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To be sound, to be happy, to be safe.
A few months ago, Larry’s owner Drew called me and said that he thought Larry wanted a job. For those of you who haven’t followed along with this story, Larry’s is one of trials and tribulations in the most circular sense. We had bred him at Chesapeake Farm, raised him up to the racetrack, but he was sold privately as a 4 year old. … Read More To be sound, to be happy, to be safe.
A fistful of mane, a prayer to the God’s, and a good partner
On October 2nd, 2007, my life came crashing down. It seems so strange to think that this was almost 10 years ago. A decade. And yet some memories are so vivid from that day, while others are blacked out permanently. I was a senior in college and the fall semester had just begun. I was desperate to get into veterinary school, and knew that … Read More A fistful of mane, a prayer to the God’s, and a good partner
The Fedorka Family Grand Slam
There is something about death that produces immortals. When someone leaves you, you are no longer able to argue with them. To resent them. To remember their faults and inadequacies. You put them on a pedestal. A pedestal that rises and rises as the years go by. My father is currently on that pedestal. After I wrote my post about how us Fedorka’s encountered … Read More The Fedorka Family Grand Slam
Minimizing your risk of barn fire
It is every farm and horse owners worst nightmare: a barn fire. I woke up this morning to the reports that a barn at Old Friends Retirement Center was ablaze, and my heart sank. I have never personally had to deal with this absolutely devastating event, but in the past few years, some of my dearest friends and loved ones have. And while … Read More Minimizing your risk of barn fire
Three cheers for the (professional) amateur rider
My alarm went off at 5:15am this morning, and as I drug a brush through my hair and threw food into my dog’s bowls, I began to wonder why it is that I do this? While everyone else is enjoying a Sunday on the couch watching football, or doing a girls brunch with a mimosa, I am layering long underwear under my breeches in … Read More Three cheers for the (professional) amateur rider
Six simple rules to buying your next thoroughbred
I have now been interviewed numerous times in the past few months about my current thoroughbred project, Called To Serve. Moreso since the Retired Racehorse Project’s TB Makeover, where we won the Dressage discipline. And each time, I am asked the same question: Why Nixon? What made you pick him? I usually answer with the same cliche sound bite – he is big, he is … Read More Six simple rules to buying your next thoroughbred
Gambling on life…
I woke up this morning and sat down with my cup of coffee (lightly sugared) to catch up on the news while my dogs ate their breakfast. It is my daily “down time” and I relish in it, savoring every last minute and every last drop. As I was sipping on my steaming hot coffee, I heard the news anchors begin to speak of … Read More Gambling on life…
Being a woman in a mans world…
I just got done reading Steve Haskins piece on women in the industry. My first reaction upon reading the headline was a resounding “YES!! Finally!!” And then I started to think. About what his story said, but more importantly about what his story didn’t say. Are there women making up a large portion of our audience? Yes. Thousands upon thousands of our followers, viewers, … Read More Being a woman in a mans world…
How do you measure a year?
“525,600 minutes. 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?” These lyrics sang in the Broadway musical “Rent” have been weighing heavily on my mind. Tis the season for everybody to begin to speak of their year, telling of triumphs, and failures. Victories, and setbacks. Statuses of show records, and levels competed. Claiming to change their strategy for next … Read More How do you measure a year?
12 Days of Christmas
I have contemplated writing a blog to summarize the year, but the words have failed me. 2015 was full of the highest of highs (winning RRP, finally going training level) to the lowest of lows (Mak fracturing his leg, a bad fall on Nixon) and its just hard to summarize the bipolar emotions. But I started posting some 12 day’s of Christmas on … Read More 12 Days of Christmas
A windy path to a unique career
“So when you graduate, you’ll be a vet?” I am now in the 3rd year of my doctoral degree at the University of Kentucky. One of the only programs which offers a masters and doctorate in Veterinary Sciences, I started this program in an odd turn of events. The majority of the students in my labs were veterinarians from foreign countries; countries that truly … Read More A windy path to a unique career
Sisters by barn…
I can remember it like it was yesterday. The age of five, wearing purple Wranglers at a dusty fairgrounds. I had gone to this Western Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Show with my Aunt Holly and Uncle Bob, most likely as an excuse to get me out of my mother’s hair. They were both ambitiously competing for another AQHA title, and like any young girl, I … Read More Sisters by barn…
A Yankee in Paris 
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