Snapchat, also known as Chappie, is a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding. He is ridden by Brianna Holmberg, who leases him from Magpie Industries and trains at Littlewood Farm in Illinois with Joanne Kurinsky, Katie Kunk, Jessie Klein, and Katie Croecker.
Chappie is the kind of horse who makes every day better—funny, sweet, and always up for a cuddle. He even has a stuffed animal companion that Brianna won for him at a show. That little plush friend goes with them to every horse show as a reminder of home and comfort. “He’s just that kind of horse,” Brianna says. “He knows how to make me happy, even when I’m having a bad day.”
Their partnership began when Brianna’s friend at the barn was leasing Chappie. She’d admired him from afar, never imagining he’d become hers to ride. But after hacking him once or twice, she fell in love instantly. “He was perfect for me,” she says. With her friend’s kindness and her trainers’ support, she got to jump him around, and everything clicked. Since January of this year, they’ve been inseparable.
One of Brianna’s favorite memories with Chappie was at their first show together. They swept nearly every class, and for Brianna—who was coming off a few tough years in the pony ring—it was the turning point she didn’t know she needed. “That first show with him just made me so happy. I genuinely don’t know where I’d be without him. He means the world to me.”
Chappie might be a show-ring star, but he’s also a goofball at heart. His favorite treats? Oranges and peppermints. In fact, he might already know the word “orange” based on how excited he gets when he hears it.
Brianna is 16 years old and a junior in high school. She started riding in 2017 at Camp Birchwood, where she tried English riding for the first time and never looked back. “After my first ride, I fell in love,” she says. She’s been riding for about six years now, and her favorite part isn’t just the ribbons or the ring—it’s the bond. “Being able to build such a strong connection with my horse is so important to me. It’s everything.”
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.
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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.
