LIFE & TIMES


Maryland Will Miss... Jill Robshaw French of Manchester and


Sparks died on December 8. She was 90. French was a longtime riding instructor who directed the riding program for many years at the Columbia Horse Center. French was born in England and developed a fondness for ani- mals at an early age. She often rode across the countryside of Derbyshire as a child. During the early stages of World War II,


French was sent to boarding school in Staf- fordshire. She graduated from the Nepcote Lodge Riding School in Findon in 1948. After answering an ad for young trainers in the U.S., French set sail to New York in 1956 and then headed to Maryland where she trained horses for Dr. Charles Iliff in Arnold. While living in Maryland, French met her


future husband John Robert French. She went on to teach children and adults how to ride in and around Baltimore County, starting at St. Timothy’s School in Stevenson. She later had her own farm in Cockeysville. Her son, professional show rider John Robert


French Jr., told the Baltimore Sun, “Her teach- ing style revealed so much about who she was and what was important to her. She was tough as nails and she pushed her students to do things they never thought they were capable of.” Danny McFarland, formerly of Sykesville,


COMINGS & GOINGS


Dr. Erica Gaertner has been hired as the National Steeplechase Association’s Medical Director. Gaertner is the race meet physician for the Grand National and Maryland Hunt Cup here in Maryland and has also run over timber in many sanctioned meets and point-to-points.


Vanessa Orlando has stepped down as the Director of the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Examiners and has been replaced by Nathanial Boan. Boan was formerly with the Charles County Humane Society.


Mike Gill has been named the new Maryland Secretary of Commerce. He returns to the position he assumed in 2014 as Maryland’s fi rst Secretary of Commerce. Gill recently was the co-chair of the Fair Hill Organizing Committee and Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.


Dr. Erica Gaertner


Kirsten Green has been named the new Executive Director of the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP). Green has been working for RRP as their Managing Director and is the organization’s longest-serving staff member. She is a Maryland native and began with RRP in its early years as a volunteer.


A fond farewell to… …Scot and Sondra Edwards, who recently moved to Southern Pines, NC; …Alyssa Peterson, who now lives in Aiken, SC.


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died on January 13 at the age of 69. McFarland was a former co-owner of Pickwick Stables. He was a 1971 graduate of Lord Botetourt High School and graduated from Towson University in 1979. He worked as a computer programmer in Baltimore for over 40 years


Longtime farrier Henry


Wood Heymering of Frederick died on January 19 at the age of 71. Heymering graduated from McDonogh School in 1967 before attending Clark Uni- versity in Massachusetts where he studied Music T eory. He completed Bud Beaston’s Okla- homa Farriers College in 1973 to become a professional far- rier. Two years later, he founded the American Farriers Journal as a way to bring farriers from across the country together. He ran the maga- zine until 1980 when he sold it. Heymering also authored several articles and books for the farrier industry. Heymering was a member of the Ameri-


can Farriers Association for over 45 years and helped found the Guild of Professional Far- riers. He was inducted into the International


Kennard Warfi eld, Jr.


of Marylanders


Horseshoeing Hall of Fame in 2002. Heymering was an avid horseback rider from


his days at McDonogh and went on to compete in Cowboy Mounted Shooting competitions.


Kennard “Ken” Warfi eld, Jr., died on January


25. He was 81. Warfi eld was born and raised on the family farm in Glenelg where he was a farmer, entrepreneur and land developer. He had a strong passion for T oroughbred racehorses and owned several through partnerships with Bob Orndorff .


Jeff Beauchamp of Baltimore


died on February 11 at the age of 70. Beauchamp spent decades at WBAL Radio after starting his career as a radio news reporter. At WBAL, he served as reporter,


news director, station manager and vice presi- dent. During his leadership, WBAL earned seven Media Eclipse Awards. Beauchamp was honored by the Maryland Jockey Club with the Special Award of Merit in 2006 for having made a positive impact on the racing industry.


National Steeplechase Association photo


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