Rose Donato

Class of 2026

The start of my love for horses began when I was young. My grandfather had a farm in Wellington that I visited every weekend growing up, which is where I discovered my passion for horses. When I turned six, I started taking lessons at a local barn near me. Later, I moved to a show barn and bought my first pony to pursue my goal of competing in pony finals. My passion for riding continued to grow as I began showing horses in the equitation at major venues like WEF, WEC, Traverse City, HITS, Tryon, and the New England Championship.

Currently, I am competing in the 3’6″ equitation and junior hunters, practicing to qualify for 3’3 and 3’6 medal finals, and preparing for the junior hunter finals this year. As a junior at Rumson-Fair Haven High School and an honor roll student, balancing my demanding show schedule with my schoolwork has taught me a lot about hard work and communication. Last year, I maintained a 3.6 GPA and am on an upward trend this year. 

When I’m not riding or at school, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, as well as traveling and experiencing new places. The dedication I have put into my dream of riding at the collegiate level will not waver. Furthering my education and riding career is my top priority, and I am committed to finding the right school and team for me. Riding has been my passion from an early age and has taught me many lessons about communication, hard work, responsibility, and cooperation, which I believe will make me a valuable addition to my future team.