A smiling young rider standing beside a lesson horse in the barn

WELCOME TO CUDO

FOR THE LOVE
OF THE HORSE.

Cudo is for the love of the horse, and for those who want to do things the right way.

OUR STORY

QUALITY OVER
QUANTITY.

Cudo Equestrian began in 2019. Coach Hillary saw a need in the area for riding lessons that were not just about quantity. She saw horses passed off to the next rider, and parents dropping riders at the arena. Riders never learned to groom, tack up or handle the horse; the riding was the only focus. That leaves a huge gap in a young or new equestrian's time with horses. Handling horses on the ground, learning who they are and listening to what they are saying is bigger than being in the saddle. How can you understand the horse in the tack if you don't ask him who he is out of the tack?

WHAT'S IN A NAME

Cú + Dó

Cudo combines two Irish words: cú means hound, and dó means two. Hillary has two hounds, a Treeing Walker Hound and an Irish Wolfhound, and both are the friendliest welcoming committee at the barn. Our dogs and horses go hand in hand.

OUR VALUES

LEAVE IT
BETTER.

Leave it better than you found it: the horse, the tack, the stall, the barn, your teammate and yourself.

WHAT IT MEANSTHE CUDO WAY

HORSE FIRST

The horse's needs come before the rider's convenience.

DO IT RIGHT

Take the extra time. Put the saddle on correctly. Clean the tack. Pick the stall. Do the little things well.

NOTICE EVERYTHING

Develop the ability to observe, feel, listen and notice what the horse is communicating.

LEAVE IT BETTER

Return the tack better than you found it. Leave the stall clean. Help the next rider. Improve the barn simply by being there.

EARN THE RIBBON

The ribbon isn't the goal by itself. The preparation, horsemanship, discipline and growth that earned it are what matter.

BECOME MORE THAN A RIDER

The goal isn't just a better rider. It's a more responsible, empathetic and capable human being.

GIVE BACK

The horse gives you something every time you ride. You give back through care, gratitude and service.

MEET YOUR HEAD COACH

HILLARY ZIGO

Hillary has been riding and working with horses since before she could walk. Growing up in Massachusetts, she began her education through Pony Club, building a strong foundation in horsemanship, horse care and safe horse management. She earned her H-B rating through Swift River Pony Club and competed in eventing, while also riding on the Mount Holyoke College IEA team at the Varsity Open level. After high school, Hillary traveled and worked with professional trainers around the country, riding and developing young horses, grooming and teaching. She began training with Olympic gold medalist Torrance Watkins in 2015 and moved to Virginia in 2017 to work for her as a rider and groom, producing young horses and helping run a world-class equestrian operation. Hillary founded Cudo Equestrian in 2019 with a simple philosophy: quality over quantity. She specializes in developing young horses and young riders. Today she still competes in eventing with her Thoroughbred gelding, Tintoretto. The goal? Serious fun. Riders work hard, learn the right way, and are given the foundation to become whatever kind of equestrian they want to be, always with the love of the horse at the center.

IN HILLARY'S WORDS

Cudo riders become exceptional humans.

A good rider pays attention to the details. Beyond riding, our riders learn to care for something greater than themselves. Their horse gets a drink of water after the ride, before they do. They pick the stall to thank the horse for the lesson. I am proudest when I see riders take their time to do something right, and help less experienced riders learn something new. It's not about the ribbons. It's the journey.

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