96 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
By Lisa Engel
While the movie title “Kramer Vs. Kramer” brings to mind a
couple who didn’t get along, Adam Cramer and his wife Lacy
Morrone-Cramer (our version of “Cramer Vs. Cramer”) are on the
opposite end of the spectrum. Adam and Lacy get along, they
are married, they are both international riders and they operate a
world class farm, Equi Sport, LLC, in Pittstown, New Jersey. They
are the perfect synergy of talent, passion and expertise. Sidelines
sat down with Adam, an accomplished professional grand prix
rider, to discuss life in the horse world and his partnership with
Lacy.
How did you get involved with horses?
My frst pony ride was on a pony named Buttered Toast during
a family reunion. It was a great experience, because I then started
to take riding lessons from my Aunt Nancy Miller out of Hopewell,
New Jersey. She owned Poor Farm and taught my cousins and
me. The frst horse I started riding on was named Milkweed. My
cousins and I shared horses and ponies and it was a great way to
grow up - family and horses.
Who did you ride with?
I rode with Tracy Pehler at Millstone Valley Equestrian Center in
Somerset County, New Jersey. She was my frst riding instructor
who was not related to me and she taught me how to clean
stalls, work for lessons and took me to my frst shows and also
helped me get my frst horse. I went on to train with and work
for Irish Olympian Kevin Babington and American Olympian Anne
Kursinski.
You and Lacy co-own Equi Sport. Where did you meet?
Lacy and I knew each other from Delaware Valley College and
the riding team. After school, we didn’t keep in touch; but, when I
was working for Kevin Babington she stopped by to see the barn
and we became re-acquainted. A couple of years after that she
was trying to sell a horse and at the time I had my own business.
We worked on that sale together and then the rest is pretty much
history.
Is it challenging to be married to your business partner?
Working side by side, it is a balance. You need to know when
to separate your personal relationship from work. But as much as
we travel, as much as horses are a part of our lives, it is diffcult
to share that with someone not involved with horses. It’s a good
thing - our relationship is fantastic. I like to say that Lacy and I
have several marriages - to one another, to our business and to
our clients.
All our relationships that require work are extremely
rewarding and positive. We can’t imagine working with or being
married to anyone else.
What are your greatest accomplishments as a rider - for you,
for Lacy and as a team?
One of the highlights earlier in my career was traveling with
and assisting Kevin Babington with his mount Carlin King to
numerous European competition wins. As a professional rider,
one of my greatest accomplishments was competing in the 2011
Pfzer Million as well as competing internationally at a show in
Germany called Braunschweig. And, ironically, one of my
greatest accomplishments as a trainer and one of Lacy’s greatest
accomplishments are that I trained her and qualifed her for the
Nations Cup Team, which earned a team silver.
What is the secret to your success?
It’s a secret...no, seriously it is hard work, discipline and
determination. Lacy and I balance each other professionally both
in the barn and at home. Lacy is a great horsewoman and we
really complement each other.
About the writer: Lisa Engel is from Ringoes, New Jersey. She
has an extensive background in the equine industry and over
ffteen years experience in sponsorship sales, marketing and
public relations efforts for businesses, horse show production
companies, riders and horses.
Cramer vs. Cramer
Adam competing
Photo by ESI
Photography
Adam, Lacy and their
family of animals.
Photo by Jason Groupp