Meet Jolie Vitseroel, better known as “Jojo” or “Jolie” around the barn. Jojo is a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood Mare standing at 16.2hh. She is black with a white stripe down the center of her face. Jojo is owned and loved by Ryleigh Richardson – who may sound familiar to you. She has another horse that I also photographed for White Backgrounds during Pin Oak ’22, Leti. Ryleigh and Jojo train at Twisted Oak Farm with Johnny and Claudia Conn in San Antonio, TX.

Jojo recently joined the Richardson family in March and it has only been a little over a month now since the two have been together. Although the pair have many memories yet to be made, Ryleigh says that the first time she met Jojo was the day she tried her. Jojo is a jumper, this is new for Ryleigh as Leti is a Hunter. Ryleigh hopped on and jumped a few jumps, then attempted her first round on the jumper…the pair had a clear round. This was thrilling for her, although she has a lot to learn in the jumper ring! Thankfully, seasoned Jojo will help to guide her as she knows her job and gets things done. Ryleigh, being the crazed horse girl that she is, immediately fell in love with Jojo the second she laid eyes on her.

When Ryleigh was younger, she had a friend’s mom who rode. One day the friend’s mother took the girls for lessons and she has been hooked ever since. It has been a handful of years now since Ryleigh started riding. She first had a pony named Rock N’ Acres which was a lease. I photographed Ryleigh and Rocco during her pony days (some of the best days!), at Twisted Oak along with many other horses and riders as well! Take a look at Ryleigh’s Horse & Rider Portraits and many others here and on our blog!