The 2013 shoot was not the only time Kate Upton worked with top photographers or embraced bold, topless concepts for Sports Illustrated . In 2018, she went topless again for a beach shoot in the Caribbean, praising photographer Yu Tsai for his ability to "capture a body and make you look your most beautiful".
Throughout the clip, Upton can be seen laughing and occasionally trying to cover herself with her hands before finally giving in to the photographer's direction, fully exposing her bare chest to the camera. At one point, she even leans forward and presses her bare chest against the horse's back, which prompted some outlets to speculate that the horse was "reacting" to the situation in an unexpected way. This particular detail, of course, only added to the video's notoriety and became a favorite talking point in the countless articles and social media posts that followed.
At a young age, Upton joined the and competed at the national level, showcasing her skills in western riding and horsemanship. With her horse Roanie Pony, she won three APHA Reserve World Championships in the 13 and Under Western Riding, 13 and Under Horsemanship, and 14–18 Western Riding categories. She was also named the 13 and Under Reserve All-Around Champion, giving her a total of four reserve championships.
While some critics raised eyebrows at the boldness of the image, many in the fashion and photography industries lauded it as a high-art editorial risk that paid off [2]. Kate Upton - Topless on a Horse
: The footage reveals the photographer instructing Upton to remove her remaining top quickly to capture the specific aesthetic before losing natural golden hour lighting.
[1] Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2014: Kate Upton's Iconic Shoot [2] Fashion Industry Analysis of SI Swimsuit 2014
Upton’s comfort on the horse was not just for the shoot. She is a lifelong equestrian who competed in the American Paint Horse Association The 2013 shoot was not the only time
Born in Michigan and raised in Florida, Upton began riding horses at a young age and quickly developed into a skilled rider. She competed nationally with her beloved horse, Roanie Pony, earning a string of impressive victories. She won three APHA Reserve World Championships in events such as Western Riding and Horsemanship, and was named the 13-and-Under Reserve All-Around Champion, giving her a total of five APHA championship titles in her young career. In fact, it was at a horse show in Florida that Upton was originally discovered by a modeling scout when she was just 12 years old, which eventually led to her first modeling contract.
When Sports Illustrated announced that Kate Upton would cover their 2013 Swimsuit Issue, expectations were high, but few anticipated the extreme conditions of the shoot. Photographed by Derek Kettela, the team aimed to showcase models on all seven continents.
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later. At one point, she even leans forward and
Kate Upton’s journey demonstrates that true lifestyle branding comes from genuine lived experience. By stepping back into the stirrups, she has expanded her identity from a visual icon to an authentic lifestyle authority. Whether she is advocating for animal welfare, sharing the joys of riding with her daughter, or collaborating on equestrian-inspired media, Upton proves that her bond with horses is a permanent fixture of her life and career.
Before she was a global supermodel, Kate Upton was a world-class equestrian. Her "on-a-horse" lifestyle isn't just a hobby; it was the catalyst for her entire career and remains a central part of her identity today. The Equestrian Roots
As expected, the reaction to Upton's topless photo shoot was immediate and intense. Many critics accused her of being reckless and irresponsible, arguing that the images were gratuitously sexual and reinforced negative stereotypes about women in the media. Some even went so far as to accuse Upton of "objectifying" herself, implying that she had sacrificed her dignity for the sake of attention.
It was within this context that the "topless on a horse" video was released. Rather than being seen as a shocking aberration, it was viewed by many as simply the latest example of Upton's unapologetic approach to her craft and her body.