Livingston Manor Arabians is celebrating our 27 th Anniversary, and things are finally coming together! 2007 was the BEST season ever – totally tops! The most rewarding part of this season as a trainer was that ALL of our horses performed well at ALL major shows, and ALL of our TEAM LMA riders did too! The entire TEAM shared the glory of victory. Another awe-inspiring detail was that we somehow managed to win in a variety of disciplines at a Regional & National level: Show Hack, Sport Horse Under Saddle & In Hand, Dressage, Showmanship, Hunter, Horsemanship, Trail, Equitation, Western, Sidesaddle (Western)! Gee, was I ever tired at the end of the day!

Long ago, at my first Nationals, I went Top Ten without knowing much. I mistakenly thought it was that easy. I had a LOT to learn! Afterwards, I spent YEARS being 11 th at Nationals (or 8 th when they’d pin 7). Then, in Canada, I had an interesting event bring a revelation to me. I’d been named Top Ten in Open Purebred Trail and was eliminated the next day due to a scoring miscalculation on someone else’s horse. That solidified my resolve – if I weren’t sitting at the bottom of the pot, I wouldn’t get dumped on! So, I went home and worked my hooves off until Louisville – the rest is history. Now, I just need to keep it up! My advice to those aspiring to be National winners – KEEP TRYING – your dreams will come true if you keep working on them!

My background as a rider began in the fall of 1969 when my mother enrolled me to take lessons with Elizabeth “Aunt Sissy” Morrison at Hazelwild Farm. At the age of 10, my father purchased my first Arabian Mare, Severn Lala, as a Christmas present. My uncle, Frank Lauren Leonard was then a trainer of Arabian horses. He guided me in my initial years showing Arabians. I also had the pleasure of riding with Major Hector Carmona, Jane Savoie and Mr.Pekary for serious Dressage work over the years. I went to various camps and studied under many instructors, taking lessons in a variety of disciplines up and down the East Coast. I read every equine publication I could get my hands on, went to every clinic my parents would allow me to attend, and worked at any barn that would have me as a child. Ultimately, I developed my own style and my own method of training horses. I settled on Arabians as my breed of choice almost 30 years ago.

Now, I manage over 40 head year-round and travel with a string of about 25 show horses around the United States and Canada.

My undisputedly helpful mentor is Lou Roper, who is now also my brother-in-law. He introduced me to my fabulous husband, and for that I thank him even more! But my greatest thanks for my achievements over the years goes to my ever-supportive father, superb client base and their truly talented horses! Without them, there would be no awards to covet, no ribbons to hang, and no memories to tell my future grandchildren. Much love and many thanks to all of you!