Navigating a high-profile romance in the public eye is hard enough, but finding out your relationship is over through a headline? That is a unique kind of heart-wrenching twist.
According to recent reports, high-profile horse trainer Adan Banuelos was reportedly the last to know that his two-and-a-half-year relationship with supermodel Bella Hadid had officially run its course. Insiders revealed that Banuelos was caught completely off guard when news broke confirming that Hadid was single, effectively debunking separate rumors that she was dating her friend’s brother, Nathan Lacy.
As far as Banuelos was concerned, he and the runway icon were still very much an item. He only learned about their updated status when the report hit the web, dispelling the Lacy rumors while quietly dropping the bombshell that Hadid had moved on.
What makes the news particularly jarring for Banuelos is just how close the pair had been in the days leading up to the report. According to sources with direct knowledge, the two had just wrapped up a cozy getaway to Aspen, Colorado, looking every bit like a couple still enjoying each other’s company.
Their mountain itinerary wasn’t light on couple-centric activities, either. The pair enjoyed multiple dinner dates and immersed themselves in the local western culture, hitting up a rodeo in Snowmass on June 29 before attending another in Silver City on July 1. Photos surfaced of the duo breaking bread together on June 29, and observers spotted them looking comfortable and relaxed at Aspen’s trendy western boutique Kemo Sabe on the Fourth of July.
Following their mountain retreat, the pair temporarily parted ways for business and personal travel—a standard routine for two people with demanding schedules. Banuelos headed back to Texas to compete in a horse competition, while Hadid traveled to another region of Colorado to visit mutual friends. There was seemingly no indication that a major dynamic shift was looming.
Hadid and Banuelos first sparked romance rumors back in October 2023, bonding over a shared, deep-seated passion for equestrian life. Over the course of their two-and-a-half-year, on-and-off journey, the notoriously private couple occasionally offered glimpses into their world, earning a dedicated following of fans who adored their rugged, low-key dynamic. While breakups are inherently complex, discovering a split through media updates is a tough pill to swallow—even for a seasoned cowboy.
