Gulfport, Miss.—Feb. 19  

Not so long ago, Shannon Hicks spent most of her time at horse shows coaching on her own two feet. Yet after riding to her second grand prix victory of 2017 in the $25,000 Nutrena Grand Prix during Week 2 of the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit on Sunday, she’s not looking back now.

“Up until last year my business was more catered toward the training of kids and adults than it was toward me and my riding,” the professional trainer from St. Louis, Mo., explained. “That’s when my client, Helen [Gilbert] started getting me some really good horses. Now my business has taken a bit of a turn to be a little more focused on the grand prix horses than the kids.”

This weekend, Hicks won aboard a horse of Gilbert’s that has been in her barn since the start of her shift back toward riding in 2015—the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Emir D (Querlybet Hero—Royal D, Forever). Formerly ridden by Darragh and Sarah Kerins, Emir was already a seasoned grand prix horse when he came to Hicks, but getting him to a first-place finish hasn’t been easy.

Shannon Hicks guided Emir D to the top of the $25,000 Nutrena Grand Prix at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic Circuit for their first grand prix win together. Photo by Alison Hartwell Photography

“This was Emir’s first win,” she said. “He took a little time for me to get used to because he’s very strong. It took me a while to trust how much I could let him gallop and still keep him in check. He’s been second and third a bunch of times, but he’s not really very fast. This weekend, the course was a little bigger and tougher than last week, which was actually better for us. I think the field in general really suited Emir because he can jump high and make up time by galloping a little.”

Emir is one of three horses Hicks competes for owner Gilbert. All three jumped clear in the grand prix on Sunday, with the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare C’Havinia finishing third, and the 8-year-old gelding Al Pachini taking home fourth.

As exciting as victory was for Hicks, she said the weekend really belonged to Gilbert, whose 14-year-old gelding White Lightning also took first place in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with Holly Shepherd in the irons.

“Helen had such a big week!” Hicks laughed. “She has been a client for nine years and is just an amazing owner. She loves her horses and loves to watch them compete.”

With Gilbert’s support, Hicks is rapidly making a name for herself in the grand prix arena. In January, she won the $25,000 Pensacola Sports Grand Prix (Fla.), aboard Gilbert’s C’Havinia, leaving her two for three at grand prix in her most recent outings.

Of course, Hicks is still finding time for her students. One longtime pupil, Sara Dees, finished just behind Hicks in the grand prix on Sunday, claiming fifth on her 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Clearwater 5. Yet Hicks admits that not every student thrives in her program. A competitor herself, she has always struggled to connect with students who lack a certain stalwart nature that makes them committed to their craft.

“I’m pretty intense when it comes to my teaching,” Hicks said. “The only people who get along with me and my teaching style are people who are very serious about riding horses. Because I’m very serious about riding horses! This is not a hobby; this is go out there and do the best you can and give it as much as you have every single time. Some kids, that‘s a little too intense for!”

Accompanied by her most tenacious students, Hicks will spend the next four weeks completing the Gulf Coast circuit before heading north to the Tulsa Rendezvous Horse Shows (Okla.) in April.

Coming off a successful start to the season, Hicks says she’s ready to keep the ball rolling. “The more you win, the more confident you are. The horses have all been jumping super. They are on a roll!”