That is right everyone, I am done! Finished! And as they say in the country of all things pasta and deliciousness – Finito! I am thrilled to announce that I have completed Northeastern University’s MBA program. I will graduate with a Masters in Business Administration with a specialty in Marketing.

It has been a long haul, balancing my job with LandVest, the MBA program, competing two horses, and many personal endeavors (such as a social life). What warms my heart even more then knowing I will never have to study things like accounting, finance, or business law and intellectual property (OK, I actually really enjoy those last two subjects), is that I will now have more time for what really matters – horses. And Roger.

I am thrilled to be able to devote my newly found free-time to expanding Murphy Eventing: teaching, training and competing horses on behalf of their owners.

Roger is excited too – we are starting to recognize one another.

Katie Murphy

info@murphyeventing.com

Murphy Eventing Facebook Page

What nightmares are made of.

Since returning from North Carolina, I have felt a bit off. Everything around me has been a bit “off” – “off” in the sense that things are not as they normally are, as they were, and as they should be. I blame this on school. In particular, the Finance course. When we returned from the land of sunshine and happiness, we were met with gray skies, shorter days, and some down-right chilly temperatures. Just as the nights fell earlier, so did my usual perky self. This is not a boo-hoo blog, nor a blog asking for pity – but rather it is a blog that shows that even the most chipper of people succumb to the occasional gloom.

The formulas make my head spin.

Garth and I did not click for about two weeks. This corresponds to weeks 3 and 4 of my 5-week Finance course (the joys of accelerated learning). He was wired, I was tight with stress, and neither of us could concentrate. There was a period in which all we did was walking, conditioning, and ground poles. The idea of working on engagement, collection and the soft acceptance of the bridle made me laugh as I considered the week’s homework involving formulas comprised of Egyptian hieroglyphics. I accepted that until I got a handle on my energy, I could not expect the same of Garth.

Do you know what this means? I did. But, I promptly forgot.

As a child, I was diagnosed with ADD. Had they had the diagnosis for ADHD at that time, I am sure they would have slapped that label on me as well. I was a high-energy child, wild haired and dirty, running through the fields and darting between apply trees. However, when I sat on a horse, everything came together and I focused with so much intensity I would shut out my surroundings – often not hearing my mother yell for me 10′ away. It was at this time I began to learn the importance of energy.

Nope. NPV definitely equals stress, not that other stuff.

Animals pick up on our energy, and are often very truthful reflections of what we are feeling inside but are able to mask from the public. We have all seen the sensitive thoroughbred ready to explode beneath their nervous rider who is on the verge of crying or is displacing their fear into acts of anger. I learned to control my energy before approaching my animals. To this day, I have a system I use before every ride, and this pattern is modified at competitions depending upon my energy. By refocusing and calming my energy, I have found that I can do the same for my horse (particularly helpful when working with youngsters and inexperienced types).

Sophie's interpretation of my feelings toward the Finance course. I could not agree more!

I learned something about myself during these past 5 weeks – I can not always control my stress and energy levels when the same stimuli are constant. I struggled with this realization as I am by nature a high locus of control personality. However, once I accepted this I stopped fighting it. I was able to better departmentalize the portions of my life: work, school, horses, Roger, dogs, farm maintenance – and give them each the time and focus they deserved.

When you accept, you are aware. When you are aware, you can begin to understand. Understanding is the beginning of being. Simply being: with your horse, in the moment. In this past week, Garth and I had a wonderful dressage lesson with Leslie de Grandmaison – she helped me press the “reset” button. Garth and I also had two beyond fabulous, make-me-wonder-if-he’s-really-4, give-me-wings jump schools.

I have completed my final exam. Provided all went well, I will never take another MBA course again. Now I plan to ride. I think I am now back on track.

Katie Murphy

info@murphyeventing.com

Murphy Eventing Facebook Page HERE

Many of us work a traditional 9-5 job in order to support our hobbies and personal interests. It is these out-of-office pursuits that drive us to perform behind the desk. For most of us, an income is a necessity.

Shadow Fox Farm - One of our fabulous equestrian properties offered for sale.

But, it seems more and more apparent that for my “Y” generation the quality of life and ability to balance pursuits in both our personal and professional lives is what we find ultimately rewarding. Work must support our entire being, and if our work does not play a part in the ability to have a balanced life, then work may not be… working. Our generation is looking for much more then a paycheck – our generation longs for fulfillment.

Where do you draw the line? How do you find the balance? And is it sustainable?

If you are really fortunate, you enjoy your job and work with wonderful people. And the job you enjoy enables you to do something fulfilling outside of work. Case in point – Me.

Clearly, there is an unspoken term: If I don’t do my job, I will lose my job. Unemployment does not support horses. It does not make for a happy fiancé either.

Beautiful Uphill Farm on 104+ acres within 3 miles of Woodstock Village

These were all thoughts that ran through my mind while I worked remotely from Southern Pines, NC this past February and March. Two months was an ideal amount of time to be south. By the time I had found my rhythm, I was half way through the first month. It was exciting to settle in and think “I still have six more weeks!” instead of “Darn. We have to start packing.” I believe three months would be far too long to be away from the office, not the mention Roger may forget what I look like. April is a beautiful time of year in New England. Young emerald grasses break through the rich winter soil, while bright yellow daffodils offer an optimistic preview of spring’s rainbow of blossoms. I love the smell of spring earth as the ground thaws. Our dirt road become buoyant from melting snow and warm sun, and the hilly terrain is a welcomed conditioning track.

As snow melts and Spring eases her way from the chilled shadows of dormant trees, business at LandVest wakes. Although our company remains busy throughout the year, business readily increases each spring with fabulous new property listings for sale and an abundance of buyer interest. Would you like to see a special equine property offered by the LandVest folks who make this balance a possibility? They are incredible at what they do, routinely setting real estate sales records and embody LandVest by offering “The next level of service”. They are genuinely nice people, and I am please to call them my friends.

Kristin Claire – Shadow Fox Farm

Ruth Kennedy Sudduth – Select sales in Vermont and greater Boston, MA

Walpole Hills Estate - Turn-key estate with panoramic views on 43+ acres of open fields and woodlands.

John Hayes – Walpole Hills Estate

It is nice to see the LandVest team, and to be in close comfort with those who made another southern adventure possible. Meanwhile, I am completing my final MBA course, scheduling our eventing season, and Roger and I are eagerly planning our wedding ceremony. 2012 is destined to be a great year!

Katie Murphy

info@murphyeventing.com

Murphy Eventing’s Facebook Page HERE

More on Emitt below - After the Ooops moment.

Have you ever been tired? I mean really tired. So tired that you did not see the gas pump…. as you drove your trailer around the closed gas station…. at 1 am? Perhaps some of you have. I can indeed account for such fatigue, as I did indeed drive around such a gas pump. Well, perhaps not around the gas pump – more so through it. And so comes the title of this entry: Ooops.

Thank heavens for those sturdy cement rails that frame the pumps! Clearly, this has happened before. I did not notice what I had done. I thought the sounds of screeching metal were some other fool on the road at this un-Godly hour. It was not until I felt the trailer slow down and then DROP that I realized, uh oh, that’s me!

After ensuring the boys were alright, we drove to another gas station just across the road and parked beneath bright lights. We evaluated the damage. Now, for those of you who know me, you know that I seldom swear. In fact, I try not to swear. But, there are those times where all filters are lost and you begin speaking an unrefined, primitive language that causes your average person to turn around and walk run away. This was one of those moments.

Checking on the boys again – Emitt was happily eating hay as though nothing happened, Garth‘s eyes were a bit larger then usual, but nonetheless doing well – I looked down at the wheels. With Roger at my side, and a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, I uttered “Oh no.” Those were not the words racing through my mind. The protective frame around the wheel area was smooshed like a pancake, flat against the trailer and pressing directly into the wheel. Then I noticed the wheel was blown, and the center metal frame was also bent back, like an unsuccessful attempt to open a can of soup. “That’s not good.” Again – not the words I was thinking. Then we noticed the wheel was now on an angle. This is where my language began to change. Moving toward the front of the trailer, we saw that the front corner was severely dented. “Oh —-”. You know what I said. Not appropriate for children or your sweet-natured grandmother.

Do you know where Joppa, MD is? Neither do I. Neither does US Rider. While I waited for a call back from them, we jacked the trailer up, and changed the tire. Making several stops to check on the wheel and tighten the lug nuts, we began the remaining 8 hours of driving.

• Lesson one: Find a partner who can remain calm under pressure – and keep you calm too. Check!
• Lesson two: Ensure that such partner is a genius. Check!
• Lesson three: Listen to your body – when you’re tired, let your co-pilot take over. Ooops Crap.

A very fancy - and independent - baby Emitt!

Aside from this unfortunate circumstance, let’s now turn our focus to something more fun – Emitt! Sweet Emitt enjoyed a calm introduction to life under saddle last fall. Ridden only 5 times, Ensign on Deck RGS trotted a short distance and began to learn how to turn. While in Southern Pines, NC, Emitt was worked by himself in a small paddock, eventually graduation to the covered arena and the large jump field. In approximately 20 rides, he has learned to bend, supple, shift his body weight into the requested contact, and transition to the canter through the correct lead.

Our first ride in the jumping field was great fun. Emitt was very relaxed at the canter – we moved about the field, gliding along, and then suddenly he let out the loudest fart I have ever heard. It spooked both of us. We transitioned to the walk and evaluated the situation – I looking down at Emitt’s face, Emitt looking towards his bum.

Fly, Emitt! Fly! What a good boy!

During our final ride Thursday, I introduced single ground poles and then a set of four trot poles. He was a champion, happily trotting through them without concern or alteration of his balance and pace.

Want to see Emitt in action? Check out his video on our Facebook page HERE and become a fan.

The boys are enjoying a few days off – stretching their legs in our New Hampshire fields and filling up on wonderful second cut timothy hay. Garth will pick back up with work tomorrow and Emitt will continue with his rides 1 – 2 times each week. Although I miss the 80 degree weather of the sunny south, it is nice to be home and to get back to reality: I will return to my traditional office tomorrow morning, dressed in a suit instead of breeches and a polo.

Katie Murphy

info@murphyeventing.com

Murphy Eventing’s Facebook Page HERE

Two girls. Two appy's. One love.

Years ago, there were two girls. Both rode appaloosas. They met in Pony Club and attended horse events together. Both had a secret language they shared with their pony. They were often caught giggling in a stall when they were supposed to be studying for know-down. Years later, each girl still has horses and they still share a secret language with their equine friends. The love of horses transcends age, and survives the weight of maturity. Regardless of our life path, choices, and how we spend our days, the love of horses still lingers.

The love of horses is constant.

Jessie and I had not spent time together since we were in Pony Club. More then a decade later, here we were: picking up right where we left off. The boys, Samson and Sophie, and I went to visit Jessie at her home in Aiken, SC. Her husband and darling lab puppy, Penny, welcomed my clan with opened arms – the dogs were welcomed by a little black nose swimming in a butter cream coat. I though I had found Aiken’s first polar bear cub! With bountiful licks, Penny won our hearts and Sophie found a new playmate.

Garth and Joey - new friends!

Over the weekend, we enjoyed beautiful hacks. Meandering through open fields with hills that begged to be galloped on, our conversation evolved from horses, to life, and to future plans with horses in our lives (naturally). Our evening was spent sipping wine on a brick patio with soft lighting, as the magnolia trees were cooled by a blanket of evening shadows. A perfect evening.

Iris, Jessie’s mother in-law, reminisced about my visit 10+years ago during a college spring break – who needs Cancun when you can go to Aiken?! One of her boarders graciously offered me their horse to ride. In one of the fields, the horse reared high atop the hill. Iris was a bit worried, concerned I was alright. My response, in true Katie fashion: “Not to worry. I had the most beautiful view of the farm from up there!”

The boys felt cramped in their private field...

I was sad to leave. The weekend went by so quickly. Spending time with a childhood friend, still laughing, still riding – it was as though the years that now separate us from our youth had never passed.

I long to return. Perhaps Southern Pines has new competition for 2013. After all, Chime Bell Farm‘s galloping track was begging for a go, and Garth’s canter continues to strengthen. Perhaps I will enjoy another brilliant view of the hillside, and the vast fields peppered with horses grazing among emerald grass.

Hills. Hello conditioning!

Katie Murphy

info@murphyeventing.com

Facebook: Murphy Eventing

An amazing location for all things horsey!

This past weekend, Baby G went to his first USEA recognized horse trials: Southern Pines 1 at the Carolina Horse Park. A beautifully run competition on fabulous grounds, SP 1 had 330+ entries, six dressage rings, packs of supreme event dogs, and an abundance of activity.

Garth competed in the Open Novice D division alongside Robert Costello, Amy Barrington, Mark Weissbecker, and many others. He focused beautifully and performed his dressage test with discipline and composure, despite the surrounding stimuli. Fortunately for all parties concerned, Esccord RGS refrained from exposing himself at the halt – instead opting for a minor bow of his head to the judge. He tied for 3rd out of a division of 16, earning many 8s and 7s.

Stadium was a great experience for us. The beautifully decorated fences were bright, cheerful, and terrifying at the same time. I think Garth did a great job holding himself together and making his way around the course despite great concern for the pony-eating flower boxes and lattices that held gremlins beneath the striped rails. The painted stonewalls were of particular concern – after all, you never know when a chipmunk may appear. Despite his two rails and awkward moments, he rose above his spookiness, jumped each fence, and quickly focused on his next obstacle.

"Wait, we're back here? What for?" Garth discovers XC on day 2.

Cross-country was a blast, and perhaps the most difficult ride of my life. Who knew that modest 2’11″ fences would make you work hard then a 4’3″ jumper course? The course was solid for Novice level, including various coops, roll tops, brush, two water elements (one with a combination), a roll top with drop, and a ditch on a bending line between two oxers. He was careful to have a good look at each fence and jumped willingly – often with the exuberance of a kangaroo. For the first water, we opted for an introduction prior to our obstacle, and he went into each pond without concern. He also trotted the ditch beautifully, showing little worry as we approached home in a large, open field. Garth jumped clean and we both cantered through the finish flags with big smiles. (Check out our Facebook Page for the helmet cam video) He placed 8th overall.

I learned a lot this weekend. First and foremost was the importance of sitting back. Sit back, sit back, support, and patient guidance. Due to his age (turning 4 at the end of March) and limited exposure, he naturally backs himself off to each fence to allow for more time to assess. There is a grave difference between a supportive leg and an overbearing aid. Although I was supporting and convincing him to each fence, I was careful to not be overly aggressive – the last thing I want to do is scare him. All in all, he felt like a star at the end of the day and had more confidence then he did at the start of the competition. He seemed to hold himself a bit taller when he returned to Emitt. After all, Baby G is now a performance horse – USEA style.

The dogs had a great time! Sophie was exhausted - she made many new friends!

For the remainder of our time here, we will continue with our lessons. I plan to school him around every possible stadium course I can find in the area. In time, he will gain more exposure and this will build towards greater performance and comfort in the competition ring.

A special thank you to Roger for all his grooming assistance, videos and support. Fortunately for me, the horses and dogs have stolen his heart and he has decided to stick around for another event season! We were touched by the number of friends who congratulated us on our engagement – Thank you!

Katie Murphy

info@murphyeventing.com

Murphy Eventing on Facebook

My very first puppy! Ms. Sophie.

Garth had his first event today! I apologize in advance for not having any photos or video of our performances. You see, I was distracted – I got a puppy! She is an adorable 6 pound fur ball with multiple colors, tufts of hair pointing every-which-way, and beautiful dark brown eyes. But more on Sophie later.

Garth competed at the Running Start Horse Trials. This was their first schooling horse show, and by their organization, fences, and lovely team of volunteers, you would have thought they’d had far more practice. Although it was a sunny 53 degree day, the winds made it feel like a cold autumn day in New England. Young Esccord RGS was overwhelmed with the wind, the busy trailer parking area, and the abundance of friends yet to be made. He was higher then a kite. And as each gust of wind tickled his tail, he grew taller and more electric.

Garth's inspiration in today's dressage test.

How many of you have received a 1 on your dressage test? Anyone? Neither had I – until today. Our test was very acceptable given Garth’s age, experience and this being his first time under saddle at a show. He performed his movements accurately, executed each canter transition without delay, and handled the rattling metal covered arena in stride – until the end. He simply did not want to halt. Shimmy to the right, shimmy to the left, then straight up. He offered the judge a prime view of his belly button.  He had six scores of 8 and six scores of 7. Garth placed third after dressage with a score of 32.9. The top three placings maintained their positions throughout the event. We were 1.4 points out of first place.

Stadium, though small in size and very inviting, was full of distraction. Garth jumped all the fences and kept the rails in their cups, though I have never had to ride stadium so strongly. With every fence there was a wiggle and a jiggle. I was impressed that despite his distraction and spooks, he diligently got himself over each jump.

Cross country was a blast. This is what makes us eventers. Mari Secrist’s course is absolutely brilliant for youngsters. There is every jump imaginable, but in mini-form. Garth cantered through the fields with a smile. His long stride ate up the territory and he floated over the curves of the fields with ease and a quiet confidence. I brought him to the trot as we approached the water, and he trotted in as though it were his own private swimming hole. He cantered over the ditch without hesitation and made light work of the rest of the course. I am so proud of him!

My biggest hope for this outing was that it would be a positive experience for Garth. I think he is very proud of his performance, and felt comfortable given the questions he was asked too navigate. This was a great way to start our season in preparation for the USEA events.

Katie Murphy

www.MurphyEventing.com

Our Facebook Page!

The chicken hat. I passed on this - worried Roger would want his ring back.

Yesterday afternoon, the winds were gusting upwards of 30 miles per hour. The temperatures were dropping, and it was COLD! In fact, it was warmer in New Hampshire. I was confused. Very confused.

Knowing the winds would pick up speed as the day progressed, I rode Emitt first thing in the morning. Baby Emitt pulled up his big boy pants and trotted around proudly in the fenced paddock (Kami and I have adopted the smaller pasture for our “baby rides” for safety purposes). He learned bending, moving away from the leg, and an introduction to softening – all at the walk and trot. Plus, he did not trip over himself! A small feat given that his body is changing every day. He’s growing up so fast. Garth had our best flat school yet. Despite continuous cries of loneliness to the horses at the barn, he was very workman-like in all three gates. He has a big and powerful canter – as I ride him, I often see his front legs reaching out in front of us, like a dolphin jumping over ocean waves. He is building balance and strength well, but the canter is his most difficult gate to hold together. He too continues to grow – fortunately, I am tall and prefer the leggy horses.

Trinny - the flying couch!

Afterwards, Kami and I went out hacking on Howard and Trinidad. Trinidad is Kami’s hunt horse – a paint Premarin gelding she’s had since he was a weanling. He is as wide as a dually, steady as the sun, and a wonderfully comfortable ride. We hacked through the Moss Foundation, jumping fences as we came upon them. Trinny has one speed at the canter – kick and kick as you may, he is not changing gears. So, you’d imagine my surprise when the four of us found ourselves suddenly flying across the hay field. We were approaching the covered arena, and the wind hit the metal roofing just right, creating a terrifying symphony of thunder and bangs. The boys spooked, Kami and I held on, we spun, and then we were moving at a speed I don’t think Trinny knew he was capable of. Suddenly, I was aboard a very comfortable flying couch!

It was so much fun riding for the sake of riding – no worries of training, no concerns about the next competition, just going out and having fun with horses. I tend to get stuck in my own head – very focused. My mother calls it “the Zone”. You can yell and scream at me, but unless you run directly in front of my path, chances are I am not going to see you or hear you while I am training. I adore every moment I am on a horse, however each moment is a chance to improve and there are objectives I wish to meet within each passing stride. To kick for the hell of kicking, and bomb through a pine forest without worry of a training schedule was a blast. I felt like the 7 year old child flying around our back field on my first pony, DeeDee .

After another night of chill, we awoke to frozen water and hungry ponies. Opting to wait for the sun to rise and the ground the thaw before riding, we found ourselves questioning how we’d spend our morning hours. So, what does one do when the wind and frost prove to be best avoided in the early hours of the morning? You go to Walmart, of course! My best purchase in winter wear: Gloves mittens with removal finger tops. They are warm, functional and were a bargain at $2.

Katie Murphy

info@murphyeventing.com

Please “Like” us on Facebook HERE

Where there are horses, there are dogs! Kami's trio of Jacks and my forgiving Lab, Samson.

When I was looking at colleges, the first thing that came to mind was leaving the snow. For four years, I could live anywhere and become the person I wanted to be. I chose Guilford College in Greensboro, NC over Wheaton College in chilly MA. I had no clue what I wanted to major in, nor my future occupation. Immediate goal: warmth. Long-term goal: afford horses.

10 years later, I returned to North Carolina for a second time. Marketing Coordinator by day, insatiably happy, sun-loving equestrian by late afternoon and evening.

I find both regions are wonderful areas of our country and have their own benefits, particularly during the winter months:

The Northern Tundra:

1.  You can use your porch for additional freezer space
2. Your blood never fully thaws, so it is hard to tell the difference between 0 and -22 degrees (that is without wind chill, of course)
3. You get your outdoor work done FAST! Be it fear of losing an appendage to frost bite, or yearning to feel your toes again, you do not dilly-dally
4. A roaring wood-stove, cup of tea, and blustering snow storm make for the perfect evening. It also makes for the perfect Currier & Ives painting, but we New Englanders choose to live that life of romance first-hand
5. Feel like a little nip? Shove a bottle of wine in the snow bank – it will chill in minutes
6. Sweaters are cozy

Amazing milkshakes: Peanut Butter Chocolate and Heath Toffee Crunch

Southern Living:

1. There is grass. Even in the dead of winter, you can find green vegetation
2. It is never pitch black at 4:30pm
3. Sweaters are cozy. A duplicate, I know, but unless it’s 65+ degrees, I am chilly.
4. I have yet to find better Mexican food anywhere outside of North Carolina. Visions of chicken enchiladas wrapped in cheese and that delicious glow-in-the-dark sauce fill my head.
5. Cook Out. ‘Nough said.
6. You can ride through the winter – no worries of “Hmmm. Is 12 degrees with a wind-chill of -15 too cold for Baby G?”
7. People smile more down south. Whether it is genuine or not, who’s to say. But it sets a happy mood.
8. Jacket by morning, polo by afternoon. Stippin’ down baby because you get that hot!
9. Pony-lovers galore! There are barns everywhere. If a home does not have a barn, word on the street is they are building one in the spring.

I will miss the Twin Ridge Farm crew. Fitty boarded at this dressage barn for one month each of the past two years to give us a head start on the event season. I met many wonderful people and made some great friends. They are a classy bunch: they never once laughed at me for doing jump exercises simulated with ground poles, or trot sets in gallop position – all in the indoor.

Perhaps the most excited part of my two months away is my proximity to my horses. Last year, I was a short 5 miles from our rental stalls, sharing a home with friends. This year, the boys will reside just steps from our rental cottage. I am looking forward to the short commute between home, the barn, and the office. For the first time since high school, I will start and end each day with a view of my handsome boys.

Katie Murphy

info@murphyeventing.com

Murphy Eventing Facebook Page HERE

Lookin' for love (or a pony)? Kiss me!

News Flash - Roger and I are engaged!

I’ll be the first to admit, I was never the girl who fantasized about marriage, a wedding, or the picket fenced yard filled with children. Once, my mother caught me kissing a frog. She asked if I was hoping for my Prince Charming. I astoutely responded, “No Mom. I want his horse.”

So, it seems I met my prince nearly two year ago – not by kissing a frog, but by picking up grain at my sponsor’s grain store in Bow, NH. One incredibly honest and candid email later, and I had a date – the first date in nearly three years. It turns out Roger and I had both been single for a while. I was happy training and competing the horses, finding the balance between my work in the office and my passion in the saddle, and building my life around my aspirations. After more then a year of being single, I accepted that I may be single for the rest of my life. Surrounded by wonderful friends, a loving family, and my menagerie of animals, I embraced this fate with contentment.

Demers' Diamond Delivery service

Roger popped the question just days before we would leave for Southern Pines, North Carolina. I had been wondering if he was going to propose, or if I would return from the land of sunshine and happiness as a single gal. I had just finished my evening Facebook ritual and was about to settle into bed. Then Roger walked in, tossed Frankie on the bed (the usual routine) and sternly uttered the dreadful words that anyone in any relationships loathes: “We need to talk.” I thought, “Oh crap. Here is comes. He’s had enough of the horses. He does not want a yuppy farm. I knew this was all too good to be true – it was just a matter of time.” He came around the bed, and sat down facing me. Before he got down on one knee, there were several “I love yous”, mentions of happiness since we met, and warm sentiments. He lowered to one knee, and asked me to be his wife – to marry him. I said yes. It must have been apparent that I was looking for the ring, and Roger said “Look at Frankie.” Tied around his neck on a piece of braiding yarn (how appropriate) was the ring box. I took it from his neck, gave it to Roger, and he placed it on my finger.

Our lovely antique ring.

Just when I thought it could not get any better, Roger delivered a home run: “I can’t wait to build out lives together. And, our lives with the horses.” How did I get so lucky?

So the rest is history – or will be history as our life together unfolds.

Katie Murphy

info@murphyeventing.com

Facebook: Murphy Eventing HERE