Six years ago, my husband and I were relaxing on a beautiful, sunny Mexican beach. It was his fiftieth birthday and the trip to Mexico was his gift from me because I knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't like the parties that had been planned for him at home. So, he was in an extremely agreeable mood when he turned to me and asked, "So, exactly what are your going to want for your fiftieth birthday that is going to be as pleasurable as this?" Without hesitation and much to his surprise, I said simply, "A horse."
I had no idea, at the time, how much that one simple statement would change my life. After months of searching, I finally found my dream horse, a dapple gray beauty that I named, Mouse. She won my heart from the moment I saw her, she became my inspiration and muse, and she totally changed my life. But almost as soon as I realized the joys of horse ownership, I also discovered the frustration. I had no idea where to even begin looking for a Veterinarian, a farrier, the riding instructor that I was in dire need of. And, even though I had the essential things required for her daily care in place, there were so many little things that I had absolutely no idea where I would find them. I have learned a lot since that day and I've met so many wonderful "horse people" who have helped me and educated me but I find that, when it comes to finding so many of the services, products, and information that a horse and horse owner need, even seasoned veterans in horse ownership are a bit lost. Most information is spread by word of mouth and that resource isn't always terribly reliable.

The idea to create The Tennessee Equestrian came to me after I'd unsuccessful tried to locate an overnight boarding facility to help break up a long road trip. I scoured the internet and every other source I could find but, even though I knew that there were many such barns offering this service out there, I couldn't find them. I decided then that there was definitely a need for an equine "yellow pages."

I brainstormed with my friend, Brandy McDonnell, who is a well known and respected trainer and riding instructor who has been involved with horses her entire life. I also sought the advice of other friends in the horse world, trying to cover as many disciplines and equine professions as possible. They all agreed with me that this publication is very much needed for both the horse owners and horse professionals and businesses and that it needs to be as comprehensive as possible with not only listings of businesses, products and services in every imaginable category but also with show listings, travel guides, informative and entertaining articles, and covering as many disciplines and breeds as possible.

My mission is to not only create a comprehensive guide to services and products available to the Tennessee horse owner but to put it together in an elegant, glossy and beautiful format that the owners will not only be proud to display in their home but will keep on hand to refer to again and again throughout the year. I also have two other goals for The Tennessee Equestrian, I want it to be both free to the horse owners and an economical means of advertising for the horse professional and business. There will also be an internet guide published on this web site when the magazine goes to print. Everyone who list and advertise their businesses and services in the magazine will be listed on the web site for free. This will give them even broader exposure for their services and products since we are already finding fans and followers all over the U.S. and the world.

After nearly a year of planning, this web site and the magazine will officially launch on March 9th, 2010. That is my late mother's birthday and call me superstitious but I'm launching on that date for luck and as a tip of the hat to her. This will be an ambitious task but I believe it will be successful because it is both very much needed and very beneficial to both horse owners and horse related businesses and services. I hope you will join me on this ride and together we will build a publication that we can all be proud of.
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