United States Eventing Association

This article originally appeared on Sidelinesmagazine.com.

Eventer Nicole Nair knew from a young age that horses weren’t just a hobby, they were her destiny. Attracted early in life to the thrill of eventing, she quickly became captivated by the electric energy of the start box and the unique, unbreakable bond between horse and rider.

“When I’m about to start a course and hear that 10-second countdown, I feel so excited,” Nicole said, “Because it’s just me and my horse and that’s when we trust each other the most.”

Nicole’s journey with horses began at 3 years old and now, at 13, her love for the sport still deepens. Nicole’s mom, Jessica, signed herself, Nicole and Nicole’s brother up for riding lessons. Having always dreamt about living on a farm, Jessica was passionate about getting the whole family comfortable around horses.

As life became busier, Nicole was the only one in her family who continued riding. When circumstances required her to find a different barn to continue her riding journey, Jessica was determined to find the next place that would continue to deepen Nicole’s passion for horses. She came across the perfect place, but Nicole was too young since they only allowed 5-year-olds and she was still 4 at the time. “My mom begged the trainer to let me try,” Nicole said. “So she did, and after my first day, the trainer told my mom that I was more dedicated to the sport than anyone else she knew.” That moment launched a journey that would shape Nicole’s childhood and future.

The Horse That Made It Possible

Like most young riders, Nicole was eager to ride as many horses as she could to further her riding education. Having the opportunity to ride multiple lesson ponies at her barn gave her lots of experience and memories. “One of them dumped me on cross-country and I had to go find her in the field,” Nicole laughed. “But honestly, I think the hard ones teach you the most.”

By the age of 7, with a couple of years of riding under her belt, Nicole was eager to find that special horse with whom she could build a deep connection—and that’s when a pony named Jack came into her life.

Jack, a bay pony gelding, was rescued from a junkyard as a 3-year-old in terrible shape and nursed back to health. He was known around the barn for his “enthusiastic” personality, even though his name Gentleman Jack said otherwise. “Everyone who rode him got bucked off,” Nicole said. “So, when my trainer said I should try him, I was a little nervous. She started us on the lunge line, and Jack was perfect. It was like we just clicked.”

After spending months together, learning and growing in their partnership, Nicole received an exciting call from her grandfather, who said, “Do you want an early Christmas present?” to which she replied with a resounding, “Yes! Of course, I do,” Nicole said. “And then he told me that Jack was mine! I couldn’t believe it. I literally had to double-check with my mom. When she said it was true, I started bawling. I really, really wanted a horse, and thanks to my grandfather, Jack became mine.” To officially welcome Jack into the family, they renamed him Jack Run in honor of Nicole’s grandfather’s farm, Jack Run Farm, in Pennsylvania and for Jack’s love of running.

Unfortunately, Jack was diagnosed with navicular disease in both front feet. Faced with the complex decision of how to progress in riding while putting Jack’s needs first, Nicole made the decision to do only one Training Level event with him. With the help of her vet, they came up with a strategy that would help set Jack up for success in the competition while preserving his health. “He actually became stronger than we expected,” Nicole said. “We were only going to do one show, but he was so happy working that we kept going.”

Encouraged by Jack’s enthusiasm during competitions, Nicole successfully competed him for several seasons. “He loves working but absolutely hates dressage,” Nicole laughed. “He tries to kick at the letters. But when it really matters, he pulls it together because he loves his job.”

Nicole’s highlights with Jack include competing in the American Eventing Championships in 2023 at Novice and then again in 2024 at Training Level. “Jack has done everything for me, so we wanted to respect his limits,” Nicole said, adding that although she loves running cross-country with Jack, she has decided to move him to the jumpers as it will be better for his feet. “I want to put Jack’s health first.”

Building Her String of Horses

While searching for the perfect next horse, Nicole leased a gelding named Prince SW who helped refine her riding skills and up-level her show-ring success. During that time, she attended the American Eventing Championships at Training level in 2024 with Prince and Jack.

As serendipity would have it, with Jessica’s loving help came Nicole’s young horse, Nakoma’s Secret Journey. Nakoma is a 4-year-old Paint mare out of Sempatico. “One of my favorite riders is Cornelia Dorr, and the first horse to take her into a five-star was also a Sempatico baby,” Nicole said. “That was definitely a contributing factor to knowing Nakoma was the right fit.

“She was a secret,” Nicole continued. “My dad didn’t know we were getting her.” Jessica had purchased Nakoma and casually broke the news during the drive home from a horse show. In typical horse-world fashion, they picked her up on the way. “The name ‘Nakoma’ means warrior and was chosen to reflect her look and strength. And then ‘Secret’ because she was a secret,” Nicole said. “She’s still in training, but I think she’s going to be incredible.”

Not long after that, Stormi entered the picture. Known in the show ring as Cooley Vita, she was originally intended to be a sales horse. Nicole was asked to ride Stormi for a sales video but the moment she sat on her, she knew she was the horse for her. “Stormi picked me,” Nicole said. “She has a really strong personality, so I let her be the teacher. That’s why we work.”

The previous owner, Leila Saxe, agreed that Stormi, brought to the U.S. with the encouragement of eventing extraordinaire Liz Halliday, hadn’t clicked with anyone else quite like she did with Nicole. Stormi and Nicole now look forward to deepening their partnership, while proudly representing the Cooley bloodline.

Finding The Perfect Trainer

As Nicole’s riding progressed, she transitioned to her current trainer, Madeleine Scott, and has enjoyed every moment with her. Madeleine’s program always goes above and beyond, which has helped Nicole flourish both in and out of the saddle, from tailoring her training to be exactly what Nicole needs in the moment to educating her with horse care and long show weekends. “She teaches me why things work, not just how to do them,” Nicole said. “She’s patient, smart and, honestly, kind of a crazy horse girl, just like me.”

Having watched Madeleine for years, Nicole has now seen and experienced what true sportsmanship and top-level success look like from someone she aspires to be like one day.

Horse Before the Sport

Nicole’s bond with horses doesn’t end at the barn; but has ignited her entrepreneurial spirit and is the foundation of her new business.

One day, while driving home from Ocala and stuck in traffic, inspiration struck. Nicole and her mom began brainstorming, and an idea started to take shape. Hoping to create a product that could eventually grow into a business, Nicole recalled a common frustration in the eventing world. “I remembered how long it takes people to remove tape from their horse boots after cross-country,” she said. “Some even leave it on, which delays the cooling process.”

That simple realization sparked a year of designing, prototyping, pitching and refining. Now, with a planned launch in August, Nicole is proud to introduce her brand: Wrapped to Run, a reusable, adjustable elastic strap that secures boots without the need for tape and can be removed in seconds—especially important in cooling a horse as fast as possible after cross-country. “It’s cute, functional and helps your horse recover faster,” Nicole said. “Our motto is ‘Horse before the sport,’ and that’s what guides everything I do.”

Family First on the Road Ahead

If there’s one thing Nicole doesn’t take for granted, it’s her support system. She’s grateful for her mom, who helps with everything from logistics and show planning to business paperwork and social media captions. Her dad is also all in. “He’s the one who funds it, drives the trailer and always has horse treats in his pockets,” Nicole said. “They know when he’s around.”

Her grandmother pitches in too, helping whenever her parents are not able to. “It’s a total family effort,” Nicole said. “They all help make my dreams come true.”

With so much on her plate, Nicole made a big change last year when she switched from in-person school to Florida Virtual School. “I had to sign a three-page contract to prove I could handle it,” she said. “But I wanted to ride more, train harder and work on my business.”

Now, she juggles a packed schedule of early mornings, late lessons, business meetings and schoolwork. “I actually like online school better,” she said. “You learn faster, and I get more time with my horses.”

At such a young age, Nicole has already built a foundation most riders dream of, and she’s just getting started. She’s a two-time AEC competitor, a business owner and a fierce advocate for her horses. “I want to be a five-star rider and go to the Olympics,” she said. “But I also want to open a barn and help horses live their best lives.”

Based in Winter Garden, Florida, Nicole plans to be in the sport for the long haul, hopefully influencing horses and riders for the better. She’s interested in equine massage, red light therapy, PEMF and anything that supports horse health. “They show up for us every day,” she said. “They deserve that in return.”

And through it all, whether galloping through a cross-country field or brainstorming business ideas in the car, Nicole’s focus remains crystal clear. “I’ve never wanted to do anything else,” she said. “This is what I was meant to do.”

For more information, follow NNair_Eventing1 on Instagram and YouTube and visit wrappedtorun.com to learn more about Wrapped to Run