Equine Business is Dream Come True for WTAMU Grad Student

Paladino+encouraging+a+students+young+horse+as+they+tackle+the+water+complex+for+the+first+time+during+cross+schooling+at+Skyline+Farms+in+Midland%2C+TX.

Aimee Sue Ellen Paul

Paladino encouraging a student’s young horse as they tackle the water complex for the first time during cross schooling at Skyline Farms in Midland, TX.

Marni Steckmann, Reporter

When it comes to hopes and dreams, there is always a starting point. For Rachel Paladino, West Texas A&M masters’ student, small business owner, non-profit organization board member and single mother, her starting point was moving to Canyon, Texas 12 years ago.

“I’d love to own 250 acres or enough land to grow hay, have a cross country course, and a covered arena,” Paladino said.

Paladino, owner of Virginia Creek Farms, teaches local kids, teens and adults the three phases of Eventing: a form of English horseback riding consisting of dressage, cross country and show jumping as well as proper horsemanship and care.

Not long after Paladino’s move from Virginia to Texas, her life took a huge turn. She got divorced, lost her home, her pickup and struggled to make a living for her and her son while working part time at Robinson’s Family Feed store in Amarillo.

During her 7 years at Robinson’s, Paladino met quite a few of her current clients when they came in looking for English lessons. After two years of maintaining her title of Equine Nutritionist at Robinson’s and teaching at the same time, she branched out on her own.

“I left the feed store because there was a need for someone with a strong, English non- quarter horse background in the area,” Paladino said.

She believed her business would be successful simply because of the idea that if you can make someone else’s’ business work, you can make your own business work.

So far, Paladino seems to have been right. She has had some of her students since they were on their first ponies and has a very close relationship with everyone in her program. One of her students even asked her parents that if they died if she would be able to take her pony and go live with Paladino.

“It’s a very aunty-like relationship with my little ones and with my adult amateurs, I’m a sounding wall. On a bad day they have someone who understands where they’re coming from. I don’t think I do anything for them, they’re a huge inspiration to me. I’ve learned more from my adult amateurs than they’ve learned from me.”

WT graduate Kendra Williams has ridden with Paladino for 2 years. Paladino has helped her find the perfect horse and has brought Williams confidence up to the point where she is able to jump full courses when a few months ago she was too nervous to canter her old horse she didn’t click with or get along with.

“Rachel taught me that riding is not necessarily about how naturally talented you are, but how mentally and physically tough you can be to achieve something. Talent helps but the I’ve learned that the rest can be cultivated.” Williams said.

Paladino is able to accomplish so much and help so many riders thanks to her working student and WT alum Joanna Pazderny- Stephens, whom she heavily relies on to take on a large percentage of her duties. Paladino and Pazdenry- Stephens have been working together for 9 years.

“I try to help Rachel keep things organized in the barn and teach horsemanship to the girls,” Pazderny-Stevens said. “At shows I make sure everything runs smooth and everyone is where they need to be when they need to be there and that the horses are well cared for.”

Pazderny-Stephens is also who the students go to when they have questions about anything ranging from horse care and barn chores to riding attire and appropriate tack.

Paladino believes that her clientele is a good representation of herself as a business and as a person. This is helped her in other aspects of her life as well, she said she has learned to approach grad school as a job instead of school which gives her more motivation to do her best.

In addition to working and going to school full time, Paladino also is on the board and is the Equine Nutritionist at Dover Creek Ranch and Equine Rescue. Paladino ties her business in with Dove Creek Rescue as well and hosts fundraisers for the rescue that her students are able to be involved in. Once a year she hosts a mock fox hunt and tries to host trot sets occasionally to help her students and their horses in their fitness levels, however all of her fundraising events are open to the public.

Both Paladino and Pazderny – Stephens love watching their clients grow with their horses and as a team more than any other part of the job. The team has a great comradery and they believe their good times, fun and laughs they have will last a laugh time and be cherished forever.

While Paladino has reached many of her dreams, there is always more to work for and even she, who has accomplished so much, looks up to others when it comes to her dreams and goals.

“My riding hero is Pippa Funnell; she gave an interview in the early 90’s in which she said she only walks the cross country course once because if she walks it more, it will scare her, so now, I only walk it once too, because if that’s good enough for an Olympic rider than it’s got to be good enough for me too,” Paladino said.