Coach, Problem Solver and Communicator
Equestrian Coach for over 20 years. I taught children, teens, and adults to ride horses. Dressage and jumping, with emphasis on foundational work, were my specialty. Have you noticed that everything good, seems to start with good foundational skills to succeed? Sports, business, marketing, cooking, all start with a good set of foundational skill that allow creativity to build on and goals to flourish. I enjoy coaching people on how to do that! I directed horse camps, revived several barns lesson programs and turned a tack shop into a thriving business. I, also, worked with “problem” horses and ex-race horses finding their special gifts, and helping them to have a second chance. I’ve helped people overcome fears, achieve their small and big goals, and dreams! My biggest skills were problem solving, heading off problems before they happened, communication, hard work, team work, and being able to assess situations quickly. I also loved helping people (and horses) gain back or gain confidence. I really enjoyed teaching all ages to learn to listen and communicate with horses! To take the time to learn how they learn, and learn how to become more effective as a team was a gift I enjoyed giving to both horse and rider.
Created a Platform for the Best Equestrian Educators
Owned and Published an International Equestrian Magazine called Topline Ink Equestrian Journal. I published articles by equestrian authors (like Charles deKunffy, Karl Mikolka, Ida Anderson, Jec Ballou, Peggy Cummings, Jane Savoie, etc) and judges. I started Topline Ink as a local magazine that grew mainly through word-of-mouth to international status. Topline Ink has subscribers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, England, South Africa, Mexico, and even Japan! Did I mention that I learned everything as I went along? Yep! How to build a website, publish a magazine, work with a printer, etc. I did everything by myself, and had two proofreaders. I would make the changes to the articles, as I compared each proofreader’s notes and if they disagreed, I made the final decision. Mainly, when needed, I would work on the actual flow of articles, headings, and design — to make sure the ideas were conveyed well and easily understood. Occasionally, I would need to heavily edit articles and rewrite them still using the author’s voice, but most of my writers were skilled writers and had been previously published — so, usually the writing within the articles was limited to grammar or sequencing paragraphs.
I owned Topline Ink for six years, from 2006 to 2012. And then, my life turned upside down. I was in a bad relationship that ended very badly. I lost everything, including my health. I was in a crisis – survival situation. I simply couldn’t keep going with the magazine and sadly I lost it. By the time I could come up for air, I realized I lost the domain, the website, the business and all that I worked for. Once I was on my feet again, I did put the magazine online for all to enjoy under a new name. www.dressageandsporthorse.com
I haven’t done anything more with the website, yet. But happy to report that if you google “Dressage Magazine” it comes up in the top three usually. My competition when I had “Topline Ink” is a major dressage magazine “Dressage Today,” who at one time was gleaming my contributors and following my ideas and marketing copy. I was happy because it meant more exposure for my contributors. That is exactly what I wanted for them. It was a win-win. It was a compliment that they were noticing “Topline Ink,” because there was just one of me, and that magazine was a major player with a huge team. At the time, our website came in the google one or two spot. “Topline Ink’s” niche is that I marketed it as a technical journal (no fluff), and that was appreciated by our subscribers. I could not do color printing (too expensive), so I turned it into part of our marketing plan. Showcasing equestrian artist in B/W (like Ansel Adams type feel). I turned our weakness into a strength that set us apart. It worked! Subscribers and top equestrians liked the approach I took. I modelled it after a “medical journal” for serious and thinking riders. Each issue covered a particular theme/ topic in riding or horsemanship, and then would be well explored by different contributors to give a more complete picture. People loved it!
So, I’m glad people are freely enjoying it now –because it still haunts me that I let my subscribers down and made them sad by not being able to mentally and physically able to continue “Topline Ink.” Now you know my BIGGEST regrets in life. The bad relationship and the dissolving of a business that I loved. But lessons learned! And I am thankful that I have recovered, and that I had such a wonderful experience of running a magazine. I loved platforming great equestrian artists (for our covers) and exceptional talents (equestrian leaders and teachers).
Topline Ink was a “in PRINT” publication that is out of print now. Here’s LINKS to three promotion samples, I created back in 2011, that are still online (they didn’t have canva then, and I did everything on MSPublisher and a basic photoshop program). These three promotional issue samples, worked well extending our reach. The issues include one free article from an issue to sample the quality of the publication. Below are the links to these digital marketing issues.
Topline Ink Dressage Sport Magazine with Manolo Mendez The Back Free Special Digital Edition
Topline Ink Dressage Sporthorse Magazine – Charles de Kunffy THE BASICS FREE SPECIAL ONLINE EDITION
Topline Ink Dressage Sport Horse Magazine – Lynne Sprinsky – FREE SPECIAL DIGITAL EDITION
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Love of Learning Continues
Marie von Ebner Eschenbach said “In youth we learn: in age we understand.”
Here I was in my 20s, graduation with a 3.8 GPA – AA degree in 2 years-from Diablo Valley College, working a full time job in part time hours for The Guardian Life Insurance – for the western divisional manager, running a household, riding and working horses. My A.A. degree was in liberal arts but I took extra classes in Computer Science, Graphic Design, European Art History, and Psychology. I developed an unquenching LOVE of LEARNING. In my age (now), what I understand best….. is that I love to learn.
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Through Experience Comes Understanding and Perspective
In my 20’s, I had various jobs. Ranging from retail and display work, computer tutor, organizational tutor, medical biller, administrative assistant, optometric assistant, and physical fitness instructor. The running theme was helping people or businesses. Some of the businesses were start ups and I got to participate in their growth, and some were well established corporations where I could practice efficiency. I always found things to improve upon in small or big ways. It gave me the opportunity to get the behind the scenes in a variety of businesses.
One of the jobs I worked for was Tishman West Companies which was a commercial property management company in Berkeley, CA. I was the sole support person, titled Building Secretary, for the Building Manager, the V.P., and the Chief Engineer. Handling reports and tenant income each month, and communication with the home office in Southern California. I still have letters of recommendations.