Very interesting read. It’s nice to see her get some recognition.
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That was a really nice piece of writing about a supremely nice person. It is gratifying to see a rider properly appreciate the qualities of serenity and poise that are necessary to captivate both horses and clients.
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This is a lovely article about a wonderful person, and I’m going to be negative because it’s such an exploitative industry. I just know trainers (BNT and shingle-type) are going to read this article and wish they had a Steph, under the mistaken assumption they have a program that treats its workers as well as the Martins do. I actually read some of the article with dread, knowing what those days are like. 12 hour shifts, 6-7 days a week for years on end. Steph is Superhuman and accomplished what most people can’t. That should not be industry standard, unless the industry is willing to pay skilled wages for it - including OT (ha ha ha…).
Simpson’s weekdays at the farm start around 7 a.m. and usually wrap up about 12 hours later.
“But I was at the barn until 10:30 p.m. last night,” she said, laughing. “And on the weekends [if there’s a show], I’m often rolling into the barn at 2 a.m. So I’m probably the worst person to talk to about balance. I don’t really take time off.
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This was precisely my reaction. I’m genuinely so glad that Steph finds this fulfilling and sustainable, but she must be the outlier - she sounds superhuman!
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Thats exactly what I took from that as well. It was glorifying the insane schedule and lack of work/life/time off she has 
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I thought they were pretty honest.
She admits that she is not normal and this crazy lack of work/life balance is what she likes.
They do not hide that she is working way more hours than the average person.
I liked the article and the fact that while saying she is amazing, also saying that her way of doing things is not how the average person does things.
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Yeah I didn’t take the article as her saying everyone should do what she does, just that it works for her and is necessary to do the job she wants to do. Her comment about how her friends wouldn’t want her job but she also wouldn’t want theirs made me think she totally understands how unusual her situation is. Boyd has said similar things about his own schedule - he doesn’t glorify it but basically says that if you want to be successful at that level it takes a lot of sacrifices in other areas. It’s not something I’d be willing to do, but I also don’t expect to be anywhere near as successful as they are and I’m ok with that.
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I totally agree. The article was written to indicate that this is not the industry standard, but I sure as hell hope this doesn’t have any backlash on current grooms who don’t have the capacity she does. If she has the mental fortitude to handle such insane hours and conditions, all kudos to her, but for most, it’s a quick path to burnout.
One nitpick that will get me flamed by the Boyd fangirl group: I wish the editor had used better language around her self-deprecating comment about flying high at a 5* one weekend and “screamed at” by a parking volunteer at a local event the next. Insinuating that she’s being verbally abused by volunteers doesn’t sit well with my editorial brain.
I highly doubt she was being actually screamed at- she was probably just describing the volume of voice used - but given the drama lately surrounding BNRs being abusive to volunteers and the volunteering crisis threatening our sport, it was poorly worded. The writer should have rephrased it to something along the lines of, “ordered by” or “commanded to,” IMO.
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I don’t see the value in putting cotton around what Steph said about the guy and trailer parking. The writer is quoting Steph. She is irreverent and takes her work seriously but not herself. She said what she said.
She is choosing this life, to tack every horse, to run the barn and responsibilities as she does. Her choices. I mean do ya think a dairy farmer in VT works a 40 hour week with an hour for lunch? It is what it is. A working life that she’s enjoying. If someone somewhere reads it and presses their own employees to do more, thats on them, not Steph.
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I like your whole post @Djones, it is all very well said. The line I quoted needs to be repeated over and over again.
No article ever could be written about anything at all if all writing had to prevent someone from taking it wrong and using it for ways it was not intended.
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And it makes her sound like an ungrateful person by describing the parking attendant as screaming at her, when he’s likely speaking loudly so she can hear and just doing his damn (unpaid) job to fit trailers into a small space. I’m sure she’s thankful to them for supporting her employer’s livelihood, but they could have used another verb. Whatever.
A lot of entitled BNRs out there and you obviously haven’t been on the receiving end of their verbal abuse as a volunteer or official - I have. But again, lots of fangirls on here so I’m guessing you DGAF.
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It doesn’t sound like that at all to me, ungrateful? In context it’s a funny example of how it’s not all sunshine and roses. As for being yelled at, I most certainly have; of course the yellers weren’t BNRs but stressed out small fish in small ponds who should not be doing it either.
We can disagree without insulting each other, please.
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Hey, I am a volunteer. Only a lowly volunteer. Not a fan girl. Not much contact with big name riders. Just a horse person who volunteers at events in my part of the world because I know these things take lots of people.
(I did not even bother to read the article, because I was not overly interested in it, until there were posts here saying how evil the article was, that is how not fan girl I am.)
Me, the volunteer, did not read that part of the article as anyone being ungrateful. I read it as a funny contrast of how her life is.
This volunteer is not offended at all.
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In case it wasn’t clear, my post wasn’t a criticism of Steph or her choices. She is incredible. My post was directed towards exploitative pros in the industry, who are going to read that article and use Steph as the gold standard. The article insinuates that the Stephs of the world move the goal posts for other employees and I don’t think that is sustainable or fair in an industry where workers are exploited, work long hours for free or no pay, rarely have health benefits or competitive salaries, the list goes on… Having boots on the ground experience as a worker in multiple UL programs, it struck a chord. YMMV.
I’m grateful for my current job, though I feel absolutely insane to admit I miss the intensity of shows and sales/training. There is something about being in the fray that is very rewarding for some types.
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Also if there is not a frazzled parking guy bellowing at you loud enough to scramble your brains, you are not having the full horse show experience. Watching the guys get us parked at Old Salem used to be a spectator sport. “Move the steering wheel left! LEFT!! OTHER LEFT!!” Later you bring them a Coke and a smile and it’s all good.
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As a designated parking person at an event this weekend I can tell you some people driving the trailers need to be screamed at
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Boyd verbally abused you? Not a fangirl, he has many faults. But he is genuinely a people person. I have however met some parking attendants with short tempers and unclear directions. Fear not, I am always nice to them because they are volunteering and being cranky doesn’t improve anyone’s day!
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Really, that applies in most situations, in my opinion.
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I LOVED taking care of amazing horses. I believed my boss when I was told they were going places. And they did! Part of me wishes I was still there (not my body, but that’s another story).
I was eating crappy & expensive horse show food. I drove 60+ miles to live with my dad when we weren’t in a hotel. I was making around 12k/year with no insurance, no home,
I wonder what this lady has been able to put away? When she’s still working 6 days/week and usually 12 hours?
I LOVED the horses I cared for I just had to wake up one day and realize I’d be broken and broke if I didn’t get out.
I have a lovely home, a wonderful DH, and a (still under-funded 401k) but a promising retirement.
I would have liked to go on a European horse show tour, or even the Olympics. I made a wise decision, IMHO.
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If she said she was screamed at, I believe she was screamed at. She is an adult who comes across as intelligent and responsible, so why not believe what she says? There was nothing in the article to indicate she believes she is entitled or is ungrateful. Actually, there is evidence contrary to that!
I had an older gentleman scream at me not once, but twice, recently while attempting to drop off hundreds of dollars in donated tack at a local equine nonprofit. It was totally unnecessary and uncalled for. When I said something to another volunteer, they apologized profusely for this man’s behavior.
I appreciate volunteers greatly. I also appreciate not being screamed at when it does not need to happen. Maybe Steph feels the same way?
Signed,
Nobody’s Fan Girl Here
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