May 24, 2019
For over 35 years, veteran equestrian journalist, photographer
and public relations maven Diana De Rosa has covered equestrian
sport around the world, including the past eight Olympic Games, all
eight World Equestrian Games, several Pan Am Games and FEI World
Cups. Diana enjoys creating richly told stories through photography
and writing and has over 1,000 published credits to her name.
Diana is the owner of Press Link, a public relations firm based in
Farmingdale, New York. Her past and present clients include the
Hampton Classic, National and Washington International Horse Shows,
USA Equestrian Trust, Healthy Horse Boutique, Running Wild, Dream
Works, the American Hunter Jumper Foundation and Twentieth Century
Fox. Diana worked with the late actor Christopher Reeve for eight
years before his death in 2004.
A past president of American Horse Publications, Diana is also a
longtime member of the International Alliance of Equestrian
Journalists. She currently is on the executive board of the Press
Club of Long Island. Diana’s work has taken her to 30 countries and
has even led to a stint in front of the camera when she co-hosted
the annual Hampton Classic Horse Show for local TV station WVVH.
She was presented with the 2005 US Equestrian Federation Media
Award for Photography in recognition of a photo of show jumper
Peter Wylde and Fein Cera competing at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Diana dedicated her win to Reeve.
Diana is the co-organizer of the EQUUS Film Festival, held annually
in New York City with tour stops around the United States. Notable
recent tour appearances by the Festival included the 2017 World Cup
in Omaha, Nebraska, and the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon,
North Carolina.
Diana is a former riding school manager and a graduate of SUNY
Albany, where she studied languages.
Topics of Discussion:
[:18] About today’s episode.
[1:01] How the insights Diana gained from training horses and competing both nationally and internationally have impacted her coverage of some of the horse world’s most prestigious events.
[6:05] Diana shares the critical aspects of capturing an amazing photo.
[11:10] What originally led Diana to connect the dots and combine her interests in writing and photography with horses and riding?
[13:47] As an equestrian and someone who has loved horses all of her life, what has it been like for Diana to cover the highest levels of equestrian sports and interact with the world’s finest equestrians?
[15:53] Has Diana had any star-struck moments?
[18:27] When did Diana begin engaging in the PR side? And what has it been like to represent such renowned and respected clients?
[23:28] What was it like to work with Christopher Reeves? And how did she originally come to work with him?
[33:16] How knowing Christopher Reeves has guided Diana’s life and the decisions she has subsequently made.
[36:46] Diana offers advice for those who have dreams or things they are passionate and are trying to make a decision about whether or not to follow them.
[40:08] Is there anything Diana has yet to try professionally but would like to give a go?
[40:55] About next week’s episode of Because of Horses.
[41:45] Where to find Diana online.
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Mentioned in this Episode:
EquestFile (Use coupon code: BOH10 to receive a 10% discount for two months off your subscription)
National Horse Show
Washington International Horse
Show
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (Film, 2002)
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (Film, 2005)
The United States Hunter Jumper Association
Christopher & Dana Reeves Foundation
Next week’s episode of Because of Horses
Diana’s Email: dderosa1@optonline.net
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