I grew up in upstate NY with my parents, brother,sister, and a lot of animals. We had a small hobby farm and I was a horse-crazy kid. — but I was also very serious about school and loved all things science, literature, and music. In college, the plan was science research, then I switched to creative writing, and then when I was introduced to the sport of dressage (the ballet of the horse world) all my plans changed. After graduating, I went to Germany to learn more about the art and sport. I have been working professionally as a trainer and coach ever since. I started my own business in 2006, married my amazing husband in 2009 and I am still doing what I love everyday. I spend my life in the barn. It is physical and demanding work, but so satisfying to see horses and people learning and to always be learning myself. I get to think like a scientist, be creative in my teaching and riding, think like a sociologist, and speak a foreign language with another species.My favorite part is that I keep moving. I am a professional athlete working alongside one of the most athletic species there is.
Reason to join the ORORO Squad
I hate being cold and I live in upstate NY where I train horses in the cold all day, I needed something to keep me warm. I tried another heated vest which was completely unimpressive and then tried Ororo and have never looked back.
I LOVE the heated collar, the battery life is great (I wear it so much I go through three batteries a day). It is durable and WARM WARM WARM. I got a heavy jacket which I wear over the vest!
What’s your favorite thing about ORORO?
Definitely the heated neck on the vest. That is a lifesaver for me. Dressage riders need to keep their posture correct and their shoulders down which is impossible when you are freezing to death. I can focus when I am warm, and I can get warm quickly after sweating hard during training. I love how fast it heats up and how long the battery lasts.
What are the best 3 words to describe yourself?
Passionate. Driven. Cold
My passion is training horses in the sport of dressage. I love horses and the people that love them. I think about how to make the horses' lives better, how to ride them better, and how to teach people better all of the time. It is a never ending journey to learn more and the partnership, the horse makes all the hard work so worth it.
People always said that my mom was a force of nature and I think I inherited this trait from her. In my drive to become a great trainer, horses always remind me that the balance between action and waiting, power and patience is where you feel the heartbeat that living is.
And cold. Why am I cold? The easiest answer is I live in upstate NY. But seriously, I am one of those people who can’t think when I am cold. Cold feels like knives stabbing my skin. The Ororo heated vest has made things so much better!
Please share a short story about an important challenge that you've overcome (in your life, hobby, or profession):
The challenge that defines who I am is my degenerative eye disease. I have Retinitis Pigmentosa which is taking away my vision. So, everyday I am overcoming the fear that I am losing vision and at some point will be living my life blind. The challenge that I overcome everyday is to believe in myself. I believe that pursuing my dreams in such a profession-where good vision should be a part of what keeps me safe and helps me develop my skills, is worth doing. It seems that my drive is greater than my fear, because everyday I get up and open my eyes and see what I can see today and then I get out to the barn and work toward my goals. I think that when passion and drive meet, you go where they lead you. That is what makes me overcome the limit that my vision impairment could be creating if I let it.
Michelle LaBarre
