Angelo Danza has never considered being anything other than a professional rider. “It’s in my blood,” he says. “My grandfather built a horse farm 50 years ago in Brooklyn.” Danza got his start in the saddle when he was two years old, and has stayed on the path ever since.
Now, he is the owner and operator of AD Sporthorses in Brewster, New York, a 60 acre state of the art facility that specializes in the training and sales of hunter/jumper horses. He’s also a successful Grand Prix rider and trainer. The life Danza saw laid out for him as a kid has led him to some of the most exciting competitions in the country.
“At 15, I started looking into riding professionally,” Danza recalls. “Since I’ve been around horses my whole life, I naturally understood the sport and the animal. I decided to translate that into a business and help others feel the same way about the horses and riding.”
Danza believes patience is key to bringing horses a long. “Just keep it simple,” he says of horse training. “Listen to the horses. Have patience and stay consistent.” He has learned something from every horse he’s ever ridden or trained by listening to the feedback they give him. “Every horse you get on can teach you something new,” he says.
Danza was lucky enough to grow up learning from a wide variety of top professionals in the industry. He lists McLain Ward, Todd Minikus, Beezie Madden, and Kent Farrington as the riders who have had the most influence on him, all for different reasons. These influences have helped propel his success in the hunter and jumper rings.
He has won classes at some impressive venues, including Old Salem Farm, HITS Saugerties, Saratoga Springs, Ox Ridge Hunt Club, Princeton Show Jumping, and the Winter Equestrian Festival.
“I get excited to compete,” he says. “I love the rush, especially during a good round.” He had a very successful 2018 on his horse Euphoria, a Dutch warmblood. “I purchased her from Europe as a six year old and brought her to the Grand Prix level. It’s a great feeling when your hard work starts to pay off.”
Danza goes to Europe frequently and prides himself on his good eye for young horses. He enjoys the process of importing and training young horses to reach their highest potential. Danza hopes to use that skill to attract owners and sponsors who want to help him continue to rise in the sport, perhaps even representing the USA in international competition.
In the meantime, his focus is on continuing to grow AD Sporthorses and elevate it above the competition. He prides himself on continuing the Danza tradition of running a family owned and operated business and giving individual horses and humans customized care. “We strive to make every client, whether they own horses with us or are coming in just to take lessons, feel they are treated equally and given the same amount of attention.”New Yorkers looking for a successful training program in a beautiful place should look no further than AD Sporthorses. You can find them online at https://adsporthorses.net or by calling 845-494-0851.
