Heather Caristo Williams

Heather Caristo-Williams grew up riding with her parents, Ralph & Holly Caristo, in Saugerties, New York. Her riding career started early with a win in the lead line at Devon Horse Show at just four years old. Heather spent much of her youth in the hunter and equitation rings, bringing home USHJA National Championship titles, hunter derby wins, and placings at the AHSA Medal Final and Washington Equitation Classic. Not long after setting her sights on showjumping, she quickly climbed the ranks, earning her first Grand Prix win at only 16 years old aboard her Off The Track Thoroughbred gelding Cliffhanger. Heather went on to win a gold medal at the North American Young Riders Championship for showjumping in 1995.

Heather also earned a bachelor’s degree in both art and psychology, which she credits with helping her cultivate a solid program for teaching horses and riders of all levels. She believes that the mental game is a very important aspect of riding and coaching. After an illustrious Young Riders career, Heather has continued to compete at the top levels of showjumping across the globe. Now based out of her family’s Glenview Stables in Saugerties, New York, and Wellington, Florida, Heather rides, trains, and coaches at the highest levels of showjumping. She has represented Team USA on three Nations Cup teams in Canada, Sweden, and Portugal, competing in some of the biggest classes in the world. She has also brought home top placings in World Cup Qualifiers, the HITS Million Dollar Grand Prix, and the HITS Hunter Derby Finals.

In her spare time, Heather is also an avid runner and triathlete, and has a deep passion for learning as much as she can about horses. She remains just as horse-crazy as she's always been: Heather will watch any movie that has horses in it!