FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES OCTOBER 2011 29
Sidelines:
You recently co-chaired the
Brandywine Valley Summer Series, how
was that?
JG:
Talk about an idea that came together
over a couple of glasses of champagne
and turned into a reality! This was Louise’s
vision and it didn’t take much persuading
to get myself, Jennifer Burger and Blair
Balmer onboard. I had no idea how much
work went into managing a quality horse
show, along with the people that were
required to run a horse show. Everyone
from the ladies in the show offce to the guy
driving the water truck are critical members
of the team. Jennifer was our sponsorship
guru, Blair handled the vendors and I
focused more on the logistics of the show
and the day-to-day project management.
One task I had was ordering ribbons,
trophies and gifts. I thought it would be so
simple and straightforward yet it was the
one thing that kept me up at night worrying
if my numbers were correct. Our inaugural
year could not have gone any
better
Sidelines:
You work fulltime,
how do you balance your work
and your riding?
JG:
I don’t know if you ever
fnd the perfect balance,
however I do think that planning
ahead and being candid with
Louise and her team about my
competing priorities and other
commitments makes their life
easier. My clients come frst,
however I can usually arrange
things so that I am able to ride
three to four times a week.
Also, I pick and choose horse
shows. For me, going to Florida
and showing during Hunter
Week is my main goal. Devon
and the Brandywine Series are
also important to me. Anything
over and above that is a bonus.
Sidelines:
What are your riding
goals?
JG:
Louise cringes when
this question ever comes up
because I always say I want
to ride in the Tevis Cup. I am
serious when I say that is a goal.
Other than that, I would like to
do the National Hunter Derby’s
next year. The USHJA has
done a great job nurturing the
U.S. and National Hunter Derby
programs which is evident in the
number of competitors and level
of competition you see in these
classes.
Jill and Rohoe
Photo by Kathleen Fisher