Q: How did I get involved with the American Saddlebred ?

I was introduced to Wes & Sena Bowling of Taylor Creek Stables about 16 years ago. I started working for them as a groom and then started taking lessons and then a few trips down to Lexington, Kentucky and I was hooked. I had ridden and shown Quarter Horses and never even heard of an American Saddlebred. So I have Wes & Sena to thank for that. If it was not for our meeting I would not be where I am today with the breed involvement.

Heidi Madsen

Q: How are Saddlebreds relevant to your life today ?

I’m very heavily involved with the breed as well as our national association, ASHA. I have been on the ASHA Youth Auction for probably the last 14 years and I really enjoy working on that to make it a success. My good friend Kay Richardson appointed me and before you know it I was on the committee. I do my own promoting and talking to people about the breed and the misconceptions that people have. I’m currently putting together a book on the History of The Michigan American Saddlebred and it will be published this year, so this project of 7 years of research will finally be paying off. I’m also the Personal Assistant to C.Marcus Stone the Equine artist and so I do a lot of promoting and marketing for her in my little spare time. I someday would like to show in Fine Harness and do a Kentucky Horse Show. I currently take driving lessons with Wes & Sena Bowling of Taylor Creek Stables in Davison, Michigan and then in the Spring I travel down to Melissa Moore’s beautiful Sunrise Stables and continue my driving lessons there as well. I like to keep my driving skills honed in by the best.

Q: What do I see in the future for myself and the American Saddlebred ?

I see myself continuing with the ASHA Youth Auction and keep on promoting the breed with in our state and where ever I go in my travels. I see myself showing and having fun with it. The American Saddlebred is such a mainstay in my life, I could not imagine it not being in my life, and I’m in it for life. I see myself one day owning an American Saddlebred and showing and promoting as much as I possibly can.

Heidi and Don Harris

One Thing you may not know about me ??

I once got the esteemed privilege of walking WGC Imperator around the Kentucky Horse Park for the afternoon.

Past: How did you get started down the path of becoming the horse show secretary/goddess that you are today?
This is all Paula Barr’s fault!  I had always talked about riding as a child – asked for a pony and only got a stuffed one.  I was talking with Paula at work one day and she said that if I really did want to ride, I  should call Betsy Boone.  That was 12 years ago!  I started in October or November right before my 31st birthday – my mother thought I was crazy.  I  showed in the ASAC Horse Show that next March, in borrowed clothes.  I didn’t even go pick up my ribbon in the first class because I didn’t know I was  supposed to!  I had never even been to a horse show before!  My sister was very proud of me because I was finally doing something that I always wanted to do.

I started working at horse shows when a friend needed some help with a TWH fun show. Apparently my detailed oriented nature and skills as an accountant transfer well to being a horse show secretary.  From the contacts I met there, another person asked me to work with her show in Asheville and I met more of the TWH folks. I still work the Carolina Walkers Horse Show and would do more, but the ASB show schedule conflicts with theirs.  Ray Cloninger got me started working the ASB shows.  He had me start with some of the smaller shows and it’s grown from there.

Driving the sleigh in Park City

Present: What is keeping you busy and involved these days?
I’m still riding at Boones Farm, but have not been able to show due to my back problems.  I am working the Carolina Walkers Horse Show in early March, the ASAC Horse Show, Charlotte Charity, probably Dallas Spring and maybe some others.

I am on the ASAC board as a member of the Finance Committee and also the  ASAC Armature Owner Trainers Treasurer.  I’ll be happy to sell you a hot dog at the Winter Tournament!

Future: What are your horse related goals for the future?
I would love to ride a Louisville!  However, I haven’t found that wealthy backer who will finance it…;)  I would like to be able to get back into riding shape, back allowing!  I enjoy being a horse show secretary and would not ever want to be a manager – too many headaches!

What is something that most people don’t know about you?
What someone wouldn’t know about me…  I don’t know!  You know me, I’m  an open book! 

Most people know I volunteer at the USO, work at Coke, graduated from Clemson, am sorority girl, in DAR and ski.  I donate my hair to locks of love – most people know that.  I love to travel and see new places.  I’ve never met a stranger.  Some of the USO girls and I are trying to go on a USO tour to Iraq and Afghanistan, just don’t know how we will pull it off.  That’s where that wealthy backer would come in handy!

Be sure to wave and say hi to Beth if you see her at a show – but don’t interupt her work!  It gets busy in the office!!

Past: How did you get started in your business?

Heather Marchiafava and Bono

After working for the past 12 plus years as an assistant trainer/professional caretaker at (1.) Premier Stables (summers during school at William Woods University and after I graduated),  (2.) Hollow Haven Farms (four years) and the last six years at  (3.) Grey Ridge Farm, I decided I needed a change.  It started Christmas time 2006 while walking around a craft store in Louisiana with my mom looking for a “hobby”.  We stumbled upon blank barrettes and figured it would be fun to decorate them.  That turned into me selling them online and ASB themed ones being sold at the Saddlebred Museum.  I opened an online store for them on www.etsy.com shortly after .  For those that are not familiar, Etsy is a site where you can buy and sell only handmade/handcrafted items, vintage items or crafting supplies.   I became addicted to browsing Etsy discovering such amazing  and unique items that people created.  Last winter I thought it would be cool to have an actual storefront where people could come in and buy items that were made by the wonderful artists/crafters on Etsy.   With absolutely NO experience or real knowledge of what I was doing, I jumped in head first.  I opened the gift store portion of Commotion! in March ’08.  It is named after Commotion In Motion, a favorite mare I worked at Hollow Haven.   In June ’08 a good friend  talked me in to  taking in consignment riding apparel.  I was hesitant at first, but so glad I did it now.  Who knew it would be so fun!  It is like Christmas day every time the UPS man delivers a big box of new consignment items.  =-)

Present: What keeps you busy today?

I just tried my hand at developing my own web site for the store.  It is not the best in the world but I am proud of myself for  making it and I stay busy adding new things as they come in and  retaking pictures.  
 
Future: Where do you see your business going in the future?

I hope for Commotion!  to be known around Lexington as a place to find fun, unique, unusual items.  I also hope to see the consignment riding apparel section grow, it was really needed in the immediate Lexington, KY area.  

Fun: What is something most people probably don’t know about you?

I have a serious button addiction!!  I collect (sewing) buttons.  I especially go nuts over vintage buttons.  I have literally millions of newer buttons I happened upon and sell them in my second Etsy store: www.commotionsupplies.etsy.com  .   I do make “button flower bouquets” that I sell in the store, but really I could just gaze at the buttons all day and be happy. 

My Links: 
www.shopcommotion.com
www.commotionsupplies.etsy.com
www.barrettesbycommotion.etsy.com
www.myspace.com/barrettesbycommotion

Commotion!
“Eclectic Handmade Goods”
Consignment Riding Apparel
214 W.Maxwell St.
Lexington, KY 40508