Dual Canadian/US citizen Danielle Lambert was born in Vancouver, BC, and grew up loving horses. Her parents moved to California when she was two years old and she began riding at age nine with trainer and former rodeo star Joe Lifto. “I spent my junior years competing primarily on the West Coast, but spent summers when I was young in rural BC and would have fun training ranch horses ‒ until show life took over!” she explained. “It was important to my parents that we knew Canada and our roots, and I’m very happy they made it a priority.”
Her successful junior career also took her around Europe, Mexico and Canada, including competing at Spruce Meadows. “My first horse was named Surprise. He was a giant bay gelding and very kind,” she said. “My key horse growing up was a wonderful little Thoroughbred named Sprint who I rode as a junior. He was tiny, but had a massive heart.”
Later married to Tony Fadell, creator of the iPod and Nest, Danielle switched gears in 1998, putting riding on hold to work in the upper echelons of the tech world, eventually becoming vice-president of Human Resources at Apple until 2009. The couple had three children and busy lives, and moved to Paris in the summer of 2016, enjoying an 18-month stint in Bali from mid-2018 to early 2020. But when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Danielle decided in the spring of that unprecedented year that it was time to take up the sport once again.
Now 46, for the past two years Danielle has trained under French Olympic show jumper Philippe Rozier, whom she calls, “an exceptional coach, mentor and friend. This year, I have been training under Laura Kraut and Nick Skelton. They have taught me a lot and I continue to take in as much of their extensive knowledge as I can.”
Danielle and Conrad Sunheup Z competing in Wellington. (Sportfot photo)
While Danielle seems to have an affinity for greys including “Cobalt de Nantuel (10) and Cissro Van Birthe Z (11) who have started the 1.50s, and Conrad Sunheup Z (12) who is a super-horse and competes at the 1.45 level,” her current top horse is Prestige Kalone, a gorgeous bay Anglo-Arab stallion. “Unfortunately, he suffered an injury at the end of 2020 and had to take a year off. We started him back this winter and he’s feeling great. I’m excited to get back in the grand prix ring with him, hopefully in the next couple of shows.”
Some young horses in her barn also have her stoked. “We have a pair of eight-year old mares whose futures I am very excited about, Elfira des Salines and Erenbee du Chaflette, who are starting the 1.45s this year. We added nine-year-old Ienimieni and seven-year-old Lorraine Z to the team this February and both are proving to be wonderful additions.” Members of her talented string have earned a number of top-10 finishes so far this year. Most of the horses she rides are owned by Criss Cross SAS, a company she created and owns that focuses on the buying, selling, development and competing of top sport horses.
While Danielle’s three kids have not shown the desire to follow in her equestrian bootsteps, they certainly have her back. “Our 15-year-old son is a musician, our 14-year-old son a boxer, and our eight-year-old daughter is an animal lover who dreams of being a vet. They are each an utter joy and the best support team a mom could ask for.”
So what is next for this dynamic parent and rider who also keeps a hand in the business world by investing in technology companies? “This summer and fall we will be competing in Europe. Our next shows are in Cabourg and Grimaud, France.”
And is attending some Canadian shows on her radar? “I hope to soon,” Danielle said. “Maybe next summer if I’m lucky. I would love to experience Spruce again, and hear only the best things about Tbird.”
