How I #RideForTheCause | Corinne Sweeney: Fun, Friends & Fulfillment As An Ambassador

How I #RideForTheCause
Corinne Sweeney: Fun, Friends & Fulfillment As An Ambassador

Under the scenic skies of Lake Placid, JustWorld Ambassador Corinne Sweeney hosted a Horseless Horse Show fundraiser in support of JustWorld International. Photo courtesy of Corinne Sweeney. 

If you’re looking for a fun and creative way to fundraise for JustWorld International, consider taking a page out of Ambassador Corinne Sweeney’s book. Last summer, Corinne, 20, hosted her first Horseless Horse Show fundraiser supporting JustWorld at the I Love New York horse show in Lake Placid. Her efforts raised over $1,400 and were a massive success amongst participants.

“It is silly, but I believe the idea gets a lot of traction in the young, horse show-obsessed kids because it’s super fun,” Corinne said. “When my siblings and I were little, we would run around the ring, trying to jump what was set for the horses. It’s just a fun challenge.”

JustWorld has a history of producing successful horseless horse shows, most memorably raising $7,475 at a 2011 event in Wellington, Florida. While Corinne has helped JustWorld organize these events in the past, last year marked the first time she ran one independently. 

After securing the green light from show organizers, Corinne used her family’s miniature jumps to design courses for the short stirrup, junior jumpers, and grand prix divisions. The entry fee was $20 per person. 

“We set up a course of jumps exactly like a jumper competition, and [the] fastest clear wins,” Corinne said. “The main consideration is finding mini jumps. They’re easily buildable with old plastic and wooden materials or with items like buckets and brooms. A lot of horse show businesses even have their own these days to draw kids to their storefront.”

To ensure the fundraiser's success, Corinne focused on logistics like choosing the right location on the show grounds and avoiding rider disruption.

“[The] biggest challenge was finding a place to do it where I didn't spook any horses that were still competing,” Corinne said. “I also [made] sure I didn’t have to compete at the same time I scheduled it for.”

Corinne found a central location in the show’s vendor field, drawing in participants without distracting competition. 

“[The] community loved it,” she said. “I had to come back and clean up the next day because I couldn’t get kids off the jumps.”

Corinne has become one of JustWorld’s most dedicated Ambassadors since joining the organization in 2020. Though not new to the philanthropic scene––she also interns with a human rights campaign––Corinne enjoys combining her passions for horses and human rights and networking with like-minded peers.

“JustWorld is a family of people who care and support each other as much as we want to support others,” Corinne said. “It’s given me so much experience in the basics of nonprofit endeavors, and [I’ve made] amazing friends. If you’re passionate about giving back to the world, this is how you can do it in tangent with riding. It’s about recognizing privilege and using our unique skills, networks, and platforms to channel that toward impact. I’m proud to represent this socially conscious direction that I hope the industry can move in.” 

Corinne Sweeney, one of JustWorld’s most dedicated Ambassadors. Photo courtesy of Corinne Sweeney. 

When not working with JustWorld, Corinne is enjoying her junior year at the University of Virginia, where she studies political science and media studies. She actively works to balance school with her love of riding.

“I've been riding since I was five,” Corinne said. “My parents were both big riders, so I grew up around the shows and the barn. I always loved the horses and spent most of my growing up in the barn, spending time learning how to care for them. Today, I show in [the] 1.45-meter divisions, U25s, and national grand prix’s when I'm not in school.”

“[The] long-term goal,” she added, “would be to eventually break on to senior U.S. teams and the big international grand prix’s.” 

For equestrians looking to do good outside of the ring, Corinne recommends finding a cause within JustWorld that speaks to you. 

“Join JustWorld—it's fun,” Corinne said. “I’ve made some of my best friends in the sport here, and it's been so fulfilling. I’m excited to see that the horse-world-based philanthropies are growing a lot recently, so find what speaks to you, and get involved however you can.”