By Jessica Grutkowski
Portraits by Sophia Donahue
Wyatt Rofey fell in love with horses when he was just 3 years old. After his first pony ride at the Hampton Classic, he was still too young for pony camp but that didn’t stop him from begging his mother, Olivia Song, to go to the barn. “Summer was over, and our family was headed back to New York City,” she said. “Between work and school, horseback riding would be a logistical nightmare.”
Olivia took Wyatt to the Bronx Zoo to ride the camels—but that only worked for so long. Eventually, Olivia caved and signed him up for lessons the following summer at First Blue LLC in Bridgehampton, New York. “Wyatt was a quiet little boy, and horseback riding took him out of his shell,” Olivia said. “It was rewarding to see him so happy and confident, and it helped that he had natural talent.”
Wyatt graduated from the lead line and began lessons with Justin Dye, who started as a trainer at First Blue LLC in 2017. “It’s a happy ending now, but in pre-K, a third grader was bullying Wyatt on the bus,” Olivia said. “I leased Wyatt a small pony named Scottie to cheer him up.”
Scottie helped Wyatt learn to trot independently, and he was excited to spend the whole summer with his pony in Bridgehampton at First Blue’s headquarters. Olivia and little brother, Miller, also decided to get in on the fun. “If I was going to spend endless hours at the barn, I might as well enjoy myself,” she said. “Everyone always asks when I will show, but for now, I enjoy watching Wyatt ride and compete.”
Miller’s short career ended on a high note when he earned Lead Line Circuit Champion one summer at the Winner’s Circle Horse Show. “He much prefers gaming, coding and music. I’ll walk by Miller’s room and he’ll be arranging the theme song from ‘The Legend of Zelda’ for string quartet,” she said. “I’m lucky my kids both have their things.”
A Series of Firsts
In the summer of 2018, Wyatt leased a pony named Best Boy In Town, aka Buster, who quickly lived up to his name. “We competed in flat classes and eventually the Short Stirrup, mainly on the Long Island circuit,” Wyatt said. “He helped me feel confident jumping small courses.”
Thanks to Buster, Wyatt was ready to take on more challenges in the show ring. In 2020, he showed at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) for the first time as a 9-year-old riding his ponies at the time, Trademark and Garden Party. “Competing at WEF was an amazing experience,” he said. “Having wonderful ponies, a great team and the best mentors made it fun. Coming home with ribbons was icing on the cake.”
Wyatt truly came out of his shell that winter in Florida and was ready for a new challenge. “The following spring, I rode a horse for the first time and competed in my first jumper class,” he said. “I instantly fell in love with the jumpers—everything about it was fun!”
Over the next year, Wyatt rode two special jumpers—Amazing and Crack de Muze. “Amazing, whom we called Maizey in the barn, was the best teacher,” he said. “She’s retired now; I was her last kid. She gave me a solid foundation to be successful at the 1.0m level.”
As the First Blue team prepared for the 2023 season at WEF, one task remained—to find Wyatt a new partner for the hunter ring. “Justin had the perfect horse in mind, but she was only for sale,” Olivia said. “Purchasing wasn’t on my radar, but Justin messaged me as I was boarding the plane and said we were buying this horse!”
Becoming, lovingly known as Bird or Birdie in the barn, is a stunning 2012 Westphalian black mare that belonged to a client of Heritage Farm. “Birdie always does her job—even if I’m not riding at my best,” Wyatt said. “Birdie is the hack winner in shoes, even in good company. She has a beautiful jump, a big stride and she loves attention.”
Birdie can be opinionated, but not in a way that is related to the ring. “She knows when you’re paying attention to other horses, and communicates that she deserves 100% of your time and affection,” Olivia said. “But when it comes to treats—she never judges. She eats anything.”
Together, Wyatt and Birdie have become the quintessential team, from their winning debut at WEF 1 in 2022 to most recently at Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter Finals 2025, where they earned Reserve Champion in the Large 3’6” Junior Hunters, 15 and Under Division.
Wyatt’s father, Scott, has also enjoyed watching Wyatt both fall in love with and make great strides in equestrian sport. “It takes so much time, effort, psychological strength and bravery to compete,” Scott said. “I’m thankful that the horse community—especially his trainers—recognize his commitment to the sport. I’m really proud of him.”
Trading Places
In 2021, Scott and Olivia found an amazing house in Bedford, New York. “It’s an area well known for horses and beautiful pastoral countryside,” Olivia said. An interior designer by trade, Olivia welcomed a change of scenery, and a new project. “Who doesn’t love the Hamptons? But the commute and farms aren’t as conducive to equestrian life. Horses seem happier in areas like Bedford, Katonah and North Salem where there is great turnout, large stalls and unlimited open land and sky.”
The Rofeys were welcomed at Beyaert Farm in North Salem, New York. “Justin and Mattias Tromp have been close friends forever,” she said. “We drove up on the weekends for lessons. It was a seamless transition, and very convenient. We had an instant barn family thanks to the Beyaert clients, and it was nice to be stabled with them at WEF that winter, too.”
Later that fall, Wyatt competed in his first indoor equitation final at Capital Challenge, the 2024 USHJA 3’3” EMO Jumpseat Final on his former lease horse, Tibri’s Finesse, aka Finn. “We also competed in the 12 & Under Equitation, and won two classes to finish Champion,” he said. “It was unexpected, and a moment I will never forget.”
While most Juniors wait several years to ride “under the lights” in the International Ring at WEF, Wyatt is lucky to have done so twice on his beloved Birdie. The annual Kristen Baran $100,000 Neil S. Hirsch Boys & Girls Club Team Hunter Exhibition follows a team format whereby a Junior, Professional and Amateur rider jumps a 3’3” course and the lowest score is dropped.
In 2025, Wyatt partnered with Nick Haness and Ashley Weiman for the win; and at the event’s debut, in 2024, Wyatt teamed up with Keri Kampsen and Stephanie Danhakl for a third-place podium finish. He said that first year ride was one of his proudest moments. “We had just moved up to the 3’3” and our score of 84 was our highest so far that circuit,” he said. “Keri and Stephanie were riding fantastic horses, so I wanted to do my part. It felt amazing to follow the plan and deliver a great round.”
After a successful season at WEF, Wyatt decided to try Birdie in the 3’6” hunters with the goal of qualifying for Junior Hunter Finals the following June. “That summer, we made our debut at the higher fence height and she jumped beautifully,” Wyatt said. “It was effortless and we knew it was the right decision.”
Wyatt and Birdie qualified for indoor finals, including the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Washington International Horse Show and the WCHR Challenge at Capital Challenge. “Bird will let us know what she wants to keep doing in the future,” Wyatt said. “We want to keep her happy and competing for a long time; I want to do what’s best for our horses.”
New Chapter
Wyatt recently transitioned to Heritage Farm in Katonah, New York, to train with Andre Dignelli and his team of professionals. Considered by many to be a finishing school for young riders, Heritage has led many Junior and Amateur riders to national championships, including Kent Farrington, Maggie McAlary and Lillie Keenan.
“Wyatt is a kind, talented young man with a great work ethic. He is serious about riding and loves the entire experience—whether it’s watching the other professionals ride at home or cheering on his peers,” Andre said. “I’ve directed horses Wyatt’s way long before he was a student of mine, so it feels like a full-circle moment.”
Over the summer, Wyatt had a growth spurt. Heritage matched him with Dayton de Semilly, a 2013 bay Holsteiner gelding. “Dayton is a big horse with an even bigger resume. He always has my back,” Wyatt said.
The Rofeys also welcomed Zinzano, a 7-year-old dapple grey equitation horse. “So much goes into being a top competitor and great partnerships are important,” Olivia said.
Wyatt is grateful to have an additional horse to practice on at home and take to shows for points. “I’m working hard to unlock that next level. I want my equitation aids to be invisible and I want to ride effectively in every ring,” he said.
Outside of the barn, Wyatt is your typical eighth grade boy. On any given day, he’s wearing shorts and a pair of sneakers from his growing collection. “I love basketball and soccer,” he said. “Most people at my school, Poly Prep, know that I ride horses and that I miss a lot of classes. My classmates help update me on what I missed when I’m away. I have great friends I can lean on.”
Wyatt loves that his school understands student athletes’ schedules. “I always turn my work in on time and communicate with my teachers,” he said. “I have a math tutor, and I get to practice my Spanish in the barn.”
Wyatt hasn’t given up on the jumpers either, but he is waiting for the perfect partner. “My short-term goal is to ride accurately, with correct track and pace,” Wyatt said. “One day, I would love to qualify for a Nations Cup team, or even the Olympics. This is what I want to do; I love that my family has never questioned my dream.”
Follow Wyatt on Instagram @wr__eq
Photos by Sophia Donohue, sophiadonohuephotography.com
