Beyond the Ribbons

Since I was a young rider, I did everything. My first pony, Munchkin, was amazing. I didn’t just groom her—I spent hours with her. I learned to braid, body clip, and make her spotless. I loved being at the barn and doted over her constantly.

As a teenager, I worked at horse shows grooming, braiding, and doing anything I could to be around horses. My trainer at the time, Gry McFarlane, would take us to shows, and all of us young riders helped with setup, grooming, and whatever needed doing. My sister braided, and we loved every minute of it. I remember those days vividly.

Now that I’m older, I’ve seen many sides of the business. Every trainer has to decide what matters most to them—what’s important to their clients, and what makes their program unique. Some barns are full‑service: your horse is tacked up, you hop on, do your lesson, and head home.

For me, I want riders who want to be great horse people. Riders who care deeply about their animals and want to know everything about them. Riders who enjoy spending time at the barn doing the things I loved doing. That’s important to me at my farm. Even at horse shows, I expect my riders to care for their horses. Yes, we have grooms—but my riders know how to hand walk their horses, cool them out properly, ice, feed and make sure they return relaxed and happy.

One of my favorite yearly events is our Advanced Camp. This camp teaches it all—or at least a lot. Riders start their first day on Tuesday morning at 7 AM sharp. They learn about feeding, mucking stalls, and caring for the barn. All week, they work from 7 AM until 7 PM. This last week was especially fun. They learned Dressage from Laurie Moore and Western from Payton Veach. Rick and Tracy Boggs came to teach about hay and why understanding its differences matters. Our vet demonstrated stomach scoping and a lameness exam. They talked to the farrier, learned about bits, how to wrap a horse, and so much more. In the evenings, a parent cooked dinner, and we all sat down for discussion. And don’t worry—we had fun too: s’mores, talent night, jeopardy, and “questions with your trainers.” Around 7 PM, the riders headed down for night check, which is also an important part of the day.

2026 Advanced Camp

This is by far one of my favorite weeks. What I found so interesting was that when I asked the riders what their favorite part was, some of them said feeding and mucking. We often forget the bond we create when spending time with our horses and truly getting to know them. Mucking is also a chance to just be. Often, when you are feeding and mucking you arn’t thinking of anything else. No phones, just one poop at a time. Poop therapy!

I’ve been in the horse industry a long time, and I’ve grown so much. Sharing my love of horses—and all that comes with it—is something I truly enjoy. It’s easy to get caught up chasing the next big ribbon or preparing for your next final, but getting back to basics and becoming a true horse person is something special.

Me and my Dad