Hi Reader, Am I the only who, when my kiddo started riding, assumed the only decisions to be made would be around things like schedules, budgets, and maybe when she got her first pair of tall boots. I had no idea that, before long, I’d be making decisions about trainers, horses, safety, horse shows, tack, and thousands of dollars in expenses in a sport I barely understood. Somewhere along the way, I had to figure out where my job as the parent ended and where my trainer’s job began. Who...
27 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, A few weeks ago, I attended a webinar. Not for work.Not for a certification.Not to learn a new skill. I attended a webinar so I could LEARN HOW TO ATTEND Pony Finals. And while the webinar was super helpful, it highlighted something I’ve been thinking about for a long time: this equestrian life is incredibly difficult to understand if you didn’t grow up in it. We spend a lot of time talking about affordability and accessibility in equestrian sports, and those are important...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, If you’ve been anywhere near horse social media this week, you’ve probably seen people talking about Dover Saddlery’s closures and liquidation sales. I've had teen girls begging for one last trip to our most local shop, moms asking when the 20% off will jump to 30% off, and myself...well, I've been remembering all the trips to Dover with Chloe and my mother-in-law. CORE memories, for sure. While we could all spend hours recounting the rites of passage our kids have celebrated at...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Today's episode with David Reichert, founder of UDJC (United Dressage and Jumping Club), includes a few hot takes. Exhibit A: within the first two minutes he told me Pony Finals was a waste of time and money. 😳 So, this is one you'll love to listen to. David grew up in Germany’s equestrian system and has some VERY strong opinions about the way kids are being developed in the U.S. horse world. Specifically: Why he thinks horse shows often reward expensive horses instead of good...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, A few weeks ago, I shared with you that we were heading to our first rated show of the season as a qualifier for Pony Finals. We made it there unscathed, aside from a very stressful wasp incident in the car on the way there (think: teenager driving, my sitting shotgun, 2 teens in the back, one of whom is VERY afraid of flying, stinging insects AND a wasp in the car). Chloe and her friends and the horses settled in nicely on Wednesday, competed well on Thursday and Friday and...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, You know that moment at a horse show when your kid is finally done with their rounds (4 hours after you thought they'd be done) and they suddenly disappear? Not to the barn.Not to find and hug and thank you. 🤣 But straight to the food truck to split chicken quesadillas and fries with their friends like it’s the best meal they’ve ever had? Yeah. That one. This week on the podcast, I’m getting very real about horse shows - the different types, the 'lingo', and how I approach them...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, About a year ago, Chloe said something that stopped me in my tracks: Maybe I won’t go to college… everyone I know quits riding when they go. Ma'am. I feel like there are endless ways to solve this problem without NOT going to college. Rest assured, she's moved well away from this thought process and, while you're reading this, we're likely touring Virginia Tech and learning about their accounting program AND riding team. See...two things can be true at the same time, sweet child o'...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, What if one of the most important things you could do as a horse mom had nothing to do with buying the right tack, planning your show season, or finding the perfect horse? If I’m being honest, the moments that have saved me the most in this sport have all involved other people. 👉 The mom who talked me through the rounds that looked like the Kentucky Derby (with jumps). 👉 The one who explained how horse shows work.👉 The people who showed up when things didn’t go as planned (and...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, You know that moment at a horse show when you’re standing at the ring, coffee (or mimosa) in hand, pacing back and forth until your kid's round is over (oh...is that just me??) and possibly doing the math of the show in your head? Yeah. Same. This week on the podcast, I sat down with Kelly Gannon, adult amateur and volunteer for the Central Virginia Show Jumping Association (CVSJA) to understand what actually goes into running a local horse show. Spoiler: ribbons DO NOT cost 25¢...
5 months ago • 1 min read