“I love watching them (horses) in the warm up ring. I
think that’s a hugely rewarding experience. It’s fun to go to
different areas of the country and seeing how different people
do things, meeting new people and seeing different horses.”
would have hunters and jumpers, but they would also them in where they belong (in the class) is the fun part.”
have western, Saddlebred’s, Tennessee Walkers….I can Debbie feels that there is great depth in high cal-
remember when I would stay up late at Del Mar to watch iber judges today as well. “Among them is Bri-
the Stock horses. Everybody did it; I miss that part of an Lenahan, Thom Brede, Joey Darby, and Sue
it, the barn aisle parties….. We would go to everybody’s Ashe. There are a lot of judges that I enjoy judging
parties. Now (if you go to another barns party) ev- with and I think Archie (Cox) and Peter (Pletch-
eryone is so worried that you will steal their clients.” er) will both be good judges when the time comes.”
She goes on to comment about the economics of the The current chapter in Debbie’s career is to that of a
industry today. “It’s all about the almighty dollar. The Steward at major horse shows, including the World Cup
horse costs money, people want results. The trainer is Finals in Las Vegas. “The Steward is the liaison between
on the road all the time and they can’t be the exhibitors, the management and the USEF. You’re
at home making new horses, so they have in the middle of trying to keep everybody happy.
to take everybody with them to the horse I have an FEI Steward’s card, and I en-
shows. You’ve got your Short Stirrup joy doing that. I’ve done two World
kids, and everybody else, coming to Cup Finals and I’m doing this one
these big shows, it’s kind of a shame.” also. I did both the Olympic Trials
On the flip side Debbie sees the glass and WEG when they were at Blen-
is a half full version of shows today heim as well.” Debbie reveals that be-
as well. “From a horse trainer’s point ing a steward at World Cup is not quite
of view, there is a place for every- as glamorous as one might think. “We do
body. No matter how well you ride rotations, we walk the barn aisles, moni-
you can go to a horse show. If you tor the schooling rings, do boot checks, it’s
have a horse that’s not talented pretty much a rotated schedule. You don’t
enough to win in the hunters, he get to see much of the class, but it’s pres-
can be a baby jumper, he can do tigious because it’s World Cup FINALS.”
short stirrup, he can be a chil- At the end of the day, what makes Deb-
dren’s hunter, where before, bie look forward to what she does for a liv-
when I was a kid, you jumped ing is pretty simple. It is seeing really good
3’6” that was it. That was the low- horses. “I love watching them in the warm
est you jumped and that is where you started. “ up ring. I think that’s a hugely rewarding ex-
Seeing a considerable shift in popularity from the perience. It’s fun to go to different areas of
Thoroughbred of the past to the Warmblood of to- the country and seeing how different people do things,
day, she echo’s the sentiments of many “old school” meeting new people and seeing different horses.”
trainers..... that everyone wants the next great Thor- It will be interesting to see which way the industry
oughbred, but few have the time or even the abil- takes Debbie from here. Having accomplished so much,
ity that it takes to be successful in that endeavor. there is no doubt she will be adding another badge of
As far as judging is concerned, this is an ongoing educa- honor to her collection somewhere down the road.
tion for her. “It’s a learning experience, I learn something
from everyone who comes through the in gate. I get to This article is dedicated to the memory of Blazer, Deb-
see a lot of the great ones go around, and trying to fit bie’s best friend of 17 years, who she lost just a few weeks ago.
45
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