It’s been a volatile season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for Sutton Stracke (esophagus-gate, anyone?), but she knows the best way to shake off any drama is to get outside in the fresh air. Stracke, 52 shared a picture of herself riding her beloved horse Santos, dressed in the fancy riding gear we would expect from the luxury-loving reality star. Also featured in the snaps are castmate Kyle Richards and fan favorite Avi Gabay. “Santos makes another appearance as well as @avi_gabay_ (my true love),” she captioned the post. Here’s how Stracke lives her best real life.
Stracke displayed her love for horses and horseback riding on RHOBH, introducing the world to her beautiful horse Santos. “Riding a horse for 45 minutes at a walk, trot and canter can burn up to 200 calories,” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horse specialist and professor in the department of animal science Dr. Dennis Sigler tells the American Heart Association. “If you do something a bit more strenuous such as cutting or reining, that can come out to nearly seven calories per minute for the entire length of the riding period.”
Stracke is inspired by her Bravo castmates, even when they don’t always see eye to eye. “Being around a group of strong-minded women makes you have to step-up, so I’ve definitely learned to speak up. Even witnessing the filming of last season showed that to me,” she told Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine. “The girls are not only mothers, they’re actresses and businesspeople and it was amazing to see how they’re juggling everything. It was great because seeing them gave me the impetus to do more and now I have the knowledge that I can. They were really great role models to me in that sense.”
Stracke has a luxury boutique “Sutton” in Beverly Hills, which keeps her busy when she’s not filming. Research shows working at a job you genuinely love is good for mental health. “The whole space is like a cottage,” she told Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine. “I wanted it to feel like part-closet, part-boudoir, part living space, and part dining room, because those are the key elements in all of our lives.”
Stracke has genuine friendships on the show, especially with castmate Garcelle Beauvais. “I have a very real friendship with Garcelle,” she told Hollywood Life. “We text, we call, we visit — we’re going on vacation together this summer. We’re really best friends and I love her so much and we love our families together and everything.”
Stracke is always true to herself, on screen and off. “Success to me means that you live your best life every day,” she told Digital Journal. “Whether it is being the best mother you can be, the best wife, the best businesswoman, the best friend that you can be. It’s not about awards or accolades, it’s about being true to yourself and attempting to achieve your goals, no matter how big or small.”