Amy Rowe

After Jonathan Sheppard retired. I owned my own truck and 3 horse gooseneck trailer. And I worked as a private shipper for the new owners of his farm. They also trained steeplechase horses. I regularly shipped them to the races and in the morning to train. As well as to vet appointments. I also shipped occasionally for other people from time to time.

I galloped horses and got them fit for steeplechase races. I also drove the truck and trailer to the races and assisted with everything that needed to be done with the horses on race day.

Managed between 40 to 60 race horses. And on average 15 employees. I galloped horses on the days we were short staffed. I went racing regularly, and led up many G1 winners. As an assistant trainer I checked legs daily and had every horse jog up for me before morning turn out. I watched all my horses train every day and adjusted their equipment as needed. Mostly bits nose bands and occasionally saddles and pads..since race horses tend to get back sore. I maintained the 5/8 wood chip track. I basically did anything that needed done to make the day run smoothly. Reporting to Jonathan how every horse was training on a regular basis. He trained almost 200 horses so he wasn't in town every day. It was a high pressure job at times. But he was an amazing trainer and they were some of the best years of my life. Jonathan was in the racing hall of fame. And had won steeplechase leading trainer 26 times.

This was my first job with race horses. I had done only show horses and some three day eventing prior to working for Bruce. I was a deer in the headlights. It was so intense and demanding so I did everything and anything you could do in a barn. And when it all finally clicked and I fell in love with the race horses I'm proud to say that I was part of the team in 1996 the one and only year that Bruce Miller was leading steeplechase trainer.