She likens training to sending a child to school - only these students learn to develop their stride, balance with a person on their back, adjust to the bit and reins, and respond to the rider's commands. The first goal, she explained, is just to coordinate rider and horse to gallop around the racetrack in a balanced manner. With the older horses, the trainer serves as a personal coach - helping to keep them physically fit, building up their stamina, making sure they're sound, and teaching them to break out of the gate. Then you know that horse is going to make it to the races. She can still remember when her husband's father first hired women to ride, about 25 years ago.
Most top stables have women running barns.
I'm working with my husband. I'm not having to go out and seek clients on my own. I'm not having go through some of the frustration some of the other women have. Although women have broken into most of the industry positions, there still may be a glass ceiling. However, a trait often ascribed to women is giving them a chance to get much stronger.