Category: Uncategorized
The Cinderella Strategy: One shoe (strategy) does not fit all.
If you are anything like me, your newsfeed has switched from one of pretty ponies to wrinkly politicians. The riders and horse owners who had previously been so united by their love of equids are suddenly divided. And what once had been a discussion of whether to buy a pale pink or baby blue airvest has been over shadowed by whether you voted red … Read More The Cinderella Strategy: One shoe (strategy) does not fit all.
Bluebloods
I am not a blueblood. At least not to the racing industry. My father was not a famous trainer, my mother did not own Secretariat. My brother never tacked up a horse, and my sister couldn’t tell you who Chris McCarron is. But 9 years ago I moved to Lexington, Ky. And with 2 cents and a broken heart, I was hired as a … Read More Bluebloods
The Elephant
I have big dreams. For each of my horses, I have big dreams. For Nixon it is the upper levels. A win at a 1*, some top tens at the 2* and 3, and a completion at Rolex – ya know, the normal. For Mak it is the hunters. Packing young adults or old ladies around the 3’3 A/O’s, or even some equitation rounds. … Read More The Elephant
You should go and love yourself…
My entire body is covered in plaques from psoriasis. There’s a massive hole in one of my teeth. I sweat through every single shirt I own. And my hair always exists somewhere between perfectly coiffed, or a complete and utter frizzy mess. I’m not saying this for any form of sympathy, but because in today’s climate it seems more apparent than ever that we … Read More You should go and love yourself…
Nurse mares, why we need them, and how to stop the production of nurse mare foals: A rebuttal to Last Chance Corral
“About 17, 18, years ago, I found out about the nurse mare foals. They’re only born so that their mothers will come into milk. And that milk will nourish a thoroughbred baby so that its mother can go back and get rebred because her job is to have a racehorse baby every year. If it weren’t for the fact that we were here, all … Read More Nurse mares, why we need them, and how to stop the production of nurse mare foals: A rebuttal to Last Chance Corral
Watching it all unfold.
I went through a horrible horse sale a few months ago. The buyers weren’t honest with both their ability as well as their expectations, and I didn’t investigate hard enough to realize either of these. I went with my gut instinct, and learned that it is not 100% foolproof. And as I drove the 18 hours to go get my horse and bring him home, I … Read More Watching it all unfold.
Listening to the horse: The story of Mister Marti Gras
A few weeks ago, I received a text message from the owner of Chesapeake Farm, Drew Nardiello. The many of you who have followed my stories and this blog have heard this name quite a few times – as he has been a pivotal person in my life and my involvement in this industry. Drew gave me my first job in the thoroughbred industry. … Read More Listening to the horse: The story of Mister Marti Gras
A plea for skepticism
I received a text message a few months ago. It was my boyfriend asking me what I knew about a local off track thoroughbred sales barn, and if they had any credibility. I told him that I had heard of people donating horses to them, and had read of unhappy buyers on sites like OTTB Connect. I knew that their reputation wasn’t great, and … Read More A plea for skepticism
Making a Life Out of (a hatred for) Showmanship
When I was a small child, I earned the name of Ramrod. My beloved Uncle Bob would giggle as he watched my evil pony attempt to unmount me time and time again, and holler out from the side of the arena “Ride ’em Ramrod!” He told me that by the age of 6, my back would stick up ramrod straight, and I would get … Read More Making a Life Out of (a hatred for) Showmanship
Fear of falling…or a fear of failing
When I was fifteen years old, my trainer pulled my mother aside and recommended that I see a sports psychologist. She said that I was a much more capable rider than I gave myself credit for, and that my biggest road block was my own brain. I was officially diagnosed as my own worst enemy – and fifteen years later, without the therapy that was … Read More Fear of falling…or a fear of failing
Couples Therapy Part 2: The Grey Area
I wrote the first installment of my blog entitled Couples Therapy last week. It was the end of a long month where my horse and I battled constantly. He hated to be groomed, he hated to be caught. He hated to walk hack, to flat, to jump. And I was over it. I didn’t crave the ride that I had previously. I went to the barn … Read More Couples Therapy Part 2: The Grey Area
Couples Therapy
“He hit me again.” “Can you see this bruise?” “It wasn’t his fault, I was in his way.” These were the messages my girlfriends received most of the last two weeks. And if it was anybody else, any other woman – in this entire world, their responses would have been different. I would have been told to go to the nearest shelter, or call 911. … Read More Couples Therapy
A Yankee in Paris 
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