Twists Of Fate How Hillary Dobbs Created A Life Of Passion Outside Of The Competition Ring
By Jessica Brighenti
Hillary Dobbs is a name that most, if not all, of the Wellington equestrian community is familiar with. With an impressive junior and professional career, Dobbs was no stranger to the winner’s circle or juggling two parts of her life. Upon graduation from Harvard University and an unfortunate riding accident changing the course of her top-level journey, Dobbs found her way to new talents — coaching, being a wife and mother, and spearheading the equestrian division at Malvern Bank.
Born and raised in Sussex, New Jersey, Hillary, and her twin sister, Heather, were born into the equestrian industry. Parents Lou and Debi Dobbs both had a passion for the animal and ran an established Quarter Horse business. The twins were on horseback before they could walk, started taking lessons, riding ponies and the rest is history.
“The Quarter Horses didn’t enjoy jumping quite as much as we did,” Dobbs laughed. “So, the farm slowly transitioned to English and away from Western, and my mom would take me and my sister all over New Jersey to compete in local shows in the leadline and cross rails.”
From there, Dobbs never looked back. At the age of 15, she began training with renowned trainers, Missy Clark and John Brennan of North Run, with locations in Warren, Vermont, and here in Wellington. During her professional career, Dobbs became the youngest rider to earn more than $1 million in prize money and won 31 Grand Prix titles.
Shortly after adding her name to North Run’s long list of accomplished students, Dobbs found herself in Wellington more than at home in New Jersey or in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she studied at Harvard University.
“In the winter, I would go to class Monday through Wednesday, fly down to WEF [the Winter Equestrian Festival], show Thursday through Sunday, and fly back Sunday night,” Dobbs recalled.
It was a schedule she would repeat for the entire circuit.
“I was very fortunate to have a lot of support — from my family, from Missy and John and the North Run team, and from my friends and roommates at school,” Dobbs said.
Like all things in life, nothing is predictable, and show jumping is no exception. In 2012, Dobbs suffered a knee injury after an unexpected accident in the competition ring. Her horse slipped and fell, and Dobbs’ foot got caught in her stirrup as she tried to jump off. The injury changed the course of Dobbs’ life in terms of her professional show jumping career, but it allowed her to follow one of her additional passions instead — mentoring fellow equestrians.
“A family friend mentioned an assistant coach opening at the University of South Carolina. Honestly, I said verbatim, ‘Forty girls? No way! I don’t think I am ready for that,’” admitted Dobbs with a laugh.
After further consideration, and remembering her love for team competition in the sport, Dobbs’ final words were, “Sure, let’s give this a try,” before she completely fell in love with it.
Dubbed “mother hen” of the barn at the age of 15 by John Brennan, Dobbs effortlessly fell into her new role as a coach, mentor and confidant for the University of South Carolina Equestrian Team members. “That’s one of the reasons why I truly loved my role as coach,” Dobbs said. “The bond was special. I had a bond with the girls that changed my life. They became family.”
Dobbs now shares her motherly instincts in a different way. Wife to Christian D’Andrea and mother to Kingston, Dobbs said that she couldn’t have asked for a more perfect fairytale.
“Starting a family has been a dream come true,” she said. “I met the man of my dreams at the end of January 2020, and it was love at first sight.”
Although on a different ride, Dobbs hasn’t veered too far from the sport she loves so dearly. As vice president and director of equestrian at Malvern Bank, Dobbs helps the equestrian community in new ways and spends a large amount of her time in Wellington, expanding the business to those she knows best.
Approached by Malvern Bank President & CEO Tony Weagley in 2017, the two immediately shared the same vision — the need for a financial institution that can not only cater to but fully understand the needs of equestrians and their business.
Dobbs understands the niche equestrian community and is sympathetic to equestrians’ ever-changing schedules. Dobbs and Malvern Bank are able to provide an extra level of service by accommodating those time constraints.
“I believe I am bringing something different to the professional equestrian community,” Dobbs explained. “I am able to bridge the gap by assisting equestrian customers with their banking needs. Sometimes even while they are on a horse or between classes!”
Whether it’s experiencing Kingston’s very first haircut with her husband, returning to the magical showgrounds of WEF where she spent so much of her formative years, or assisting her former equestrian colleagues with their business banking needs, Dobbs is certain she is right where she is meant to be.
“A few twists of fate have led me to a career and life that has allowed me to be a mother, wife and a professional still very entrenched in the equestrian community that I love,” Dobbs said. “There certainly isn’t any other way I would want it. It truly is the best of both worlds.”
