Cassiopeia Cellestin, or Tino, is a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding with a heart of gold and a serious love for snacks. Owned by Loughlin Sport Horses and leased and ridden by Emerson Nolte, Tino trains with Troy Hendricks at Kimber-View Stables.
Tino is sweet, steady, and incredibly generous—the kind of horse who would do anything for a treat. Whether it’s carrots or watermelon, he’s always on the lookout for a snack and a snuggle.
One of Emerson’s favorite memories with Tino happened at the Maryland Horse and Pony Show. Showing in the children’s hunters, the schedule kept shifting later and later. Emerson ended up going last in the order, under the lights, late at night. It was uncertain how Tino would react—but, true to form, he was perfect. The pair scored Emerson’s first-ever 90, won the class, and were named champion. It was a magical moment that marked a turning point in their partnership.
Another unforgettable memory? WEC Ohio, where Emerson and friends decided to ride bareback through the Starbucks drive-thru. Tino happily participated, sticking his head right into the window and charming his way into extra treats. A true gentleman with a goofy side, he takes every experience in stride.
The road to Tino wasn’t quick or easy. Emerson had been struggling to find the right horse for over a year. Then Tino arrived at Kimber-View Stables on a show lease for another equitation rider. Emerson watched him show all weekend and instantly felt a connection. When that lease ended, Emerson finally got the chance to ride him—and it was love at first trot. Since leasing him at the start of summer, they’ve been champion or reserve almost every weekend in the children’s hunters. More importantly, Tino has helped Emerson rebuild confidence and find joy in riding again.
Favorite treats? Carrots, watermelon… and apparently Starbucks.
Emerson’s horse journey began thanks to her mom, a former junior rider. After one riding lesson, she was hooked. Now with six years of riding experience, her favorite part of the sport is the time spent with her horse—bonding in the barn, creating memories, and learning together.
Karinda K. is a Houston, TX based equine photographer that travels around the United States photographing equestrians and their horses. Karinda specializes in Outdoor Horse & Rider Portrait sessions that bring to life the magical relationship equestrians share with their horses, Senior Portraits, and Fine Art Black & White Background Portraits for those that want a piece of art featuring their very own animals.
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Portraits for Charity was an idea Karinda dreamt up to help give back to families impacted by Childhood Cancer in memory of her husband’s sister Jessica.
If you are interested in having Karinda attend your event and host a Portraits for Charity day, send an email to equine@karindak(.)com.
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Information shared in this blog is based on information collected at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, if for any reason this information is incorrect and you would like your horse’s blog post updated, please notify us via email.
