Ashlyn Dorsey moved to California to pursue her riding career and ended up finding a totally different professional path. Those who compete in Galway’s eventing competitions and in hunter/jumper shows organized by Nilforushan Equisport Events are the benefactors of that change of plan.
Ashlyn is a friendly and familiar face on Robert Kellerhouse’s organizing team for several years. Assistant show secretary is her main role these days, including at the International Horse Trials last week.
With an eventer’s gift of adaptability, Ashlyn’s intelligence enabled her to tackle whatever tasks needed doing in her early days with the Galway Downs crew. Scoring, sponsor signage, awards presentations and helping stage parties are a few of the. Many responsibilities she’s mastered.
For Ali and Francie Nilforushan, Ashlyn’s title is technical coordinator and sponsorship director. The job description is fluid — which she likes.
Making A Difference
As a key player on the Kellerhouse and Nilforushan teams, Ashlyn is grateful to work with two industry leaders making a difference in the sport.
“People are so enthusiastic about the shows and give us a lot of great feedback,” she says. That’s true of the Temecula Valley National hunter/jumper series that resumes at Galway on April 17 and of the just-wrapped Seaside Equestrian Tour at Del Mar.
The Nilforushans set a new standard for shows that offer highest quality in everything — from footing and other details that affect horse health and performance, to having exciting, fun entertainment that brings people together outside of the show ring.
“They are mold breakers,” says Ashlyn of Robert, Ali and Francie. “What I appreciate the most is they can come up with a vision and give me the tools to execute it. They’re also open to other ideas. It’s cool to be part of shows that want to improve the competitive experience, to make it more than just a show.”
With Ali and Francie’s entertainment and parties, it’s not just “show up and ride and leave.” Planning a silent auction, helping stage a Ziggy Marley concert and comedy shows are a few of the non-horsey assignments in which Ashlyn has excelled. “At this point, the horse show itself pretty much runs like a well-oiled machine. We have a great team and everybody works so well together.”
Thanks to the buy-in and like-mindedness of Robert Kellerhouse and Galway Downs owner Ken Smith, the Nilforushan approach has taken Galway Downs’ eventing competitions to new heights and international recognition. “Robert’s shows stand out so much more because everything is elevated, from the VIP experience to the footing and the general facility,” Ashlyn says.
“All of our exhibitors know how hard Ali and Robert fight for them,” she continues. Part of that is being open to critique. Ali, for example, insists that his personal cell phone number is the contact on www.jump-nee.com.
First, A Friend
Ashlyn’s first connection to Galway Downs was that of an exhibitor and a friend. When she first moved from Colorado, Erin Kellerhouse and Emilee Libby were the only trainers based at the facility and the shows staged top sport, but in a low-key way.
An accomplished young eventer in Colorado, Ashlyn first followed her eventing dreams to the East Coast, where she summered as a working student for Jan Byyny. Ashlyn’s travel schedule intensified when she enrolled in University of Colorado, Boulder, at the same time as importing a talented mare, RF Kinetic, from Germany.
She decided it would be more practical, relatively speaking, to keep working with Kinetic in California, flying back and forth to Boulder to keep up with college during the week.
Ashlyn developed the mare to the Advanced level, but in the process became a tad burned out on the sport. She found a good home for the mare with a junior rider and said “yes” to job opportunities beyond the saddle.
As a representative for the Athletux equestrian marketing agency, Ashlyn parlayed her contacts in and understanding of the sport into marketing opportunities for riders and brands. She first met Robert Kellerhouse while working at Athletux and said yes when he asked her to take on part-time sponsorship efforts for Galway Downs.
One thing led to another, including meeting the Nilforushans when they started their groundbreaking shows in 2018. And now, Ashlyn is more than full-time busy working for both organizers.
She’s grateful that she can get a horse fix when needed thanks to close friends with plenty of them – like Emilee Libby and Galway’s Vendor and Sponsorship coordinator Katy Robinson. Somewhat to Ashlyn’s surprise, however, she doesn’t miss riding too much. “As part of the organizing team, the majority of the time I’m using my brain, which is what I went to school for.”
“I like learning about the difference aspects of putting on a show,” Ashlyn continues. “And right away, it gave me an appreciation of everything that goes into it, how much it actually costs and the many little details that we don’t even realize are happening.”
Having more time for a social life and activities beyond the horse world are other upsides to letting go of her riding aspirations.
“I think I get my fix by being so close to it and having so many friends that I can cheer on.”
The horse world is a relatively small one, Ashlyn concludes. But it’s presented her big opportunities and she’s enjoying the unexpected path of pursuing them on the organizational side of equestrian sport.
