JJ Torano grew up surrounded by horses, with his parents deeply involved in the equestrian world. While he initially dabbled in other sports, his passion for riding grew stronger a few years ago, especially after competing in the pony divisions. With notable wins like the Grand Green Pony Hunter Championship at the USEF Pony Finals and the WEC Premier Equitation Cup, JJ has proven himself as a rising talent. Training with both his parents and North Run, he's quickly making a name for himself in equitation and jumpers, with big goals for the future.
How did your passion for horses and riding develop? How was growing up in a family that is so prevalent in the industry?
I was always around the horses, and my parents have done it for a very long time. I didn't really take it too seriously in the beginning. I did the lead line when I was little, and I was always at the barn around the horses. I played other sports, baseball, basketball. Probably three, four years ago was when I started getting serious in the pony divisions and the real rated divisions. Small ponies, etc. Then I started to take it seriously. Two years ago, I stopped playing baseball, and I really just dedicated all my time to riding. I guess, I was just born into it a little bit. My parents always said, if you really don't want to do this [ride], you don't have to.
Was there a specific turning point when you were like, 'I’m going to start really taking this seriously?'?
When I had my first good pony, H.G. Mud Puddles. She took me to the Children's ponies. I think the first summer that I started doing small ponies throughout the whole summer. I think that's when I decided, that's what I was going to do [ride].
In 2022 you won Grand Green Pony Hunter Champion at USEF Pony Finals and most recently won the WEC Premier Equitation Cup, how do you feel like you’ve grown as a rider?
That was a big change from then to a couple weeks ago. Obviously, I've improved from then until the WEC Premier Equitation Cup. My big turning point, or big change I could see in my riding was either last WEF, or last summer in Traverse City. WEF 2024, I really moved up, I started that year still doing ponies, and by the end, I was doing the high juniors. Or last summer in Traverse City, Missy Clark, one of my trainers at North Run, she always likes to use this experience as an example. My first National Grand Prix win, that really gave me a boost of confidence, telling me and knowing that I could really do it. That was a big turning point after that Grand Prix win. I feel like after that, I really excelled in my riding.
What are your favorite course challenges in an Equitation Course?
With my good equitation horse [Favorite Edition Z], I want the judges to throw everything at us. I'm really confident with that horse. We have so much trust in each other. Medal finals, although we weren't able to watch the test. We had full trust in each other. The judges threw enough at us. When I'm with that horse, I don't think there's something that that horse can't do.
What do you feel challenges you the most in an Equitation course?
I haven't done it yet, but USET Finals. I would hate to see the circle of death, the four verticals in a circle. I'm not looking forward to that.
What unique qualities do you think make a horse like Favorite Edition Z so special?
I think he is the modern equitation horse that people look for. His gallop, his stride, his scope, you can't find a horse that has the amount of stride or scope like he has. He's like, Richie Vogel’s, United Touch, he’s like that version but in the equitation ring.
You also excel in the jumper ring, most recently winning The 5* 1.50m Hermes classic aboard Vitus K. What differences do you find between the equitation ring and the jumper ring? What is similar?
I think the equitation ring is a great steppingstone to set you up for the jumpers. Most of the US Riders, Kent Farrington, McLain, I think most of them have gone up through the equitation. I think USET finals is a really good marker to know where you're at. I think in that way, it's very similar because, we always talk about with McLain, his position. That's the American style you want to have. And, obviously, the jumps are a lot smaller. I think the equitation ring is a great way to practice the jumper ring on a smaller scale.
What unique qualities do you think make a horse like Vitus K so special?
He has a bit of personality. He likes to buck a lot. People always joke with me and say, “Are you doing the bucker this week?”. That's his nickname now. Kent Farrington called my dad. He had known we were looking for a horse for me. I think it was WEF 7 last year, He said, be at my farm at 04:00 today. My dad was judging. He [Jimmy Torano] was like, “Kent, I'm judging.” He [Kent] said, “I don't care.” So my dad went in his suit and tie, and I went right after school. And we went. I jumped that one [Vitus K], and I jumped another one, both owned by Sheer Levitin at the time. We ended up getting both. My mom rides the other one now. He's been a very good horse for me, very reliable, I really couldn't ask for a better horse. He's taken me from doing the low’s here, to mediums, and then I went right to the highs. And we've been pretty consistent all year. We've won multiple 1.40m’s, 1.45m’s, and this was my first 1.50m win with him here a couple weeks ago. So he's a very exciting mount for me.
What kind of training do you do at home that helps you feel ready for these big classes? Do you do any mental or physical exercises for riding?
At home, we practice a lot of things that would prepare us for the ring. Questions we think might be asked in the class. The equitation, I think, is more analytical than the jumpers. We do a lot of gymnastic lines. We do a lot of bending lines. We just do a lot of numbered or set lines to practice for big things, like the small indoor rings, medal finals, Mcclay finals, or any of those. We do a lot of practicing and training for that. For the jumpers, we school to prepare for what they might see in the ring. For a lot of our jumpers, for example my dad’s grand prix horses, they don’t jump 1.60m at home. We school them at a smaller height, keep them straight, just do all the basic things, which people probably think won't matter in the end, but you really carry them [those training exercises] through all your years.
Outside of riding, I work out. Every day that I go to school. I also work with a sports psychologist, Mario Soto. I started working with him midway through the summer just before indoor season. I think that really does help [Mario Soto]. I know a lot of big riders that do the five stars, etc also work with them [Sports Psychologists]. So I think it really does help.
Since you train with both your parents and NorthRun, how is that dynamic simultaneously with your father’s barn JET, and Missy & John Brennan’s NorthRun? What's the best piece of advice you've gotten that really sticks with you?
My parents and Missy and John, they've been friends for way longer than I've been alive. A couple years ago, my dad had told Missy that we wanted to do the equitation. He thought it would be good to pursue that with them [NorthRun].
We partnered with Missy and John on the purchase of Favorite Edition Z. So, we've been very close. My family is very close with them. We're all like family now. One of the biggest things they tell me almost every show, or every day, is to believe in myself. I've been known to be hard on myself.
Do you have any pre-show superstitions? Or a specific pre-show routine?
For a big class, I have a specific pair of white breeches that I like to wear. For example, the Grand Prix, I know my white breeches I’m going to wear. I know I’m going to grow out of them one day, but until then, I have my lucky pair.
What are your goals for this season and for the summer? What are your long-term goals? Do you want to ride in college?
I'm looking forward to the equitation class here next week [The WEF Equitation Cup]. I would also love to keep doing the Grand Prix level. I'm super lucky I have a great and super string of horses coming up and that I'm actively riding. I just got a new stallion that John Brennan and Rob Gierkink bought for me for the year, which I'm very excited about. I'm, again, lucky to have the string that I have at the moment. And, unfortunately, my dad had a health issue, last week, so he's out for a little while now. He's on the sidelines just training. I get his two Grand Prix horses for a little while until he's back, which will be exciting for me. I'm excited for this year.
Since you're based in Wellington, FL, what's it like to compete in such big classes right in your hometown?
Since I was a little kid, I've watched Saturday night lights. I've watched my dad. I help go set jumps. I'm always here for my dad when he does the Saturday nights. It's surreal. WEF 2, I jumped my first Saturday Night Lights. Which was very exciting. Just growing up here and, again, I know his ring very well, I've walked in here many times over the years. I've showed in here a lot of times, so I know the ring very well. I'm very familiar with this area, and I feel comfortable here. I don't feel like I get nervous here. That's also a big part of it. Just knowing the area and growing up here is very cool.
What advice do you have for younger riders that want to step up into the big medal/ jumper classes?
You have to follow your plan. I don't think you need to push or rush just because maybe you're 16. My mom didn't start riding till she was 16. And she did all the five star levels. She was shortlisted for the Olympic games. I really don't think it's anything to rush. There's plenty of time. We have this kind of crazy sport. It's really cool the way the age is spread, we have 60 all the way down to 18 years old in a five star level. Which is cool that also in our sport, male against female, which doesn't happen in many sports. I think just following the plan and not rushing is a good key to success.
