Mary-Kate Olsen decides NOT to ride in horse competition

Call it a case of horse sense.

Mary-Kate Olsen decided to cancel a scheduled riding outing at The American Gold Cup at the Old Salem Farm in North Salem, New York on Friday for unknown reasons.

The equestrian socialite, 31, was all dressed up for a horseback ride, but did not compete.

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Change of heart: Mary-Kate Olsen, 31, decided not to ride in The American Gold Cup at the Old Salem Farm in North Salem, New York on Friday for unknown reasons

Olsen, who shot to fame as a young child in the 1980s with her sister Ashley on the show Full House, was clad in a rider’s outfit of a red sweater over a long-sleeved white polo top, with khaki riding pants and black boots.

Olsen rounded out her get-up with round sunglasses, earrings, a large silver watch, a black equestrian’s hat and a black designer leather backpack. 

She was seen with her hair both tied up and let down at the event, where she was snapped sipping coffee and smoking cigarettes.

The 5ft2 beauty earlier this month impressed during the Hampton Classic Horse Show, taking home $1,500 for third place in a $10,000 category for amateur owner jumpers as she rode her horse Dunotaire V. 

Swagger: The child star-turned-designer walked with confidence on the grounds of the facility

Swagger: The child star-turned-designer walked with confidence on the grounds of the facility

Refreshing: The beauty sipped what looked to be coffee on the daytime outing

Refreshing: The beauty sipped what looked to be coffee on the daytime outing

Refreshing: The beauty sipped what looked to be coffee on the daytime outing 

The famed designer’s spouse of nearly two years, former President of France Olivier Sarkozy, 48, was on hand for her previous outing in Bridgehampton, New York.

Speaking with the equestrian company HITS, Olsen revealed that she first took an interest in the sport amid production of the 1992 TV film To Grandmother’s House We Go.

‘I was six when I first fell in love and it was with a pony named 4×4,’ the Elizabeth and James designer said, adding that she continued honing her craft as a rider throughout her teenage years, as a member of the equestrian team at Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles.

Mystery: It was not immediately clear why the celebrity horseback rider withdrew from her slated race

Mystery: It was not immediately clear why the celebrity horseback rider withdrew from her slated race

On a roll: Mary-Kate's cancelled outing came on the heels of a successful competition in the Hamptons earlier this month, where she finished in third place

On a roll: Mary-Kate’s cancelled outing came on the heels of a successful competition in the Hamptons earlier this month, where she finished in third place

Decompressing: The star took drags of a cigarette as she stood on the sidelines

Decompressing: The star took drags of a cigarette as she stood on the sidelines

Decompressing: The star took drags of a cigarette as she stood on the sidelines 

She told HITS that ‘having horseback riding as an outlet was super-important, because it allowed [her] to have another life and outlet outside of work and school.’

While she hung up her rider’s boots for a time amid her family’s cross-country move to New York, she would eventually make a return to riding.

‘I came back to the sport because I missed it every day that I wasn’t riding,’ she said, adding, ‘It was the hardest thing to leave and the hardest thing to come back to.’ 

In style: The fashionista was outfitted in the full rider's uniform as she walked with a fellow equestrian 

In style: The fashionista was outfitted in the full rider’s uniform as she walked with a fellow equestrian 

Calling it a day: The stylish stunner had an extravagant leather backpack on 

Calling it a day: The stylish stunner had an extravagant leather backpack on 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk