This is something that I wrote for Mane Stream and thought I'd share with you all. You can check it out on their website here, or scroll below. Check out their website and FB page anyway for all the great work they do in NJ! My routine the past couple years now has been to head down to Florida at the end of December, have an action-packed Winter full of competitions and learning, then come back to New Jersey in April and reunite with everyone at Mane Stream. When I headed down to Florida after Christmas, I had no clue that things would turn out so different. This winter was especially excitin ..read more

Many of you may have noticed my reins are a little different than the “normal” reins you see used. In the ParaEquestrian sport of Dressage, we are allowed certain compensating aids. Compensating aids don’t give us an advantage over any other rider, but merely compensate for the physical or sensory limitation resulting from our impairment, thereby enabling us to ride a horse. It puts us on a more equal playing field. I use a number of compensating aids, but today I’ll focus on my reins. I have no grip in my hands and cannot take my hands out of a fisted position; therefore, it was necessary to ..read more

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced this week that they are extending the suspension of all events, selection trials, training camps, clinics and activities through May 31, 2020. This comes as a blow to many people, but is only done in mind with the safety and health for all. We all know that re-opening the environment has been discussed with easing of restrictions over several weeks varying greatly from state-to-state. When and if this starts, we must be very mindful and continue with the best practices to reduce exposure to and transmission of the COVID-19 virus. While ..read more

Do you ever wonder what it’s like getting ready to go in the competition ring? You’ve had your (at least... for para that is) 15 minutes in the warm up ring where you work on loosening up your own body, getting your horse to become sharp off your aids, work on transitions, make sure you know your test (at this point it’s really a little too late), and keep yourself in the moment. When the steward tells you it’s time to go in, you have to stay focused and with your horse. What a lot of people don’t realize is that going into any major international ring requires you to walk through a lot of ch ..read more

We're now a few weeks out from our first CPEDI3* event of the year. It's truly hard to believe how fast this year is passing and how little time we have left in Florida. We're on track training for the next CPEDI, but this season has definitely been different with Covid. It's been much like the rest of the year for me: stay home, go to the barn and ride, then back home, sleep, and repeat. The last year has been a rollercoaster of emotions and I don't think I would have handled it as well if it weren't for Taco and my barn family. When you live in a body that overreacts to everything— and I m ..read more

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/daf067_09605a4b26534364b2f60d18a4fc90a9/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Hello! I'm checking in from sunny, but chilly Florida. This is the coolest January in Florida that I can remember. It's funny how 50-60 degrees in Florida can feel so cold when it can be nice and warm in NJ. I got down here mid- December, two days after a surprise procedure on my right shoulder after losing almost all range of motion in that arm. Not great when you're getting ready to drive down and you do most of the driving with your right arm! I will need another procedure on both shoulders when I g ..read more

That's a wrap on the USEF Para-Dressage National Championships and CPEDI3*! 2020 has been filled with ups and downs, but Taco has been the bright light of my year. Sara Schmitt and Maggie O'Leary have helped me push and focus on my training and it paid off this weekend. We had three consistent and quality rides with our scores increasing each day. Taco felt the most relaxed at any show we've been to, and I felt like our rides were the most harmonious yet at a show. I had the most fun and felt more confident going into the ring with him than before. We placed 3rd overall in the 2020 National C ..read more

Whether we're in quarantine or not, stretching and yoga play a big part in my life. I deal with a lot of spasticity, tightness, and spasms on a daily basis. Taking the time to warm up my muscles with some simple stretches each morning (and each night as long as I don't fall asleep first!) helps keep me looser and in less pain. The more I can do each morning, the less time I have to spend warming up on my horse when I go to ride. I used to do yoga 1:1 with a great instructor back home in Los Angeles who specializes in Accessible Yoga-- if you're out there look up Sarah Helt! She gave me this gr ..read more

Since my Winter season in Wellington in 2021 I haven’t had much to say. My last CPEDI in March was a real struggle for me and things continued to get worse from there. On the outside, I’m always one to show the positive side, but things have really been challenging. In March 2021 I got very sick with an extremely high fever. I drove home at the end of the season and went straight into the hospital the day after I arrived home. I was allowed to go stay with my brother knowing I had people around me to help take care of me and the new medical equipment I was sent home with. I eventually moved h ..read more

This past week I had my first show with Julia Greifeld’s beautiful mare Sunflower. Sunny and I have only been together for about a month, and only schooling a few days a week. She’s a much different horse than Taco for me to learn, and much younger- only 6 years old! I knew that she was an amazing mare, but after this show she truly showed that she’s extra special. She has such a wonderful brain with a heart of gold. Not all 6yr olds would be able to figure out how to communicate with a para rider in a short amount of time in order to be ready to compete, AND be unflappable in the ring. But s ..read more