yourself and your operation are paramount to sustained more lighthearted topics. Ever the romantic, Cindy
success. The horse business can be very demanding, its shares that her favorite movie is The Notebook, but in
24/7. The days can be very long, but like any other career direct contrast she reveals that she is a little bit coun-
you get back in direct proportion to what you put in.” try and a lot rock and roll, cranking up CD’s from
When Cindy steps down from the showing duties at both genres for the 100 miles she drives each day.
Northern Run, it will be Carly Bechtel in the irons af- What little down time she has, is spent staying in with
ter she graduates from the University of Santa Clara friends watching Grey’s Anatomy, Monk, the Closer,
(Cindy’s Alma Mater). Carly has ridden with Cindy or movies, wearing sweats, and not moving off of the
since she was 14, and has been preparing to step up couch. “ Cindy has a quick wit, and a perfect deliv-
into the professional ranks sometime in the near future. ery of the punch line. “That’s usually what we do be-
In recalling the highlights of her career, two come to cause we’re old now, you know” she says with a laugh.
mind. The first was her partnership with Joe and Pat On the topic of cooking: “I used to cook every night,
O’Connell’s hunter, Just For Fun, 1988 Regular Confor- but now I use my oven for storage.” A girly girl, Cindy
mation Horse of the Year. This wasn’t a relationship with- loves to pamper herself on the rare day off and can pow-
out its challenges, but as is typical for Cindy, she bonded er shop with the best of them. Does she have a celeb-
with “Justin” to the point that she kept a vigil sleeping rity crush? “Yep, a pro bull rider named Justin McBride.
in his stall at UC Davis when he was diagnosed with a Oh my God, Justin Mc Bride….cute, cute, cute! But, my
life threatening illness, which he successfully overcame. friend pointed out that I could be his mother!” Cindy
The current highlight of her career, Agustus (aka Gus), is a true blue fan of another type of cowboy, the Dal-
sticks his head out of his stall and calls to Cindy when he las variety. She’s a hard core Dallas Cowboy football fan.
sees her. The bay gelding with personality to burn, suffered Cindy will tell you she doesn’t know why people have
a major illness coupled with an injury so severe that his always been so kind to her. It’s very simple. This self pro-
owners and Cindy were advised to put him down by vets claimed “Bay Area girl” has a lot to be proud of, lifelong
at UC Davis. “The drive home from Davis was almost un- friends, loyal family, devoted clientele, a thriving business,
bearable, but then we talked to Dr. Russ Peterson, who said and a bond with horses that most horse people would
don’t give up. Russ got us through the two year recovery envy: “Being able to see the horses, with that uncondition-
and here we are.” At this point Cindy is fighting back tears al love, is what I look forward to each day. I love, love, love
as she says “He made it back, and I showed him in Novem- the animals. It’s the nicest feeling in the world to walk in
ber……against all odds. I love him. The Hoskinsin’s who and have them happy to see
own him, kept him alive for me, because they know how you, to hear them nicker.…..
much I love him. I have never before really spoken about This is what it’s all about,
the emotional journey we went on with him (through his this is it right here….. To
ordeal), and I didn’t realize it still affected me this much.” take care of these animals,
Cindy composed herself as the conversation led to to love these horses."
Page 48: Cindy & Gus
Page 49: Carly & Cindy
Opposite Page Top: Cindy in the early years. Bottom(Left to Right): Linda Hough on
Noteworthy 1978, photo © Katy Barrett ; Laura Davies' Touch My Heart, photo © Ed Moore; Russ,
Augustus and Cindy.
This Page (Left to Right): Step Lightly 14U Res. Champ; Sutton Place Phoenix 1968, photo ©
June Fallaw; Step Lightly Cow Palace 12-13 Eq & Pleasure; Cindy Brooks, photo © Alden Corrigan.
51
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