Such is my life that I discovered Eric Dierks, and his presence practically on my doorstep here in Kentucky, just as he is making plans to re-locate for the winter.  Counter-intuitively he'll actually be heading north this week for Thanksgiving and then Christmas, as his parents run a big barn in Wisconsin - brrrr, and he'll spend the holidays with them, before much more sensibly moving south to North Carolina for the brunt of the winter, and returning to Kentucky, probably around mid-March. 

Who is Eric Dierks? He's a tall, sandy-haired, blue-eyed eventer (Ladies, my flip video does not do him justice!) who moved into the Lexington, Kentucky area this Spring, and has been quietly teaching, riding and building up a business.

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Trainers Announced for Challenge
The Board of Directors of the Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) has approved the selection of three trainers to participate in the Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge at the Maryland and Pennsylvania Horse World Expos as well as the judges for the Maryland expo. The trainers were selected from the RRTP's online Trainer Directory.

"We wanted trainers who not only have proven themselves in high-level competition with Thoroughbred ex-rachorses, but who also have outstanding reputations in their communities for effective work both with horses and with people," said RRTP founder Steuart Pittman. "All three of these trainers are consummate professionals with excellent communication skils and a burning passion for retired racehorses. All three owe their professional success to these horses and are thrilled to be part of this event."

 THE TRAINERS

Kerry Blackmer operates her Miles Ahead Farm at Loch Moy Farm near Frederick, Maryland. She currently has eight ex-racehorses in her barn that she is training for sale, and teaches students of all ages who compete in dressage, hunters, jumpers, equitation, and eventing. Under the tutelage of Buck Davidson, Kerry herself has evented through the advanced level. "Every great horse I've had the honor of riding has been off the track. These horses made me who I am. I owe them everything." 
Photo credit: Mike McNally








Tiffany Cattledge operates Allforit Farm at Fox Chase Farm in Middleburg, Virginia. She is truly multi-discipline and can be found at A-rated hunter shows, dressage shows, and horse trials on most weekends. While Tiffany's training, sales, and lesson business involves young horses of all breeds, "I particularly love OTTB's. They are balanced, forward-thinking, forgiving, and have a great work ethic. You can't beat a good Thoroughbred."










Eric Dierks runs Eric Dierks Equestrian out of Renovatio Farm in Tryon, North Carolina. With a stong foundation as the son of a dressage trainer, Eric grew up in Pony Club and worked his way to the top in the sport of eventing where he has taken multiple ex-racehorses to the advanced level. In addition to running an active training, sales, and lesson business that prepares horses and riders for multiple disciplines, Eric teaches clinics throughout the country, serves on the Board of Governors of the United States Pony Club (not the United Stares Eventing Association as listed earlier!), and shares his knowledge and opinions on a blog at ericdierksequestrian.com. "I love what the Retired Racehorse Training Project is doing and want to be a part of it," he says.