Professional hunter-jumper rider Natasha Pappas began riding at the age of 5, when her mother took her and her sister to lessons at Far West Farms. Her first horse – an off-the-track Thoroughbred she got at 11 – introduced her to what she jokingly calls all the “green rider stuff.”

“I fell off a lot,” Natasha says with a laugh. “But the experience really strengthened me.”

At 13, Stella came into her life from the Karazissis family, and there was no looking back. The pair advanced from the 2-foot divisions to the 3-foot divisions before Stella was forced to retire early due to conformation issues. According to Natasha, the mare – who was as comfortable at a horse show as she was acting like “a puppy” at home – lived out her best life in Natasha’s backyard until the age of 30.

Natasha turned professional at 23, spending her formative years working with trainer Joe Thorpe of Sovereign Place Training in Burbank, Calif. It’s a relationship she cherishes to this day.

“When I think about the people I want to be at the back gate when I come out of the grand prix ring, Joe is right up at the top of that list,” she says. “He has a way of building your confidence and bringing out the best in you.”

In January 2020, Natasha launched True Blue Farm, a Los Angeles-based program specializing in hunters, jumpers, equitation and sales. Starting a business at that time was not without its challenges, but she has grown her program from just three horses to more than 30 while focusing on developing successful horse-and-rider partnerships both in and out of the show ring.

“We have a lot of new partnerships in the barn right now, and I love watching them learn, grow and succeed throughout the show season,” Natasha says. “It’s so gratifying.”

Being in California, Natasha has long appreciated the opportunities provided by the Gold Coast Horse Shows. Having attended frequently as a junior when the competitions were held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, she continues to value the experience now that they’ve moved to Hansen Dam Equestrian Center. She is a big fan of the addition of IEL competition alongside regular show dates as it has made scheduling more seamless for her riders who are working hard to balance academics with competition goals. With opportunities to focus on both horsemanship development and the pursuit of points toward medal finals close to home, the series remains an ideal environment for newer clients and up-and-coming riders. Natasha notes that the welcoming, accommodating staff consistently help make the overall show experience both productive and enjoyable.

Horse welfare remains top of mind for Natasha, who is quick to point out that horses are not machines and should never be treated as such. That philosophy is one of the reasons being sponsored by LEGIS Equine is so important to her.

“In a world where people sometimes lose track of the importance of putting the horse first, LEGIS Equine stands out as a place where horses – and the people who ride them – are always at the heart of any conversation,” she says. “And that comes through with every interaction.”

For the 2026 show season, Natasha is looking forward to a successful return to the grand prix ring, as well as watching both new and established partnerships in her barn continue to flourish.