall all weekend and doing everything,” Lauren said. “I’m going to go back and poultice Tessa and pack up and drive home. I’ve learned how to do it all. And it makes it all more special because of it.”

Lauren Fischer and Tosca de Feugre. Photo by Molly Sorge

Lauren grew up on her family’s Bedford, N.Y., farm. Her mother, Cheryl, is a trainer. “I’m very involved with the horses. My mom told me from the beginning, you’re either in it 110 percent or you’re not in it at all,” said Lauren.

“I didn’t do any pony hunters. I did short-stirrup, and my mom put me on a children’s hunter for a few years. I fell off him every day. I learned how to stay on! Then I got a jumper. I did a little bit of equitation for a few years, just to learn the line and track. I showed at Medal Finals three times and Maclay Finals once. Then I decided I wanted to shift my focus to the jumpers. I’ve been competing in grand prixs consistently for the past two years,” she said.

Lauren, 17, was more than happy to show the individual bronze medal hanging around her neck to a small girl who asked to touch it as we talked. “It means the world,” Lauren said of her two medals at the Pennsylvania National.

“I did this class two years ago, and we were team silver, and I was so nervous! I was just out of the ribbons in the individual, but I went home so happy. Last year that horse was out with an injury, but this year with this mare coming up, I didn’t really have a plan until she started bringing in some good results. She’s never done a big indoor show like this before, but I figured I’d see what she could do. And that first day, she went in and spun around like a top. I went into every round thinking about the basics—keeping her straight and thinking about my line and track. I try not to think about all the other things. I just try to give my horse a good ride because I know she’s going to jump her best for me.”

Lauren Fischer and Tosca du Feugre. Photo by Molly Sorge

The Fischers bought Tessa, a 9-year-old Selle Francais mare (Calvaro—Harmonie du Feugre) for Lauren last year. McLain Ward, who is a close family friend, sourced her for them. “I jumped her 1.50-meter in quarantine, and she was super. She didn’t have any flatwork, so it took us a good year to get her going well,” Lauren said. They started showing in the medium and high junior jumper classes at the Winter Equestrian Festival (Fla.). By April, they were jumping in national standard grand prix classes.

Ward has been a big influence for Lauren throughout her career. “Every horse I’ve ever had has come from McLain. He’s a great mentor for me. His family is like family to us, and I appreciate everything they do for me, because they don’t have to. They go out of their way to help me and make me feel part of their family,” she said.

Lauren is currently studying at Fairfield University (Conn.). “It’s about 45 minutes away, but I go home a lot—I miss my horses!” she said. “I actually rented a parking spot in a guy’s driveway so I can have my car there and drive home a few times a week. It’s been a little bit harder for my mom since I’ve been away at school because I usually do a lot of the riding and training at home.”

Lauren plans to ride professionally next year and hopes for an international career, but she’s also working on a degree in international business. “My main focus is riding, but I want to have a good business background just in case,” Lauren said. “I want to have the means to support myself if my riding career doesn’t go as I plan. Riding is definitely my plan though!”