Saree Kayne has been working toward a PhD in cultural anthropology at Stanford University since 2011, focusing on the influence of the International Olympic Committee. She has also been competing as an amateur horse jumper for over 10 years, winning third place in the 1.4 meter jumpers at the HITS Thermal Desert Circuit in 2013. HITS Inc. is an event management company based in New York that organizes some of the richest equestrian shows in the United States, including the HITS Thermal Desert event held each January to March in Thermal, California, which includes hunter jumper competitions in various divisions and fence heights.