Beverly Raymond’s Equine Network By Katherine O. Rizzo


ents bought me my fi rst horse. He had a pretty bad reputation but we just got along,” she said. “I guess you could say he was my fi rst rescue!” As a rider and trainer, Beverly was known for


A trail rider, trainer, instructor, stable inspec- tor, equine advocate, mentor, advisor,


foster


mom, mounted volunteer, gardener, chef and artist. T ese are just a few of the many aspects that make Beverly Raymond the best example of a Maryland horseman and just a lovely per- son in general.


Her quiet mannerisms and ability to see the best in people and horses have made her a natural mentor to young riders and profes- sionals, as well as a natural trainer for the many “problem” horses that have come her way. Her veterinary and equine welfare knowledge com- bined with her many connections throughout the horse world have made her an advocate for stable owners and the horses they care for. Her innate ability to go the extra mile has al- ready earned her the 1999 Anne and Gilbert Pumphrey Memorial “Unsung Hero” award, the 2011 Maryland Horse Council Horse Per- son of the Year and the 2013 American Horse Council Van Ness Award for outstanding ser- vice to the equine industry. So what else can we, the Maryland eques-


trian community that she has served for over four decades, possibly do to further recognize Beverly’s continued service? Create a new award just for her? Or more simply, express our thanks. Every single time we see her.


In the Saddle Beverly’s equestrian foundation began as a


toddler with her father taking her to local hack stables whenever he had time and some extra cash to pay for a ride. She has often shared the story of the fi rst ride she can remember… she was fi ve and her father had her on a lead as they went for a trail ride. Going up a hill, the pony she was riding stopped and pulled her father off the back of his horse. He removed the lead, got back on his horse and told her she’d be fi ne following on her own. As a teenager, Beverly worked for ride time


wherever she could. At River Valley Ranch she would muck stalls and tack horses, then ride the new horses before they were put into the hack rotation. “For my 16th birthday my par-


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a knack for working with the “problem” horses. T ough if you ask her about the various horses that have come through her Orwell Farm, they never had problems. “Most horses that people can’t get along with really are just afraid,” she explained. “It’s amazing how much a horse will change for the better with just a little under- standing and kindness.”


On the Road Understanding and kindness are the basis


of pretty much everything Beverly does. After running a successful boarding stable at Or- well, complete with a few lesson students and mini farm shows, Beverly decided that run- ning a stable was not the best career choice for her. “I was just too nice at times,” she said, adding, “I let a lot of people come through


and work


to ride, like I did as a kid, and that isn’t the best way to run a business.” At the same time that Beverly was downsizing her stable, her longtime friend


Robin Al- To read more about Beverly


Raymond’s impact on the Maryland equestrian community, go to the


Archives of equiery.com and click on “Horse People of the Year.”


lison was looking to move away from the part-time stable in- spector position she had with the De- partment of Licens- ing and Regulation. “She just called me up one day and told me she was resigning and she’d like me to come in and interview for the job,” Beverly said. At the time, there was only one stable inspector for the whole state and the position was run through the State Board of Inspection of Horse Riding Stables. T e pur- pose of the program was to ensure that horses in public facili- ties received a certain minimum baseline of care and that


all


equipment used also met a basic minimum


standard of safety. When the Maryland Horse Industry Board


was created in 1998, the position of stable in- spector moved to the new organization under the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Beverly moved with it. Beverly always saw her


role of stable inspector as more of an advisory position than an enforcement position. She was there to help others improve their businesses while maintaining the required level of care. “When it comes down to it, the horses tell you what the place is like,” she once said. One of the most rewarding aspects of the stable inspector job was seeing places improve over time. “Sometimes it was just a drainage is- sue, sometimes fencing and one time there were these self care boarders that were just taking ad- vantage of a stable,” she said. “Going back year after year and seeing stable owners take my ad- vice and improve their farms was just… it just makes me proud to be a part of it all.”


Outreach One of the roles of MHIB is to promote


the Maryland horse industry on a larger scale and Beverly jumped on board right from the start. She often staff ed booths at places like the Maryland State Fair and Horse World Expo, meeting more and more people everywhere she went. “T e booths really de-


veloped over the years and I would always try to bring farm owners with me to chat about their places,”


involved as farm


she explained.


Beverly saw these booths as a win-win for every- one


Beverly, pictured here giving carrots to her horses, believes there are no “problem” horses, just those often in need of kindness and understanding.


owners could build their businesses while pro- moting the industry as a whole. “T en the Horse Breeders became very involved and support-


ive with all their background displays and fun things to give away,” she added. “It just brought more and more people into horses.” At another point, Beverly would be sure to


have MHIB’s booth (which often also included Maryland Horse Council material), next to the University of Maryland booth and together, they would educate people on soil conservation and pasture rotation. She also helped various County Soil Conservation Districts create brochures to hand out. “T e brochures would help people identify a problem and then provide a solution,” she stated. “T is all improves their property val- ue, which is good for everyone involved.”


Building a Network


T e more and more stables Beverly inspected, the more and more horse people she met. T e


more and more committees and boards she sat continued...


MARCH 2020 | THE EQUIERY | 21


Anne Litz


Anne Litz


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