What a whirlwind!  We just arrived home from Louisville, Kentucky where we competed at the World Championship Horse Show.  Although I have been there every year for twenty years, and even won there a handful of times, I have never taken my own group of horses and riders there to compete until this year.  It was an honor and a privilege.  I’m not sure where to start, but I think I will start here – Thank You!

Thank you to my clients for entrusting me with the training and care of your horses and more importantly your children.  I am proud of each and every one of the girls for their performances and their attitudes.  I love having a barn family that supports each other and celebrates each other’s successes just as much as their own.

Thank you to my horses for giving it your all at the biggest show of the year.  We train and prepare for this all year long just hoping and praying we will “peak” at the right time.  We had a few mistakes – such is life with horses – but for the most part, our horses were wonderful.  Two of them left the show headed to new homes.  Designer Diva is headed to Tennessee where she will be trained by Harris Riding Academy and Risen Star is now in New Hampshire at Verrill Stables.  We were sad to see both of these horses go but they had fulfilled their duty for our riders and it is time for them to make the next person’s dreams come true!  We wish their new owners/trainers the best of luck with these special horses.

Thank you to my colleagues for all of your kind words of encouragement and congratulations.  I was very excited to be taking a string of horses to Worlds for the first time on my own and the support I received from fellow horse trainers made me extremely proud.  The American Saddlebred industry is the best.

Thank you to my employees, both at the horse show and at home for helping things to run smoothly.  It takes a village!

Thank you to my family for always supporting me.  Ross, thank you for making the long drive with a 3 1/2 year old and for taking care of him while I worked because there is no way I could have gone that entire time without seeing him!  (or you 😉 )  And for your words of encouragement and advice.  Kellan, I know you can’t read this quite yet but thank you for being awesome.  You sat through numerous sessions of horse shows and behaved, although I know there were times when you were bored out of your mind.  You stayed up late and kept long adult hours and did not have any fits.   And you even “helped” us pack up on Saturday night until 1:30 in the morning – with a smile on your face. You are the best!

Lastly, thank you to my girls!   Reagan, Annaliese, Brooklyn, Sarah, and Julia – you all made me proud!  Two of my five riders were first timers, and three of five earned ribbons that qualified for championship classes.  Five of five gave it their all and showed true sportsmanship.  We’ll be back next year!