Hunter, equitation and jumper trainer and judge Archie Cox grew up competing along the East Coast as a junior rider, earning ribbons at the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final and ASPCA Maclay Finals. He went on to ride for the equestrian team at Drew University. After college, Archie moved to California in 1992 to work with top hunter/jumper trainer Karen Healey for several years. In December 2000, Archie opened his own business, Brookway Stables—named after his grandparents’ farm in Maine—at Middle Ranch. His students and horses in training have collected numerous champion titles at the country’s most prestigious shows.

• Hometown: Locust Valley, New York
• Current homebase(s): Los Angeles, California. “I’m at a facility by the name of Middle Ranch, and I have been there for 25 years.”
• Family: “My father lives in Pine Plains, New York with his wife, and my mother lives in Wellington, Florida. Then, my sister lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, so we are well spread out.”
• Specialty: Hunters, equitation and jumpers
• What first drew you to horses? “My dad’s family, in particular my dad’s mother, first drew me to horses. My grandmother, Phyllis Cox, was an avid horsewoman who rode Morgan horses and saddle horses. She was on the board of directors of what was then the AHSA (American Horse Shows Association) in 1977, and at the time, she was also the president of the American Morgan Horse Association.” 
• Favorite horse growing up: “As a youngster, before really getting into heavily showing, I had a horse called Mr. Hippo. He was a chestnut Quarter horse, and he got me up to the Medal and Maclay Finals. Then, it became evident that Mr. Hippo was not going to be going to Madison Square Garden [for the Maclay Finals], so I moved on to other horses. My best junior horse called Private Carrier; his barn name was Lennon. He was a very light chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail.” 
• Career highlights: “As a trainer, I’m proud of all my students. One highlight was Mathew Sereni winning the 2003 Maclay Finals. Another standout memory was Lucy Davis winning Best Child Rider and Grand Champion Junior Hunter at the 2007 Devon Horse Show, and her horse Harmony was The Chronicle of the Horse’s 2007 Hunter/Equitation Horse of Year. As a career high in my judging resume, I’ve been fortunate enough to judge the Maclay Finals, the USET Finals and the Devon Horse Show.” 
• Mentors: “Growing up, I idolized Leslie Burr Howard, Katie Monahan Prudent and Rodney Jenkins. I was lucky enough to be exposed to all of them. And then as a young professional, Karen Healy, Linda Hough and Don Stewart were mentors.”
• Most influential horse in your career: “It’s really an endless number of horses, and every horse teaches you something. But I smile thinking of Lucy Davis’s Harmony and Patrick, Laura Wasserman’s Boss and really any one of Stephanie Danhakl’s horses. We were fortunate enough bring along most of them, and there’s great pride in doing that.” 
• Competition superstitions: “I’m always early and start the day with really shiny shoes. When you look down, you should look down and take pride in yourself and that starts at your feet.” 
• When you’re not riding, competing or training, where can find you? “At the barn. Horses are my life.”
• Any other four-legged family members (besides horses)? “No, it’s just the horses.”
• Favorite eats: “A shrimp cocktail, a Caesar salad and a ribeye steak.” 
• Favorite book and/or movie: “My favorite movie is either ‘Fletch’ or ‘Vacation.’”
• Do you prefer riding mares or geldings or stallions? “In my business, I prefer working with mares and geldings. I have many young students and several horses, and stallions are a little bit of a different breed and harder to have in the barn. It really ends up being about safety.” 
• What’s kept you involved in the sport? “Seeing the progress and the joy that horses and learning bring and the confidence that people can gain from working with horses and competing. It’s very rewarding.” 
• Learn more: brookwaystables.com

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