14 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Five Questions for Bridget Love Meehan
Bridget Love Meehan is the new Executive Director of
the Washington International Horse Show. Bridget has an
MBA in marketing/communications, and managed public
relations and the American Horse Shows Association
magazine for a year until they moved their headquarters
to Lexington, KY.
As a past WIHS competitor she brings
a unique vision to this year’s show.
Sidelines:
Tell us about your riding background.
BLM:
My grandfather introduced me to horses and riding
as a young girl. As I took my frst lessons, leased and
then bought my own horse and grew from local shows
into the junior hunter ring, he was always my biggest fan.
I grew up and rode in Buffalo, NY. I stopped riding when
I headed off to college, then to New York City where I
worked as a literary agent for several years. After moving
to Washington, DC and managing a special events and
fundraising frm, I became good friends with one of my
clients at Discovery Communications. She convinced me
to get back in the saddle and before I knew it, I was the
proud owner of a terrifc young horse. We showed in the
adult amateur hunter ring for a year until I had my baby girl
in 2009. The fast pace of new parenthood took over, but
I rode when I could fnd the time (i.e., not often!). I didn’t
go back into the show ring until WIHS Regional Weekend
in 2010 and, as luck would have it, turned in some great
rounds and ended up competing at the Verizon Center.
Such a thrill!
Sidelines:
What have you brought to your new position at
WIHS from your past jobs
BLM:
My varied career brings a lot of depth to my
present role. Having represented authors and writers in
negotiating their publishing contracts and helping them
manage their careers gives me great respect for people
with a true talent and passion for what they do and an
understanding of the challenges involved in managing a
career or a small business, like many in the horse industry.
My time at the AHSA gave me a good perspective on
how a national governing organization runs and handles
issues facing its membership. It also gave me insight into
the many levels of politics that need to be managed for
the beneft of the sport as a whole. Working in special
events and fundraising in DC was a terrifc way to learn
how to put on a fabulous production in the nation’s capital
that taps into all the infuential constituencies that make
up this great city. And, my time at Discovery gave me
further opportunity to work with and manage teams of
smart, dedicated people and develop marketing and
communications campaigns to promote terrifc brands
from across the Discovery family of networks.
Sidelines:
What is it like to compete at WIHS?
BLM:
Washington was always a dream and goal. The
idea of qualifying for one of the big indoor shows was
part of the excitement of working hard all year. I love
that I ended up in the ring at Washington by chance. I
hadn’t been riding much as a new mom and my trainer
and the kids at my stable nudged me to join them at WIHS
Regional weekend. It was so exciting to trot into the
Verizon Center arena under the lights and canter to that
frst fence. What a blast!
Sidelines:
Do you view things differently now that you are looking
at WIHS from your new role?
BLM:
Having managed large-scale productions at Presidential
Inaugurals, the national political conventions, gala fundraisers
and VIP flm screenings, I know how many arms and legs and
hours of planning it takes to put on a major event. I really respect
the amount of work that gets done by a very small and dedicated
staff year-round at WIHS.
Sidelines:
Any fnal comments?
BLM:
The dedication of the riders, trainers, owners, sponsors,
board and volunteers who support WIHS inspires me and the staff
to work hard every day to ensure this show will continue to give
the nation’s fnest riders a chance to be showcased.
Bridget Love Meehan is a competitor as well as president of
WIHS
Photo by Diana De Rosa