The Blog.

This month, we’re excited to introduce Rita Pinkard and her seven-year-old Friesian Sport Horse, Zorro!

Rita is an adult amateur from the Washington, DC area who balances riding with a full-time career. Since partnering with Zorro in July 2025, she has navigated everything from mounting-block standoffs and imaginary arena monsters to first-place finishes and a personal-best score of 69.6%.

Through it all, Zorro has taught Rita that clarity is kindness, and that confidence is something riders can build one moment at a time.

“Every clean transition and every calm walk past a scary corner goes into the Confidence Piggy Bank. On the hard days, I make a withdrawal.”

Now, Rita and Zorro are preparing for the VADANova Region 1 End-of-Year Championship Schooling Show on November 8, with First Level and Rita’s USDF bronze medal in their sights.

Many of Novella’s designs are inspired by real horses and the stories behind them, but the design process is not always linear. Sometimes the horse inspires the shirt from the very beginning. Other times, the design comes first, and somewhere along the way, it becomes obvious exactly whose shirt it...

At just 15 years old, Adalynn Nelson is already making her mark in the dressage arena. Adalynn currently competes in FEI Junior dressage with her horse, Custom Made V, while training with Tillie Jones at Serenity Rose Equestrian Center. Her journey requires no small amount of dedication. Each weekend, Adalynn...

Our newest Novella Equestrian design is inspired by Summersby, a refined Grand Prix mare owned by breast cancer survivor, lifelong horsewoman, and renowned dressage rider JJ Tate. Affectionately known as The Red Queen, Summersby was beautiful, intelligent, powerful, and full of heart. She was the kind of mare who carried...

Some horses make an impression the moment they walk into the ring. Havallo, affectionately known as Olaf, is one of them. The inspiration behind our newest Novella Equestrian collection, Havallo is a true show ring standout. American-bred, endlessly accomplished, and known by nearly everyone who has had the pleasure of...

Some pieces begin with a horse and their story. Others begin as a vision: a feeling translated into design before a name has ever been spoken. The Faith was one of those rare in-between moments.