MYLOGO
About
About Me
My parents always said “she’ll grow out of it!” Here I am, decades later, and I am still riding, teaching and competing with the same passion I had as a teenager but with a better perspective on the lessons I’ve learned. I work in the barn every day and still enjoy the routine tasks. I value this journey and I continue to push myself competitively, physically and mentally, always seeking higher education in an effort to remain fresh and successful. I’m very hands on with my business because I’m so passionate about what I do and appreciative of how demanding the sport is. Classic Bay Farm is a family. I purposely keep the number of riders and horses at a manageable level so I can provide safe, quality training and instruction. The horses are happy and students aren’t afraid to ask questions.
My goal is to demonstrate that good sportsmanship is learned every day. Students realize that when they put in the hard work, ride well and compete fairly on their well groomed mounts, they are ultimately a winner. It may not result in a specific score, but winning ribbons doesn’t mean you’re a good horseman. In fact, there are times when you have to know when to call it a day for the safety and best interest of you and your horse. Pride and confidence in yourself carries you further in life. It’s not about the short term gratification. It’s about nurturing self esteem, being gracious, compassionate, and appreciative. Riding horses will teach you that any given day will feel like the worst of days, but any given day will also be the best of days and you come back EVERY TIME knowing that. You find the balance and strive for the daily successes. It’s about being diligent.
I’m quick to let people know that the investment they make in horses is invaluable. I learned very early the value of money – budgeting, reviewing expenses and planning ahead are an essential skill in life. Running a horse farm is a monumental financial endeavor. Students quickly learn the cost of their sport and how to manage it. The extra money in their pocket no longer gets spent at the mall, but rather a new saddle pad in their favorite color, or a show entry fee, or an extra lesson. Friday nights aren’t about going out on the town or sitting at the computer, but rather bathing and braiding their horse for a weekend show and laundering their own show gear!
Growing up with horses is all about life lessons. It’s about being responsible for others, those without a voice and that regardless of the weather, you still have to provide for those in your stewardship. There are no days off just because I don’t feel like being a horse owner that day. Many hours of physical and emotional work go into MOMENTS of fun.
I witness the students expressing themselves with maturity around both young and old, finding their inner strength and becoming respectable adults. They learn that the choices they make today affect their future. I am so thankful I had horses to keep me preoccupied during my teenage years – and back then, what I believed to be difficult, pales in comparison to teenage challenges now! Horses are nonjudgmental. They just want attention and their daily routine.
