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Thursday, January 31 2019 / Published in Weekly Feature

Jeff Ramey and Melanie Peterson-Ramey: Living Life to the Fullest

Jeff and Melanie enjoy a moment at their Stone Column Stables in Lexington, Kentucky

By Britney Grover

Portraits by Shawna Simmons

Even at first glance, Jeff Ramey and Melanie Peterson are an equestrian business power couple: Jeff’s Ramard, Inc. makes game-changing supplements for horses and is used by famed riders like McLain Ward, Laura Kraut and Cian O’Connor as well as teams around the world; Melanie is a successful equine real estate and insurance agent, and has been producing the WEF Sport Horse Auction, the most successful sport horse auction in North America, since 2013.

Looking deeper, their story is one both to impress and inspire, from each one’s humble beginnings to Jeff’s eight-time Saddlebred World Championship and Melanie’s time as trainer, whipper-in and riding instructor at Midland Fox Hounds — and each overcoming life-altering injuries to pursue success.

“We’ve both had ups and downs,” Jeff said, “but we have worked together to keep our dreams alive and to accomplish our goals both individually and together as a team.”

Melanie moved to Wellington, Florida, when she was 9 years old which helped launch her career in the equestrian world.

Impressive Individuals

Though she grew up in the horse country of Westchester County, New York, being around horses wasn’t a given for Melanie. Her mom worked three jobs to provide, including cleaning stalls at Yonkers Racetrack so Melanie could be around the animals she loved so much. When her mother remarried when Melanie was 9, they moved to Lake Worth, Florida, just two miles from Wellington. There, Melanie worked at whatever job she could to pay for lessons, volunteered at Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center and rode with Ruth Menor. Without funds for college, Melanie decided to pursue a professional riding career.

Her riding took her around the country working for various trainers, and at 21 she became the trainer, whipper-in and riding instructor at Midland Fox Hounds in Midland, Georgia. From there, she returned to Florida to pursue her education, working her way up to a full academic scholarship to Florida Atlantic University, graduating in 2005 with a bachelor’s in geography and environmental resource analysis as well as a geographic information systems certificate. When the job market was scarce after graduation, though, she returned to what she knew: horses.

Soon, Melanie was running her training business from two locations and had nearly 40 horses in work. She specialized in starting young horses and working with difficult horses. “I was never the best rider in the show ring, so I focused on doing the best for the horses and making them as amateur-friendly as possible for their owners to enjoy,” she said.

In 2007, she moved her business to Delray Beach and started the South Florida Bridle Club, a 4-H club for kids who wanted to ride but couldn’t afford regular lessons. In further efforts to help kids like her who were horse-crazy but didn’t have the opportunities that others might, Melanie ran local horse shows and put the proceeds toward helping kids show at local shows and Pony Finals. It was while she was running her training business in 2011 that Melanie met Jeff. “I was a customer of Ramard,” Melanie said. “I had a horse that really benefitted from one of the products and I sent in a testimonial.  Jeff reached out to me and came to my farm to see the horse and we have been together ever since.”

Like Melanie, Jeff’s passion for horses came without any family connection to the horse world, and he worked odd jobs to pay for horses as a child before going into the Marine Corps at 17. After serving, he began fixing up houses to flip in the Cincinnati area, which led to building new homes and becoming president of the Home Builders Association. But when the housing market began to crash, he let his passion for horses lead him to building barns for friends in the horse industry. One barn became a life changer, and not only because it ended up on the cover of “The Most Beautiful Barns in America.” The owner convinced Jeff to leave his building business and get involved in horse health care. Three years later, Jeff started Ramard, Inc.

Ramard launched with Total Joint Care, which became the leading joint supplement in the market, and quickly blossomed into offering over 40 unique products and being used by 11 Olympic equestrian teams. Ramard products are sold in over 5,000 retailers around the world, and the Ramard pet line is found in major U.S. retailers as well as 6,000 stores in China. Jeff draws his influence from talking with trainers, owners and veterinarians as well as his own personal experience showing Saddlebreds up to eight World Championships.

Jeff and Melanie with Jeff’s son Cainin Ramey

Together as a Team

In 2012, Melanie shifted gears and began pursuing a career in equestrian real estate, encouraged by Jeff. “We are both very ambitious people, so together we really push each other to pursue each and every endeavor to the fullest potential,” Melanie said. “Jeff has helped me to push myself both personally and professionally and without his support I would have never reached this level of success. He encourages me to continue to reach higher every day. Having a spouse that is encouraging yet critical when necessary is beneficial to both of us professionally. We are both people who are never satisfied with mediocre; we want to be the best at what we do each and every time.”

Jeff and Melanie’s support for one another proved crucial when things took a turn for the worse. In 2014, Melanie seriously injured her back, requiring surgery, and though the accident wasn’t horse-related it did threaten to take Melanie out of the saddle forever. “When I got hurt, I really thought I would never ride again,” she said. “I had enjoyed carriage driving long ago, so I resolved to pursue that after my recovery.”

Shortly after Melanie’s surgery, Jeff suffered an injury of his own that resulted in losing vision in his left eye. But their passion for horses and support of each other enabled both to recover and return to the horses they love — against the odds, Melanie was able to ride again, and is developing a young Dutch Warmblood. “Being able to ride again, and a young horse at that is something that is so gratifying and has helped me to realize that with horses in my life, I can accomplish anything.”

Jeff’s business kept him focused during his own recovery period. “One of the things that kept me going was my drive to continue to develop new products that had never been done before, interesting products, next generation products. That drive kept me focused on work rather than my new way of life,” Jeff said.

The year after his injury, Jeff had the opportunity to show a 2-year-old Saddlebred in-hand at the Saddlebred World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville. He overcame his nerves with encouragement from Melanie and the horse’s owner, and walked away with a Reserve World Champion ribbon in a very competitive class.

Stone Column Stables — once upon a time home of Man O’ War and other famous racehorses over the last 200 years.

Stone Columns in Lexington

With a home in Wellington, Jeff and Melanie’s dream of having a second home in Lexington, Kentucky, was realized with Stone Columns Stables in 2018 — located on the historic Elmendorf Farm, once upon a time home of Man O’ War and other famous racehorses over the last 200 years. They enjoy trail rides around the property, showing horses, fishing on their bass boat, shooting sporting clays and quail hunting when they can. Both Jeff and Melanie are enjoying the development of their farm: After retiring some of her show horses a few years ago, Melanie recognized the need for a top facility specializing in retired horse care.

To that end, Stone Columns Stables is aimed at being a premium professional facility for show horse retirement in addition to offering layup and layover services, young horse development and a facility that can serve as home base for top competitors during the summer show season. “We’ve seen an overwhelming, positive response to the retirement boarding service we offer since there really isn’t another facility that offers the level of care we do for the retired show horse,” Melanie shared. “We have capacity for 75 horses and we were already one-third full after three months of being open.”

Though Jeff will continue to develop cutting-edge health and performance products for equine athletes and Melanie will still offer her real estate and insurance services in both Wellington and Lexington, they are both dedicated to Stone Columns Stables — and to horses. “We both grew up with very little financial means, so horses have given both of us the opportunities we have enjoyed to work and live in such a diverse and exciting industry,” Jeff said. “We both feel we owe everything to the horses, and so when we decided to create a retirement facility at the heart of our Lexington farm, we felt it was very appropriate that we give back to the animals who have given us so much.”

For more information, visit www.stonecolumnsstables.com

Photos by Shawna Simmons, www.sasequinephotography.com

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Tagged under: britney grover, Jeff Ramey, melanie peterson, ramard, shawna simmons, stone column stables

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
AI only and EVA negative
Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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