Featuring Traci & Carleton Brooks of Balmoral, Authors of ‘With Purpose’
December 14, 2022 – Embracing the importance of why you do what you do with your horse was the intent and everyone walked (and rode) away with that and more from the inaugural Rider to Horseman: A Clinic With Purpose.
On December 10-11, 2022, Phoebe Weseley, owner of River Run Farm, LLC in Wellington, hosted the Balmoral power couple, Traci and Carleton (CB) Brooks, to teach participants and auditors alike the “why of things” when it comes to riding and horses.
As a knowledgeable horsewoman, barn owner and amateur rider, Phoebe wants to offer opportunities for riders to also be horsemen. Taking a giant leap towards that goal, she initiated the Rider to Horseman concept and felt that Traci and CB were an ideal fit to kick it off. With decades of success in and out of the show ring, the Brooks also seek to educate as many riders as they can by offering clinics as well as writing the recently published book, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard.
Marrying these two concepts together, the Rider to Horseman: A Clinic With Purpose evolved. The clinic included two days of learning in the saddle plus an evening of ‘Questions and Conversation’ neatly sandwiched in-between.
“This was our first but not our last time to host this event,” Phoebe explained. “Traci and CB were fantastic. The difference between day one and two was amazing. Every rider and every horse improved.”
Eva Coords, the Sotheby’s International Real Estate Scholarship Recipient, came in from North Carolina to participate. She rode a pony she leased just for the clinic. Eva’s mother was thrilled with the experience.
“Phoebe was so gracious to host us at her beautiful farm. It was breathtaking. Eva was so excited to receive her goody bag and all the extras Phoebe passed out over the weekend.”
She continued. “Traci and Carleton were so good with Eva. Her pony was a little tired and they were really encouraging and helped her learn to go forward. She is excited to take it all she learned and apply it.”
Along with the educational aspect, each rider and auditor received a gift from the fantastic list of sponsors who happily stepped on board in year one of this effort. Their FarmVet bag was stuffed with takeaways like a square saddle pad from The Clothes Horse, plus goodies from Vortex Equine, Equine Elixirs, Ramard, Inc, THIS and Charlees Fly Spray. Vortex Equine sweetened their sponsorship deal by offering FREE transportation to any Rider to Horseman clinic participant in Wellington and a 20% discount to those outside of Wellington. And the arena was filled with jumps from The Dalman Jump Co.
Looking ahead to 2023, Phoebe plans to bring Balmoral back for year two. “I was so impressed with the support and the positivity. Traci and CB were very positive and set a great tone. The auditors were also positive and supportive.” See more online at Rider to Horseman Clinic, featuring Traci & Carleton Brooks (rrfhorseheaven.com). Join the conversation on Facebook /riverrunfarmllc and /ridertohorseman and Instagram @ridertohorseman and @river_run_farm_llc
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