A SIDEWAYS GLANCE AT THE PADDOCK

Now that the Mrs. Miles B. Valentine Side Saddle Race is less than two weeks away, we thought it would be a good time to introduce you to some of the brave ladies and their steeds that will be taking part in this adrenaline filled day.

We will be featuring a different jockey every few days and asking them the same questions so you can pick your favorites. This promises to be a wonderful display of tradition, elegance and bravery run in honor of Mrs. Miles Valentine, who graced many hunt fields with her style and unmatched horsemanship. This year’s “Lady Dianas” will impress race fans by negotiating 2 miles of brush, timber, and coops typical of inviting hunt country. In our minds, anyone who is brave enough to give this a go is a winner so Chasing a Fox is rooting for them all!

We would like to introduce you all to our first Jockey- AMY MAGEE

So, Amy, inquiring minds want to know…….

How old are you?

41 years old ?

Who are you riding?

I am riding my homebred Little Lady

A 9yo 16.1 bay Hanoverian made by Landkoenig out of a Maronjo X Lemon Park mare.

Where are you coming from?

I am exactly 17 miles from the racecourse. I live in Coatesville, PA (just a skip down the road)

How long have you been riding and when did you start riding sideways?

I started riding in 1987 when I was 12yo at a local riding stable. I come from a nonhorsey family and finally convinced them to let me take lessons. My first riding instructor rode aside before I started with her and I always wanted to do it. In 1995 while on vacation, I found a sidesaddle for sale in a small tack shop. Even though I was on a college student budget, I unknowingly purchased what was one of the biggest names in sidesaddles and will be riding in the same saddle at the race. She is an Owen, which was in practically untouched condition when I bought her. I had no idea what I had found, but desperately wanted to ride aside but had no access to a saddle prior to that.

Are you a Foxhunter? If you are how long have you been hunting and who do you hunt with?

I am new to fox hunting having hunted for the first time this past Thanksgiving on Lady. Hunted aside for the first time for New Years. I am a member of Kimberton Hunt.

I event, and for years friends have tried to convince me to go hunting but never went. This year both my kids are in school, and I decided to give it a try. I am hooked and LOVE it! I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long to give it a try!!!!!

What do you love about sidesaddle?

I love the elegance of riding aside. I always sit a little straighter and smile a little wider when aside. I actually prefer riding aside due to some injuries I sustained in 2001 when a horse reared up and flipped over and landed on me breaking my back in 3 spots, my pelvis, and my left hip. When aside in a near side saddle, your left leg does very little. I have very little strength in my left leg, so it works perfectly!!!!!!

What do you do when you’re not riding?

Currently, I am a mom to a 5 and 7-year-old, run a small boarding barn, help out at my husbands company and have a small custom leather/sewing shop where I specialize in sidesaddle items. And I am an ER nurse. But not currently working in the hospital due to my young ones.

What part of the weekend are you looking forward to most?

I am looking forward to spending the weekend with my horse. It’s rare I get time to myself and am usually juggling several things at the same time. I plan to have no other things I need to do that whole weekend, and my husband has agreed to entertain the kids, so I get to spend every minute immersed in horses. ?

Chasing a Fox wishes Amy and Little Lady, good luck on race day!

For more information about this lovely event, visit http://cheshirepointtopoint.com

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