Off The Rails - Greenwood Stables

26/02/2026

Richmond equestrian instructor accused of s*x assault suspended as judge from national equestrian group

The owner of a Richmond equestrian training center – detained in McHenry County jail on charges including s*xual assault of a minor – is on “interim suspension” from the US Equestrian Federation, where he has been a judge.

02/01/2026

02/12/2025

A Few Words of Advice ~ December 2, 2025

There have been many great pieces of advice offered to me over the years, but one of my favorites, and perhaps the most influential, was something my dad has told me all my life: “Everything happens for a reason.”

The first time I remember hearing it, I was a toddler. The most recent was about a month ago. Not to mention the countless times in between.

If something I had been hoping for had fallen through, he would simply say: “Everything happens for a reason.”

If I made a huge mistake or things went terribly wrong: “Everything happens for a reason.”

If a relationship failed: “Everything happens for a reason.”

When you have things mapped out in your head, whether it be a short term goal or your entire life plan, and something goes awry, it is hard to override the disappointment.

One story that comes to mind is when we were competing at the World Championship horse show in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There had been a gelding that we had watched compete for years. He was flawless in every way: beautiful, talented, sweet and anyone could ride him. When we heard that he was available for sale, we sought out his owners and agreed on a price. It was a lot of money, topping my budget, but I was excited as this new addition would work perfectly in my lesson and show program. And even more conveniently, I had one open spot on my trailer for the nearly 2,000 mile journey back home.

While chatting with the owners the next day, we informed them that we would be heading home a few days before the end of the show, as we had another one in our home state we needed to get to. "But the girl showing him won't be done competing by then,” we were told. “He has to stay until the last day.” My options were limited. I needed to get my horses home and ready for our next show - my students were counting on me. But if I left him there until the end of the show, I would have to find someone else to bring him home, at the cost of about $2,500, which wouldn't work in the already maxed-out budget.

But his owners wouldn't budge. The deal was off. And I was devastated.

I looked around for another horse like him, but to no avail. We headed home with the same five horses we went down with - and one empty spot. I kept thinking about my dad's quote: “Everything happens for a reason.” But I couldn't figure out what that reason could be.

A few weeks later, a friend of mine sent me a post on social media. That horse ending up passing away shortly after the show. A necropsy revealed he had a giant, football-sized tumor in his abdomen that had burst. He was totally healthy his entire life, completely asymptomatic, until he dropped dead. And no standard pre-purchase veterinary examination would have ever known it was there. We were quite obviously heartbroken, and felt terrible for the owner.

At the time, what had seemed like a tragedy of not being able to purchase him, ended up being a blessing in disguise.

My dad was right. Again.

As he always said, we do not control our destiny. Some things are out of our control, and that's OK. Because what's waiting for you on the other side is going to be even better than you could have imagined. You just need to have faith, and you need to have a little patience.

Some day we will look back and understand why we had to endure the disappointments and the struggles. The challenges we faced and the losses we've endured made us stronger, and prepared us for the better things that were to come.

When the world feels like it is unraveling, it is because a greater plan is coming together.

Just remember... everything happens for a reason. And it will be worth it.

Photo: "A Very Proud Grampie" My dad, Bob, with my daughter, Madison, age 3.

02/08/2024

Many people have asked about the "weird things" on my dogs' collars, so here's all the info you could possibly know about them!

My daughter and I were traveling by ourselves last year, and I was worried about her safety. I looked into tracking devices for her and did about as much research as a paranoid mother flying with a 2-year-old could. I came across the Jiobit, and this is why I chose this tracker above all others:

1) It was one of the only trackers that provides real-time tracking. It doesn't need to be tethered to other devices near it, like Airtags do. At any time, I can open the app, and it shows me exactly where they are located.

2) You can use it on pets, kids, elderly, special needs people, or items. When used for a person, you can input their information and a photo in the event of an emergency. It's small enough to be fairly inconspicuous, and comes with a few different types of attachment clips.

3) In the event that a human goes missing, there is an "SOS" button. Activating that will notify local law enforcement and everyone on your care team that the person is missing, as well as location and any other vital information needed.

4) You can add a "Care Team," which allows people of your choosing to be able to access the trackers. On the rare occasion that our pups don't travel with us, we know our local friends can find them if needed.

5) It has a great function called the "separation alarm" - if the tracker is more than a specified distance away from your phone, it rings an alarm. This is a fabulous feature when traveling through airports and museums with a toddler, or hiking with a pup that is learning not to wander.

6) They claim to be "water resistant," and my two knucklehead pups have proven they are indeed waterproof. They have jumped into our pool quite a few times with their collars still on, and I can assure you the trackers still work great.

7) You can set "Trusted Places," and the app will notify you if the tracker enters or leaves these areas. The battery will go into reserve mode in these locations, which helps to extend the battery life.

8) The battery lasts us about 10-14 days on a charge, but that varies on how much we are home or traveling. When you first get one, it will need to "learn" locations and only lasts about 2-3 days, but by the end of the first week it will operate normally.

9) You can "ring" the tracker with the app. If your child or pup gets too far away, you can notify them with a press of a button, which sounds an alarm on the tracker.

10) The person with the tracker can summon help by pressing a button. This notifies everyone on the care team that they need help, without having to use a phone.

The only negative so far: Since the tracker goes into reserve mode in trusted places, you can not "ring" the tracker to find it in these places. The knucklehead on the left lost her collar somewhere on our property, and since she was "home," we couldn't utilize that function to beep the tracker to find it.

The cost: The trackers are $129 each and have a $99 yearly fee. This may seem expensive, but compared to other trackers, it was average. For how many extra functions the Jiobit offers, and my peace of mind, it was more than worth it.

Feel free to post any questions in the comments below!

24/07/2024

Pet-Friendly Renting: Make a Pawsitive Impact in a Housing Crisis

As both an animal enthusiast and a property manager, I have seen firsthand the challenges that both tenants and landlords face.

In our area, the cost of apartments has been skyrocketing, and the amount of pet-friendly units is just as rapidly decreasing. These combined problems are forcing people to make a terrible decision: keep their pets and be homeless, or give their pets up and have a roof over their head. Many are giving their animals away, causing animal shelters to become absolutely overwhelmed right now.

I manage tenants at both my farm and our real estate property, and we have always allowed pets. I know all of our four-legged residents by name, giving them snuggles and cookies any chance I get. However, with a new unit opening up, we're struggling with a tough decision on whether to continue allowing pets for new residents.

Most of our pet-owning guests have been absolutely amazing. But as they say, one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.

We have dealt with people who have let their pets use the apartments as a restroom, which has destroyed our floors, carpets, baseboards and doors, costing thousands of dollars to repair and lost income from the empty unit while the repairs are made. We have dealt with people who leave waste in the yard, or let their dogs p*e on the sidewalk in front of doorways. We have had tenants who yell at their pets loud enough to wake their neighbors up, or allow their dogs to bark all day long. Then, we have to deal with the other tenants who, very rightfully so, complain about the above tenants.

These bad apples are the ones who have created a huge problem for other pet owners. Managers are growing increasingly reluctant to open their doors to pet owners. For most, it's just not worth the hassle and the extra expenses incurred by the landlord. Some have begun charging a pet fee, but many are just closing their doors to four-legged guests altogether, creating a huge problem in an already difficult housing market.

Here's what YOU can do as a pet-owning tenant to be one of the good apples!

1) Pick up your pet's waste. All the time. In the rain. In a blizzard. Even if you're late for work. Pick it up.

2) At some point your landlord will need to access your apartment, and they don't appreciate surprises. Be honest about what you have for animals – be it species, breeds or quantity! We're not dumb. We know you don't have 3 litter boxes for one cat, and we know that your “50-pound lab cross” is really a 100-pound pit bull.

3) Provide enough training and stimulation so your pet doesn't acquire bad habits, such as barking, chewing or clawing.

4) Don't “sneak in” your pet if they are not allowed, or sneak in additional pets that have not been previously approved.

5) Have a contingency plan if your landlord needs to enter your unit when you're not home. Is your dog going to become protective and aggressive? Is your cat going to run out the door? Will your pup be in a crate? Have a plan in place. Better yet, make sure your pets are familiar with the people who may have to come into your apartment.

6) Ask for a written set of rules for having your pet on the property. Read them.

7) If your pet destroys something, have it fixed or replaced. Own up to it and discuss it with your landlord before repairs are made.

8) Keep your pet up to date on all standard vaccinations, and have vet paperwork available.

9) If you see someone else who may be struggling with their pet, try to help them out before getting the landlord involved. Kind communication goes a long way, and keeps your landlord from having to be the middle man.

10) Leave your apartment the way you found it.

Take responsibility for your pet. By doing so, you'll help pave the way for a better future for pet-friendly housing and create a positive change for pet-owning tenants.

17/07/2024

Drive Like A Girl

Thirteen years ago today, I was hired to haul a few horses to a 4-H show in northern New Hampshire. That job forever changed my life.

Thanks to my dad, I learned to drive trailers when I got my license. It was a rule - if I was going to be driving them, I needed to learn how to park them. So, at the ripe old age of 16, I got behind the wheel of my first half ton pickup and learned how to push a two-horse trailer backwards - over and over and over again, until I got it right. I eventually succeeded, and off to shows and events I went.

Throughout the years, my skills became more fine tuned and the trucks and trailers grew bigger. I would often offer my services to people who needed help at horse shows, boat ramps, and gas stations.

I had many men come up to me over the years asking if I needed help. I would politely say, "No, thank you, I've got this." They would usually smirk, then stand around, blatantly watching me. Some would even gather a few others to join them, as though they were waiting for me to fail so they could jump in and save my day. A few were condescending, even after a job well done. But I never let the pressure get to me. However, my frustration grew after years of countless Prince Charming rescue attempts.

Fast forward to July of 2011.

My rig at the time consisted of a Ford crew cab one ton dually with a 42' long, 6-horse gooseneck horse trailer. It was essentially a horse cruise ship on wheels.

I pulled onto the showgrounds that afternoon and was instructed on where to park. They requested the trailer be parallel parked between two others. A difficult job, perhaps, for most.

As I was preparing to back in, a young gentleman came over to me. I rolled down my window, knowing exactly what he was going to say.

"Do you need help parking that?"

I took a deep sigh, pushed all the air out of my lungs, trying my best to bite my tongue and hide my frustration. "Thanks, but I think I've got it."

He smiled and nodded, his expression genuine. A few moments later, when I jumped out of the cab to unhook the trailer, he came over and told me that he was impressed. In his words, he didn't even think he could park that trailer in one attempt. He was sincere, had a great smile, and the aggravation I was feeling quickly dissipated.

That night, we went out on our first date. Eight years later, we were married, and now we have two beautiful babies.

And even 13 years later, he still asks me to back up trailers for him. As he proudly tells people, flashing that perfect smile, "My wife can do a better job than me."

15/05/2024

Why are so many farms closing? In our area, we have lost numerous big lesson and training facilities, and I thought we needed to look a little further into why this is happening.

1) Good help is hard to find - and costs money. If you have to pay employees, you'll find it much more difficult to make a profit. My advice: only take on as much as you can handle yourself, that way all the profit goes in your pocket and you can keep reinvesting in your business.

2) The cost of everything is going up, and it's becoming more difficult to push those costs onto clients. My advice: With plenty of notice, explain to your clients why, when, and how much your service prices will increase. If you go up 10% on your pricing, and lose less than one out of ten clients because of it, you are already ahead.

3) Drama. The horse world is full of it, and the older people who have dealt with it the longest are getting sick of it. My advice: One rotten apple spoils the bunch. Get rid of bad clients and employees yesterday.

4) Poor business practices. Remember, you are in business to make a profit. When you give people breaks on your services, you are essentially handing them money. For every “discount” you offer, picture yourself handing that person that same amount of cash. Because that's exactly what you're doing. My advice: Create policies and stand firm by them.

5) Options. It's the most profitable time to sell or lease a facility out. With the rising costs of homes and building new facilities, trainers looking to lease blocks of stalls or entire facilities has never been higher. Why work daily when you can collect a rent check and not have to pick up a pitchfork? My advice: Find a great tenant who has a solid business plan before signing papers.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic in the comments below!

09/05/2024

Maybe the reason I love animals so much, is because the only time they've ever broken my heart is when theirs stopped beating. 😢 💔

06/05/2024

Our show season is off to a great start! Enjoy my 3-year-old daughter Madison serenading everyone with, "The horses at the show say neigh, neigh, neigh," on our way to the competition ring!

03/05/2024

I've been faced with this dilemma many times in my career. What's more important - being a good person, or being a business person and putting food on your kids' table?

10/04/2024

Can everyone help us wish this lovely lady a very happy 27th birthday?!

Rosie has been faithfully by my side for two decades. No matter what changes came to our farm, new programs we ran throughout the years, or the big life milestones I went through, she has always remained a steady soul for me to lean on.

Rosie's story with me began in 2004. I was looking for a new lesson horse and visited a sale barn in Massachusetts. They had picked up a load of horses from a dispersal sale out west, and I just happened to be at their farm as they were unloading this stocky little bay mare off the trailer.

Even though I immediately felt a connection with her, I still did my due diligence and researched her history. I contacted her previous owners and their story was an interesting one, to say the least. This couple was in their late 60s and lived on an 8,000 acre cattle ranch in Montana. They bred, raised and broke all of their own horses. Rosie was the 5th generation of Paint horses born on that ranch. She worked the cattle every day, right alongside her siblings, parents and grandparents, doing what she was bred to do.

Rosie ended up being the lady's personal favorite. She would saddle Rosie up at 5am every morning to check on the herd, make sure the fencing was intact, and see that the newborn calves were thriving. They would eat lunch together before heading back to the homestead, and she never forgot to pack an extra apple in her saddle bag for Rosie.

Unfortunately, her husband had a few medical issues and his health was rapidly declining. He could no longer ride with her. The only way of saving their ranch was to sell off their stock so they could afford to hire farm hands. That's how Rosie ended up on a trailer headed East.

The sweet lady asked what my intentions with Rosie were, and I explained I was hoping to use her as a beginner lesson horse. "Oh, I don't think that's a good job for her at all." It was not exactly what I was expecting nor wanted to hear, and certainly put a damper in my spirit. "She's never had a kid on her back before and she's way too responsive for that kind of work. She has a natural cow instinct and she'll take off after a runaway," she said. I was torn, but I also didn't have any cattle at my farm. Rosie had a kind eye, and I had a good feeling about her, so I trusted my instinct and put her on my trailer anyway. I called the lady a few days later to give her an update. All she said was, "She has a big heart. Treat her nice and she'll return the favor. Good luck, and try not to let any kids get hurt."

Twenty years later, I'm proud to say that my instincts were correct. Hundreds of children - and that is absolutely not an exaggeration - have taken their very first riding lesson on her. Kids who feared these large animals have climbed aboard her and gained their confidence. Handicapped children and adults have found their happy place on her back. She has stood patiently while nervous kids brushed her, elderly women mounted her, and kids and veterans were picked up out of their wheelchairs and set onto her saddle. In all these years, she has never once let me down. My program wouldn't have been nearly as successful if I didn't have this mare working beside me every day.

But the sweet older lady was right about one thing - put cattle in front of Rosie and hold on tight - she'll quickly tell that cow where to go, how fast it needs to get there, and what size handbasket it needs. And regardless of how quickly it moves, it's not fast enough in Rosie's eyes. A few years ago we held a team penning clinic at our farm, and a friend brought in some cows for us to play with. That's the first time I saw Rosie "work". She was 22 at the time and hadn't laid eyes on a cow in 15 years, but that natural born instinct kicked in. It was a literal switch in her head - in a split second, her ears were laying flat against her neck, her teeth were bared, and it was game on. If you weren't prepared, you'd be on your butt on the ground before you knew what hit you. She needed that attitude to get her job done, and man, was she ever good at it! She hates cows, I was certain of that, and I'm pretty sure the cows felt the same way about her.

Besides her achievements as a ranch horse, she earned a pretty substantial resume throughout her career. Rosie has led young horses and riders on countless trail rides, traveled to Gettysburg and carried my husband down the haunted trails, brought kids swimming for the first time, and has been in more horse shows and parades than I can count. Once, she even walked down the carpeted hallway of a nursing home to visit a hospice patient, a former horse trainer and show jumper, who wanted to, "touch a horse one last time". She is the definition of a saint, stealing the hearts of everyone who's ever met her.

Last year, Rosie and I entered our retirements together. She's been spending her days toting my kiddos around the yard, being fed endless amounts of carrots, and enjoying munching on as much grass as her big heart desires.

Happy 27th birthday, sweet girl!