He Came From Spain. He Started Everything.
Twenty-four years ago, I brought him home from Spain as a four-year-old — a breathtaking Stallion with fire in his eyes and a natural talent so undeniable, so full of promise, that I knew I was looking at something rare. Years of training would reveal what was already written in his bones: a piaffe so precise, so powerful, so beautiful, that it became the heartbeat of a brand that didn't yet exist. That silhouette — him, in his element — is the logo you see today.
He Came From Spain. He Started Everything.
There are horses you ride. And then there are horses that change the entire direction of your life.
Jaleo is the latter.
At the time, I was designing for Levi's. My business partner Kristin Calandra and I were deep in the fashion world — but our hearts were always in the barn. And when I brought Jaleo home, something clicked. We were riders. We were designers. And we couldn't find a single brand that understood both.
Elegant, but sexy. Functional, but beautiful. Made for women who love horses and love fashion.
So we quit. And we built Goode Rider.
The Horse Behind the Logo
That piaffe — the one that stopped me in my tracks — is the silhouette at the heart of our brand. Every time you see our logo, you're seeing him. His discipline. His grace. His power.
He has been our most photographed model, our most loyal muse, and honestly, our most demanding creative director. (He has opinions.)
Twenty-eight years. Every single day with him is a gift I don't take for granted. If you've ever loved a horse, you know exactly what I mean — that particular ache of gratitude that comes with knowing time is precious, and presence is everything.
Today, I'm a little emotional writing this. Because he's still here. Still magnificent. Still Jaleo.
Thank You, Jaleo.
For the piaffe that started it all.
For 28 years of beauty, loyalty, and inspiration.
For being the reason Goode Rider exists.
We love you, old man. 🖤
— Lorna, Kristin & the entire Goode Rider family
P.S. — If you have a horse who changed your life, we'd love to hear about them. Tag us on Instagram. This community was built by horse lovers, for horse lovers — and stories like yours are what keep us going.