A Lifelong Equestrian Passion
The Early Years
Chris’ passion for horses began in the fall of first grade when she began taking weekly riding lessons at Brecon Stable in Keswick, VA. Within a short time, she had become an independent rider participating in a variety of riding experiences from trail rides, to horse shows, to the occasional fox hunt. Not only did Chris learn the fundamentals of riding at an early age, but this particular lesson program was very special, for it provided students with extended periods of time at the barn which included hands on experience in all aspects of horse care. From grooming, to feeding, to cleaning stalls and tending to injuries, this was an immersive experience that provided Chris with a wealth of knowledge. Through applied hard work and dedication, these early experiences became the foundation that has helped shape her into the knowledgeable and passionate horsewoman she is today.
While riding at Brecon Stable, Chris spent her early years riding and showing several wonderful ponies. As she grew and her skills improved, she transitioned to a large pony by the name of Flibberty Jibbet. Jibbet was what you might call a finesse ride. She was a sensitive and responsive large pony that required a quiet rider, but true to her name, she could be a little reactive and spooky at times. She was however a lot of fun to ride, and together the two built a strong partnership and experienced much success. Chris later began to ride and show a kind and quiet Thoroughbred by the name of Rhubarb. He was your typical hunter pleasure horse. Steady and predictable with a lovely way of going. Both of these horses will forever hold a very special place in her heart and were her primary foundation horses.
Branching Out
When Chris was a sophomore in high school, she transitioned to riding at Oakland Heights Farm with Sally and David Lamb. Here she continued to take an active role in all aspects of horse care, further developing her horsemanship skills. It was also at this time that she became an active member in a local 4-H club. While at Oakland Heights Farm, Chris had the opportunity to ride and show a large variety of horses and ponies. As soon as she obtained her drivers license, she began to spend as much time as possible working and riding out at the farm.
In a short time, she began riding one of Sally’s personal favorites, a beautiful bay gelding by the name of In Retrospect, aka Mikey. He was a handsome Thoroughbred gelding who was a beautiful mover and talented jumper. He was very well trained which allowed Chris to further develop her skills. Over the next 3 years, the two of them became stronger and stronger, and by the time Chris was preparing to depart for college, they were excelling at local shows in the Hunter Pleasure, Children’s Hunter, and the 3′ Working Hunter divisions. Chris is forever grateful to Sally and David for the incredible opportunities she had while riding with them, as well as for the immeasurable knowledge and horse sense that was gained by her time spent with them on the farm.
College Years
Continuing to lean into her passion, Chris made the decision to attend Averett University where she pursued a major in Equestrian Studies and Business Administration. While at Averett, she broadened her riding experiences to include low level Eventing which consisted of dressage, cross country and stadium jumping. During her time at Averett, she most enjoyed the precision of dressage work and the continued refinement it brought to her riding. Other key aspects of the program included equine science, stable management, small business management and hands on lesson preparation and instruction.
Post Graduation
Shortly following graduation, Chris, along with her husband Joe and their young daughter Caitlyn, decided to move back to central Virginia, where her equestrian journey had begun and where her family still resided. A few months after relocating, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Emma. Over the next several of years, their various horses were boarded at multiple farms in the area. This proved to be challenging at times, especially during stretches of inclement winter weather.
Searching For Just The Right Horses
When the girls were still very young, Chris spent her time riding and working with multiple project animals, but as the girls grew, she soon turned her attention to finding them a suitable first pony. This took some time, but she eventually found a 12.2h mare they named Cricket. She was a beautiful solid bay with a dished forehead and large kind eye. Caitlyn rode her for several years and successfully showed her in the walk/trot divisions.
While continuing to look for a pleasure horse for herself, Chris had the good fortune of coming across not one but two phenomenal horses, Chance and Eddie. Chance was a large grey Warmblood x Thoroughbred and Eddie was a slightly smaller copper colored chestnut Thoroughbred. Both geldings were approaching 20 years old, and had been previous college school horses who were looking for a quieter career. Although Chris enjoyed riding them on occasion, they were primarily ridden by her daughters and other lesson students. Everyone who knew them, loved them.
The family now owned up to 3 or more horses, and boarding multiple animals no longer made sense. In February of 2011, after looking at multiple properties, they found just the right farm in Fluvanna County, nestled in the heart of central Virginia.
As the girls began to ride more, and lessons increased, Chris herself naturally rode less. Eventually the girls began riding and showing other horses and the two older geldings were officially retired and comfortably lived out their days on the family farm. By June of 2020, Chris and Joe found themselves for the first time in a long time, horseless.
New Inspiration
After taking a short break from horse ownership, Chris began to feel a tug at her heartstrings, and a growing desire to once again have horses frolicking on the farm. This time, however, they were not Welsh ponies or Thoroughbreds that she was feeling a strong affinity towards, but the Miniature horse.
Following her return to 4-H as a club c0-leader in 2023, Chris’ interest and intrigue in the breed began to grow. Minis had been steadily gaining popularity in the 4-H horse program for several years and had become a highlight to watch at the State 4-H Horse and Pony Show. The Miniature horse had become so popular that it now had its own dedicated division showcasing the breed’s vast versatility. These small but mighty horses could be seen competing in showmanship, agility, hunter jumping in-hand as well as driving and trail. Although they had been growing in popularity in other regions of the state, there was still not much of a presence for youth working with them locally. This got Chris thinking…could she somehow share her newfound passion for this breed and work to provide more knowledge, opportunities and access to these wonderful horses in her local community???
After several months of careful thought and planning, Chris adopted her first three minis from a local rescue on October 31, 2024. Care-A-Lot Miniature Horses was officially founded in 2025 due to Chris’ deep love for this intelligent and versatile breed, and a desire to bring about greater awareness for the specific needs and requirements necessary to ensure their optimum health, happiness and comfort. At Care-A-Lot Miniature Horses, our mission is to share heart-warming equestrian opportunities that are accessible and affordable for children and adults of all ages. From horsemanship lessons, mini meet-and-greets, engaging blog posts, to stunning photo galleries, we invite you to explore the delightful world of miniature horses at Care-A-Lot Farm.
Horses Who Have Touched Our Lives
