In the video, Irene Neuwirth is simply cantering over three poles. But to her, those three poles were monumental. For 22 years her world had revolved around gemstones, high fashion and the spotlight of the red carpet, leaving little time for extracurricular interests. What started as a post-college experimentation with precious and semi-precious stones and a pitch to the luxury department store Barneys blossomed into a renowned independent brand, Irene Neuwirth Jewelry. 

But she always hoped she could reintroduce her childhood passion for horses back into her life. 

“As a kid, I rode; my parents were supportive,” said Neuwirth, of Malibu, California. “But I never did the big horse shows. I went to some of the more local shows, and I had a really cute little Quarter Horse. My parents just weren’t interested in me not going to school [and home-schooling or working with a tutor to show on the circuit]. So, when I started my business about 20 years ago, I was like, ‘One day when I make enough money, I’m going to get back into riding.’ ” 

One day arrived in 2018. 

“It’s so funny—from 5 1/2 years ago, there’s this video I posted on Instagram, which is like, ‘Best day ever,’ ” Neuwirth said. “And I’m literally chipping to a pole on the ground.” 

Those poles marked the beginning of Neuwirth’s equestrian renaissance. In the years since, she’s purchased horses, worked her way up to the 3’6″ amateur-owner hunters, competed on the East Coast, and won tricolors at major championship horse shows she only heard about as a child. In 2023, she earned the U.S. Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year grand champion 3’3″ amateur-owner and channel I 3’3″ amateur-owner hunter, 36 and over, titles with Coconut Grove, and the USEF channel I amateur-owner hunter, 36 and over, title with Guess Who. 

“I never went back East [as a junior]; I just didn’t compete on this level,” Neuwirth said. “I didn’t have horses like I do now, and I wasn’t as good of a rider when I was a kid. I had 22 years off—and I had a lot of time to think about how to ride better. So, this year was a lot of fun.” 

How do your roots help you appreciate competing on a bigger scale?

Truthfully, paying for it myself is the biggest appreciation ever, and the fact that I’m able to have a career that allows me to do this amazing sport and hobby that I love to do so much. 

I get obsessive with my own company. I wanted to learn everything there was about being a jewelry designer, and I get really competitive within myself in wanting to have a bigger business, a better business, be a better boss, better designer. I think the same thing carries over with riding. I drive John [Bragg, my trainer at Bridgeport Farms] a little bit crazy because I want to learn everything about everything. 

That’s a good mentality to have: competing with yourself.

I like good competition. I want tons of people and tons of nice horses. It’s so much more fun when the stakes are high. If you ride badly, you place badly. If you ride well, you win in a big way. That feels really good. And so, when the divisions are smaller, I’m sort of like, “Tell me how I can do better.” 

The first year when I went to Capital Challenge [Maryland], I was like, “What’s this going to be like?” John was like, “You’re going to get your ass handed to you.” I was like, “I am?” He was like, “You are.” And I really did. I think we left with one fifth-placed ribbon, and it might have been in the under saddle. I couldn’t break through and figure out how to do it. So, I came back, and I was like, “I want to learn. I want to get better. I want to learn how to compete really well. I want my horses to feel well. And so together, you need to tell me how to compete better.” 

Isn’t it fun to lose and win and learn and feel good about what you’re doing? 

How does it work to juggle riding and running your own business at such a high level?

I’ve been in business for about 20 years, and I drove everybody certifiably crazy in my office because I’m totally controlling. I have to micromanage everything. I wanted to learn everything about it. I wanted to learn about sales; I wanted to learn about the finances; I wanted to learn about their production and design. I’m just always pushing myself to learn more. When the pandemic happened is when I really was able to devote [more] time—I had time on my hands—to riding. I was like, “Wow, this is actually so healthy for my brain.” Riding, to me, is like meditation in a way. You have to be so hyper focused; you can’t think of anything else. It’s the only thing in my life that I could think of where I have that feeling besides work. 

I think everyone in my office is really grateful that I have horses in my life because it’s allowed me to step away and really fall in love with doing something else besides working—which isn’t totally the healthiest obsession. When the world came back [after the pandemic], and I went back to work in the full capacity, I really forced myself to carve out the time to have horses in my life. 

Do you remember the exact moment that made you act on returning to riding?

I followed this girl on Instagram who I used to babysit when I was a kid. I reached out to her, and I was like, “Where do you ride horses? I want to just sit on the horse. I haven’t sat on a horse in 20-something years; I want to walk-trot.” So she was at this barn, and I went out there. [Soon after] I half leased the horse for two weeks. 

Can you tell me about the genesis of your jewelry business?

I had just come back from college in Vermont. My dad was like, “You need to get a job,” and I was like, “I have one; I’m helping this woman teach walk-trot lessons.” He was like, “I don’t think so.” 

I have always made jewelry. I’m one of those people that once I put my mind to something, it is pretty hard to tell me no. People would always tell me I was creative and loved my jewelry. So, I was like, “You know what? I’m just going to go for it.” I sent [samples and] a note in Magic Marker to Barneys, saying, “I hope you love it.”

Barneys was my first account. I guess I like to take risks. I have this superpower of not being afraid of failing. I really enjoy hearing people’s advice. I want to hear how to ride better. I want to learn how to be a better businessman—all of those things. I’m not precious about it. And I was like, “I’m going to be in the top sales for Barneys.” And sure enough, immediately we were in their top 3 sales. It’s been such a fun ride. 

What was it like opening a store and expanding to three different locations?

That was terrifying. I had to really work very hard to get that going. But [it was] also fun. It’s so fun to take those big risks and be able to show people what I want my brand to look like. 

Was there one piece of jewelry that changed your life? 

My mom had a pocket watch that my dad gave her when I was born. She gave [it to] me, and I in turn lost it and have never stopped thinking about it ever since. That’s the amazing thing about jewelry; it is passed down through generations and tells the story. 

What is the secret to staying creative and fresh? 

Riding horses.

If you were to describe yourself in three words, what would those three words be?

Passionate, creative, intense. 

What would you consider some of your biggest accomplishments, both personal and professional? 

The success of my horses over the last two years has been really my personal [accomplishment]. And then [professionally it would be] opening up three stores and having a brand that persevered through the pandemic and through the 2008 economic crisis. 

You create jewelry with custom pet portraits. Which one of your animals inspired these charms?

All of them. I have one of all of them. Meanwhile I’m like Ace Ventura; I have five horses and three dogs. I couldn’t pick one that was more inspiring than the other. Although my dog Teddy, who I had to put to sleep last year, was the big inspiration. He was the face of our brand. 

What is the process from imagining a piece of jewelry to creating a physical product?

I’ll draw things a lot. I’ll play around with the stones. I’ll lay them out on the table and take photographs. Or I’ll take a piece of wax and then try fold it in different ways and see how I could think about things fitting. 

What are three things you always have in your refrigerator?

Chocolate, carrots and ingredients to make a great cheeseburger. 

What quality do you value most in a person? 

Honesty. 

In a horse?

Honesty. 

What hobbies do you enjoy outside of horses? 

I like swimming in the ocean. I like painting. I like going to museums, and I like reading. I love to travel. 

Your mother, Geraldine Neuwirth, is an artist. How did her artistic endeavors inspire you?

She has an amazing color sense, so I really took that on. 

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I’m very meticulous. I think that’s always a trick. I come off as being easy, breezy, when I’m actually not. 

Who inspires you? 

So many different people in different walks of my life. My mom is really inspirational, and she’s such an incredible artist and free-spirited. My dad [Peter Neuwirth] is an incredible businessperson; he’s really inspiring. I have amazing, inspiring friends. 

What is a big pet peeve for you? 

I loathe people who are lazy. 

What is the best advice you’ve been given? 

Not to wait until things are perfect; put it out there. 

What is a go-to that brings you comfort when you’re having a bad day?

I eat soup dumplings. 

Is there a horse past or present that you’d most love to ride?

I really loved [my former horse] Juan Carlos. I sold him this year, which was really hard to do. But he’s a special horse. He was my big heart horse and the horse that made me love riding the most. 

What advice would you give to amateurs wanting to come back to the sport?

Be around horses in any way. Go brush a horse. Go get on a horse. Do anything around horses. 

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This article originally appeared in the February 2024, issue of The Chronicle of the Horse. You can subscribe and get online access to a digital version and then enjoy a year of The Chronicle of the Horse and our lifestyle publication, Untacked. If you’re just following COTH online, you’re missing so much great unique content. Each print issue of the Chronicle is full of in-depth competition news, fascinating features, probing looks at issues within the sports of hunter/jumper, eventing and dressage, and stunning photography.