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By Alden Corrigan
A Conversation with Nicole Bloom
Over the last five years Nicole Bloom’s Round Meadow Farm has become synonymous with a
closely knit group of kids and their parents, setting and achieving goals, while having a great time
along the way. You’ve undoubtedly seen Nicole walking courses like the Pied Piper with her pony
riders in tow one minute, schooling her jumper riders the next, then getting on for the Grand Prix.
Nicole has the ability to be everywhere at once, and still have time to stop and chat as though
you were her priority at that moment. Who is Nicole? What life lessons has she used to achieve
this balance? As is typical with Nicole, she made time to sit down with me so I could ask her.
Where did you grow up? and race) on 5 ½ acres, and a big rig trailer! We really grew up
I grew up in Southern California, Hidden Hills to be specific, together as far as horses were concerned, we set big goals and
and a great little suburb in the West Valley. I went to Buckley worked hard to achieve them. If you know either my Mother
High School in Sherman Oaks, and as I say it, the School of or me, we are of the same cloth, when we set a goal, we don’t
Hard Knocks for college, which by the way had many great let much stand in our way.
professors!
What is your first memory of horses as a
Who were your mentors?
child?
First, Karen Healy. She pioneered the Equitation movement
Riding at Onondarka Riding Club in Calabasas with my
in California, without her, I don’t think I would have a job.
Mother and the Simington Family, these were great times be-
Jimmy Williams and Susie Hutchinson for the practical way
fore the housing boom in that area. “Bit O’ Magic” was my
they approach horsemanship, and for the opportunity to step
first school pony love, a cute Thelewellian Paint pony that
out of the “Hot-Shot Junior” role and into the “Professional”
never put a foot wrong.
one. Nancy Turrill and Joanne Postel for the “family” aspect
that I continue to aspire to this day, and Carleton Brooks for
What made you want to ride? How much did
teaching me how to cross my T’s and dot my I’s, never allow-
your Mom’s success in the show ring influ-
ing me to miss a beat. There are so many more, and as Jimmy
told me once about the horse business, “You learn what to do
ence your desire to ride?
and what not to do from everyone you meet”.
My Mother didn’t start riding until she was an adult, and I
went along for the ride to the barn. It was natural, we spent
the whole day at the barn, and eventually had our own farm
When did you go out on your own, and why?
and horses were a huge part of our lives. I think my Father
I moved back to California from Pennsylvania to work with
still shakes his head thinking about when he told my Mom she
Carleton Brooks who had always been a mentor to me. His
should take up a hobby like riding. Little did he know what he
business had been focusing on clients with National goals and
was getting himself into, before long we had 40 horses (show
I was excited to help him build up his “Home Team”.
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