Meet the Equicizer Team! - Amanda Elia

This week marks the third installment of our "Meet the Equicizer Team" series!

Amanda Elia

Director of Social Media

Churchill Downs, June 2017

Amanda is from the North coast of Ohio and was born in the same city where the Equicizer workshop is located, Norwalk! Her experience with horses dates back farther than she can even remember. This lifelong love was nurtured by lessons on her aunt's Appaloosas, riding lessons, volunteering at various barns, friends offering their horses, and finally at age 15, a horse of her own. Amanda was very active in high school in National Honor Society, college classes, track and field, and of course 4H! After high school, she went on to earn her BA in English with a focus on writing and a minor in Spanish Language at the University of Toledo. After college she worked as a writer for a while before falling into what she calls her "accidental career" in healthcare. Currently, Amanda manages a family medicine practice near Cleveland in addition to her work with Wooden Horse Corporation.

Where did you grow up?  

I grew up in Huron, Ohio, which is just about dead center along the northern edge of the state. For all but three years of my life, I lived in a house on the south side of town with a cornfield in my backyard. Beyond the cornfield there were woods and behind one row of houses, there was a valley separated by a crick lined by willow trees! It was a quiet, idyllic, happy place to grow up!

I couldn't say "Marcella"
so Marella it was!

What is your earliest memory?  
One of my earliest memories is sitting on the big hill in front of our first home. I would sit there with my mom and wait for my dad to come home from work. For some reason, I named it the "Miss Marella" hill after a duck from one of my (many) favorite childhood books about a duck that paints the moon.

Did you have any pets as a child?  What kind?

Jasmine

My first pet was a cat I named Jasmine after the Disney Princess, of course. I had many cats, a hamster, an African Clawed frog, fish, birds, and a dog named Moose, I was also famous for insisting on nurturing various wild animals back to health including a dove we named Tess and a robin.

What did you do during the summertime?

Growing up in Northern Ohio, I had Lake Erie a few blocks north of home and endless woods and fields all around me. I loved to swim (I could swim before I could walk), lay on the beach, walk through the woods, fish, and of course go to Cedar Point! We also had a zoo membership and went often.

Grandpa Ralph

Who was the most influential person to you as a child?

I could write a book on the influence of my parents, but besides the two of them, one of the most influential people on me was my Grandpa Ralph. He always made me feel like I was the absolute apple of his eye. He was proud of everything I did and always made me feel special. On a more somber note, losing him when I was six taught me about grief and the value of appreciating the time you have with your family members. I think losing him made me appreciate my other grandparents even more.

Who was your best friend?  Are you still in touch with them?

Lindsay & I at my
wedding at Nickajack Farms

My best friend was and still is Lindsay. We were inseparable and many people thought we were sisters. Though we went to different colleges and she lives in Cincinnati now, we will always be best friends. She was the matron of honor in my wedding last August.

What is your definition of “happiness”?

Being around horses! There is so much value in the activities we enjoy "unplugged". I love that horses give me so much time to connect with nature.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

What spare time? Kidding. I love to travel with my husband, Eric, read, exercise, ride, and garden. I still actively compete with Chester in English Pleasure and speed classes. Since we were married last August, Eric and I have traveled to Jamaica, Las Vegas, and Chicago. Over the next year, we have plans to visit Houston, Toronto, and the Bahamas.

What equine in your lifetime made the biggest impact on you and why?

The first time I met
Chester at his old home.

As mentioned earlier, I got my horse Chester when I was 15. A few years prior, I had actually been banned from asking for a horse because my parents felt bad that was not something they could give me. My mom had told me to pray for one because God was the only one who could provide that. Well, He did! My dad came home from work one day and said his boss was looking to re-home her own horse's pasture companion as she was moving to full board. My parents discussed it and said I would have to pay the expenses. I readily agreed, met Chester, fell in love, and found a boarding farm just down the road that only charged 75$/month! I went to Mexico on a mission trip and my parents said they'd decide by the time I got home. I came home from Mexico on my 15th birthday and they suggested we stop out to the boarding facility to check it out. I was bummed they hadn't made up their minds and became agitated when my dad just strolled out into the pasture, telling him he couldn't just make himself at home! My mom grabbed my arm and pointed saying, "Amanda look at the horse he is walking toward". They had gotten Chester for me when I was away... the rest is history!

What horseman made the biggest impact on your riding/horsemanship and why?

Dumplin & me at County Fair

Being that Chester was a 7 year old OTTB who had just had 2 years of turnout, our first year or two together was quite rough. Joining 4H was the best thing I ever did. In addition to the support of other leaders, I linked up with a trainer named Wendy who took me under her wing and transformed me as a rider. I also showed her mare, a TWH named Copy's Apple Dumplin. The combination of being able to learn on her mare and my own horse really helped me make strides (no pun intended) in Chester's training. I still love catching up with her and consider her the most influential person on my competitive career.

How did you become a part of Wooden Horse Corporation?

My brother helped on a construction job for Frankie and linked us up!

What is it like working in the Wooden Horse Corporation office?

I typically work remotely, but I treasure the quarterly in-office check-ins because spending time with Frankie and Kayla in person is so fun! When the three of us get together, we really get on a role with ideas and planning. Moreover, the office is a great place in and of itself. If you are in the area, I recommend making an appointment to check it out. There is lots of history there and fun things to see!

What do you think the future holds for Wooden Horse Corporation?

The future is very bright for WHC! Without giving too much away, there are so many cool new directions the Equicizer will be going in the next 5 years.

www.equicizer.com

Equicizer Identification

Did you know that each and every Equicizer has an identification number unique to that specific Equicizer? Equicizer creator, Frankie Lovato, created this identification system back when he made his very first Equicizer in 1981. The identification system has remained largely the same, with some small variations as the Equicizer has evolved through the years.

As you may already know, Frankie created his very first Equicizer in 1981, out of pure necessity, to help himself rehab from a badly fractured leg sustained in a racing accident. (You can learn more about how and why this Equicizer came to be by reading more here.) After that first Equicizer creation, Frankie had no intention of building more but word slowly got out and other riders began seeking a tool that would allow them to rehab and stay in shape, so in 1984 he built his second Equicizer, for Hall of Fame Jockey Laffit Pincay. Some more time lapsed but word was continuing to spread and by 1988 Lovato had more Equicizer requests from fellow jockeys.

The 100th Equicizer built in 1991 belonged to
Hall of Fame Jockey, Eddie Maple. This was before
the development of the body motion. It is now used
in the Jockeys' Room on the New York Racing circuit.

In these early years, there were few options, aside from body color, and there was only one Equicizer model. This model did not have body motion and was sold primarily to others jockeys. The identification numbers for the Equicizer in these early years were comprised solely of a series of numbers.

In 1993 Frankie created his very first Equicizer with body motion, which gave customers the option to choose between the original model that featured neck motion only and the newer model with body motion. By 1994 almost everyone was choosing the latter. These two Equicizer models were differentiated between with the letters "T" for traditional or "M" for motion.

By the end of the 90's, partly due to the addition of body movement in the Equicizer, interest from riders of every discipline all around the world had increased dramatically. At this time Frankie introduced an Equicizer model with a fully hand carved and detailed face and a more basic model without these additional details, for those that were concerned only about the benefits the Equicizer offered, as opposed to the finer artistic features. For record keeping, these were defined as the G1 model and the G2 model, which has morphed into what we know today as the Equicizer Elite and the Equicizer Classic models, respectively.

Upon the completion of each Equicizer, before it is packaged and leaves our workshop, it is assigned an identification code which identifies the model ("E" for Elite or "C" for Classic), the year and month it was built, as well as the order it was built in regards to the number of Equicizers that came before it. Every Equicizer is also personally signed by Frankie himself (as seen in above photo).

Do you have your own Equicizer at home or at the barn? If so, take a peek underneath the rear back panel of your Equicizer and you will see his or her unique identification code as well as Frankie's autographed signature!

by Kayla Jarvinen

www.equicizer.com

Meet the Equicizer Team! - Kayla Jarvinen

This week marks the second installment of our "Meet the Equicizer Team" series!

Kayla Jarvinen

Office Manager

Kayla was born in Flint, Michigan and grew up loving horses, despite having little prior experience with them. She has worked for Wooden Horse Corporation since 2014 - aside from a brief hiatus when she pursued an internship on a Thoroughbred rehab farm in Versailles, Kentucky throughout the summer/fall of 2015 - where upon her return, she assumed the role of Office Manager at Wooden Horse Corporation, helping to run daily operations and assisting in special events. She is also the Assistant Director of Jockey World, Inc., an organization focused on educating people about horse racing, where she helped create the “365 Days of Racing Terminology” video series in 2013 with organization founder, Frankie Lovato. The love of her life is her OTTB, Intrinsic Worth “Shorty”. She knows firsthand the benefits the Equicizer provides and is excited about the direction the business continues to head in!

When and where were you born? – I was born in Flint, Michigan on (Friday) January 13th, 1995.

Growing up, what did you enjoy doing during the summertime? – I was blessed with many wonderful, loving grandparents. I loved spending summers visiting, baking and traveling/camping with them.

What was your favorite game? – It figures that Horse-opoly is the first that comes to mind! It was fun. For me, at least... ha ha 😂 


Proof of the horse crazy little girl I was!

What was your favorite subject to study? – History! I was probably the only 5th grader who couldn’t wait for “Social Studies” each day. I still enjoy learning and reading about historical places/events and look forward to traveling to some more of those places in the future.

What was your favorite sport? – I played volleyball up until high school but horse racing was (and still is) easily my sport of choice.



My favorite - "Solomon"
Versailles, Kentucky 2015

How would you describe yourself as a student, both socially and academically? – Growing up I was very shy and stuck close to my small group of friends. School came fairly easily to me and I was highly motivated (to finish, that is) so I was very blessed in that sense! And yes, I was inevitably known to everyone as that crazy horse girl.

What would people you know find surprising about you as a teen? – People that know me now would probably be surprised by how shy I was growing up. I’m still quiet by nature (unless you’re fortunate enough to know me very well – then I apologize in advance) but I enjoy interacting with and getting to know people… especially our customers! Without exaggeration, they are some of the most incredible people I have ever met.

What was your first job? – My first official job was with the Equicizer, here at Wooden Horse Corporation, shortly after high school.

In addition to being paid money, how else has your career created value in your life? – My job has given me the opportunity to travel and participate in many different events around the mid-west, east coast and down south a bit too. I have grown tremendously as a person since beginning my time here from the simplest tasks such as answering a telephone to writing an email to interacting with people of various backgrounds all around the world. I have met more amazing horsemen than I can count from disciplines that range the entire spectrum. My job has opened countless opportunities for me, both personally and professionally and given me the chance to be one part of a very close knit team! I feel so blessed to be doing what I am.

What does the word “family” mean to you? – When I hear the word family I immediately think of my parents, siblings and grandparents. Growing up we were and still are, very close. We're more spread out now, but I visit them every chance I get. Then I think of the family you begin to create as you grow through life… they are awesome. I am very fortunate to have had the chance to surround myself with so many strong, loving people that inspire me every day.

Do you have siblings? How many, are they older or younger? – I have 3 younger siblings. At this time they are 13 (sister), 14 (brother) and 15 (sister). The older we get, the closer we grow. They mean the world to me!


Visiting my family and siblings in Georgia, March 2018

Who is your biggest fan? – My family and friends are by far my biggest fans! I am forever grateful for the support they have and continue to show me, no matter what I choose to do.

Whose biggest fan are you? – I’d like to think I’m my siblings’ biggest fan… I will always support them no matter where they go or what they do.

What do you like to do in your spare time? – I’m a huge book worm! I love to spend time with my horse and other animals, baking, gardening, practicing my photography and continuing to educate myself on various topics in the health and wellness world which is my most recent interest.

My big, bad boy.
Intrinsic Worth aka "Shorty"

Talk about a horse you own now or one you used to own or lease. – As previously mentioned, I own an off track Thoroughbred named Intrinsic Worth (nicknamed “Shorty”). Shorty arrived in Ohio 1 week before I did in 2012. He came from a 3 year layoff in Florida where he had been recuperating from an injury after being rescued and retired by a woman who had trained and continued to follow his racing career after he had left her barn as a 3-year-old. (With many thanks and much love Hilary Pridham)

Frankie Lovato rode and won on Shorty as a 2-year-old before their careers took them in separate directions. Almost a decade later, they reunited back in Norwalk, Ohio. Shortly after, I moved to Norwalk and learned how to not only ride on Shorty, but how to gallop a race horse as well. I fell in love with him and became lucky enough to call him mine. It was nothing less than meant to be.

What is it like working in the Wooden Horse Corporation office? – It’s a very laid back and comfortable, close knit atmosphere. We have fun but we all work very hard as well. Working for a small, growing company is very rewarding and allows you to dabble in many different sections of the business. I’ve learned a tremendous amount and have gained skills in so many different areas. The future is a wide open slate and there’s no doubt it will continue to serve me moving forward.

www.equicizer.com

Equicizer Derby Digest 2018

Equicizer Derby Digest 2018

In case you missed it, the 144th annual "Run for the Roses" was held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday May 5, 2018. We send our sincere congratulations to the winning horse Justify, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith (an Equicizer user!), trainer Bob Baffert, and the group of owners!

Justify is the first horse since 1982 to win the Kentucky Derby without having raced as a two year old. Horses must be three years old to compete in the Derby.

Frankie created this Equicizer Elite in the image of Zenyatta
for jockey Mike Smith.

Did you know? 
Mike Smith, the jockey who rode Justify to victory, has an Equicizer at home in his garage! When he is unable to get to the track to ride, he uses this Equicizer to maintain his muscle memory. He said of it in a Wall Street Journal article, "If you ride that for five minutes you're extremely fit. Staying in a squat position for that long is a whole body workout." Mike Smith rode the famous Zenyatta to a 2009 Breeder's Cup Classic win and his Equicizer is modeled after the famous mare. Check out this video of Mike and jockey Chantal Sutherland giving a race demo at the Equicizer workshop, this video of his warm up before his big win at the 2016 Breeder's Cup, and this video chronicling the creation of Mike's Equicizer version of Zenyatta.

Award-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr working out on 
Churchill Downs' Equicizer before his ride on 
McCraken at the 2017 Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs has an Equicizer (pictured at left) for the jockeys to warm-up and workout on, as do many racetracks across the United States and abroad. Most commonly, they will have the functional Equicizer Classic model, but some tracks have special-made Equicizer Elites created in the image of a famous or historical racehorse. This tool, used by world-famous jockeys to warm up for races like the Kentucky Derby, can be yours! You don't have to go to the track or even leave home!

 

Did you know? 

Nineteen Derby winners have names that start with the letter S. This group includes Secretariat, the fastest horse in Kentucky Derby history, who completed the 1973 race in just under two minutes. Frankie has even made an Equicizer Elite modeled after this famous racehorse!

2018 KY Derby Show/3rd Place: Audible by -2½ lengths.
Ridden by jockey Javier Castellano and trained by Todd Pletcher.

One tool that can be very useful for those training as jockeys are the new Equicizer Elastic Rein Attachments. For training on the Equicizer, these attachments can aid a rider in developing strength and adjusting to the demands of riding racehorses. They give a more realistic feel of contact. Above, you can see the kind of contact and form Javier Castellano uses on Audible is much different than a pleasure rider. 

American Pharaoh, the 2015 Triple Crown winner, 
who was bred/owned by Zayat Stables
and trained by Bob Baffert.

Did you know? 
The Kentucky Derby is referred to as 'The Run for the Roses" because the winner is awarded a blanket sewn with over 400 roses post-race. This blanket weighs about 40 lbs. That is really heavy when you consider the maximum weight to be carried by a horse in a Triple Crown race is 126lbs! That includes the jockey, saddle, and saddle cloth. Pictured above is American Pharaoh draped in the rose blanket at the 2015 Kentucky Derby.



Written/Compiled by: Amanda Elia

www.equicizer.com

Deborah Herbert, Winston the Equicizer and "The50plusEquestrian"

The journey of a "Senior" Equestrian back to fitness, through faith, healthy life choices, training excellence, superior equine health optimization, tack, nutrition….and Fun!

Enthusiasm. A desire to do more; be better. Catchy isn't it? Enter Deborah Herbert. An Equine Artist, Art Education Consultant, Grant Writer and all around great gal, we "met" Deb not too long ago. Although we always tell customers that used Equicizers are hard to come by - because they are - Deb was fortunate to find one not far from our location here in Ohio. She arranged for it to be dropped off at our workshop and hired us to pack "Winston" up and ship him down to her location in Florida.

Deb is rehabbing from an injury and dealing with something many of us can probably relate to all too well when we're forced to step away from riding for an extended period of time (whether we want to admit it or not) - a certain level of anxiety! When you get back into the saddle for the first time after an absence, having the confidence to know your muscles are going to cooperate, your sense of balance is still intact and your reflexes are as good as they ever were can not be underestimated! It can be very hard, impossible even, to regain that level of confidence without actually sitting on an actual, living breathing horse... which is just not an option for many of those still in the rehab phase. 

While nothing can help a rider completely replicate that scenario, and your standard gym equipment doesn't even come close, an Equicizer is the next best thing. A majority of our customer base uses their Equicizer for this purpose exactly - to rehabilitate from those inevitable injuries and stay in shape during the time spent away from riding. Up until now, we have received countless testimonials and even an occasional video sharing all of the ways people have benefited from the Equicizer, but Deb has taken it one step further. Welcome to "The50PlusEquestrian".

Deb has created her own blog to chronicle her journey through rehab with the Equicizer, with the goal of competing again aboard her own beloved Level 3 Western Dressage AQHA mare. She will also be sharing some of the many ways that small life changes are adding up to make a big difference in her personal path to a fitter, stronger, healthier lifestyle. We are very excited for Deb and very excited for YOU, our reader, as you will get a firsthand look at how the Equicizer is being used in homes around the world, through Deb's personal blog. I guarantee Deb's blog will inspire you, challenge you, and provide you with a healthy dose of laughter through her witty writing!

Check out Deb's first few entries (including the arrival of her Equicizer, "Winston") at The50PlusEquestrian by clicking here.

To stay up to date on Deb's journey, you can also join her facebook group "The 50 plus Equestrian" or our own "Equicizer Adventures", where Deb will continue to share her blog entries.

As always, we want to hear from you! Send us an email at info@equicizer.com and let us know how the Equicizer is making a difference in your life or the life of someone you know.

by Kayla Jarvinen

www.equicizer.com

Meet the Equicizer Team! - Frankie Lovato

This week we're kicking off a new blog series where, over the next couple of months, we will be introducing you to each member of the Wooden Horse Corporation team via a small bio and some fun interview style questions individually chosen and answered by each staff member so YOU the reader, can get to know each of us a little bit better! 

Frankie Lovato

Creator and Builder / President of Wooden Horse Corporation

Frankie was originally born in Cheverly, Maryland. His father was a successful jockey and Frankie followed suit, beginning his professional riding career at age 16 and earning the Eclipse Award for Apprentice Jockey in 1980. After an accident left him with a badly fractured left leg in 1981, he created the Equicizer, as a means to rehabilitate. Frankie’s 25 year career was based primarily on the prestigious New York circuit but took him all over the country and into Canada. Upon retiring in 2004, Lovato and his family moved to his wife’s hometown in Norwalk, Ohio, where he builds Equicizers out of his shop. Frankie was married for 32 years to his best friend and partner, Sandy Sweet-Lovato, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2014. They have 3 children; Megan Hodgkiss, Shawn Lovato and Tim Lovato, as well as 3 grandchildren – Allison, Sadie and Jake - who light up his life. Through the Equicizer, which has continued to grow and saw the expansion of Lovato’s shop in 2015, Frankie finds the purpose and hope that continues to push him on.

"Little Frankie" posing for a win picture with his father,
Frank Lovato, Sr. in 1967.

What is your earliest memory? - I remember a party my parents hosted when I was around 4 years old. I came out of the closest carrying my dad’s old tack bag which had been given to me (full of random, useless riding equipment) and couldn’t wait to show the guests the equipment I was going to use when I became a jockey!

Who was the most influential person to you as a child? - My dad (a professional jockey during the late 50’s, 60’s and 70’s) and Evil Knievel!

Did you have any nicknames? – My birth name is actually Shawn Lovato. Whenever I’d go to the track with my dad (Frank Lovato, Sr.) people would call me “Little Frankie”. The name stuck and when I started racing professionally at age 16 I did so under the name “Frank Lovato, Jr.”. Many of my close friends and family still call me Shawn.

What were you most afraid of as a child? – Growing too big to become a jockey!

What did you like most about school? Least? – I loved gym class! I hated English.

What would people you know find surprising about you as a teen? – I left home at age 14 to pursue my riding career and graduated high school early at age 16.  

Frankie Lovato with some of his very
first Equicizers!

In addition to being paid money, how else has your career created value in your life? – It’s given me the opportunity and platform to mentor and educate others who wished to work in the racing industry throughout the years. My career was also the catalyst that led me to create the first Equicizer, which is now my life’s work.

Who was the biggest influence in your career? –

When things got tough for me after I broke my leg in a racing accident at age 18, Greg McCarron, who was also my best friend at the time, became my mentor in life and helped shape me into a better person, both personally and professionally.

What horseman made the biggest impact on your riding/horsemanship and why? – Jerry Noss was a trainer that mentored me when I started my riding career. He was not only a great teacher but also an amazing rider and horseman himself that took me under his wing. I remained in touch with Jerry throughout and after my career. I miss him dearly.

Frankie Lovato (right) with mentor Jerry Noss (left) in 1979.

What accomplishment are you most proud of? – Aside from my family, I’m most proud of winning the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 1980, one of racing’s highest honors.

What do you like to do in your spare time? – I love to cook and in the summertime, grill for close family and friends.

Frankie's granddaughter, Allison, with
pony, Popcorn, at the local county
fair in 2011.

What equine in your lifetime made the biggest impact on you and why? – Johnny Dance was a horse that I loved and stands out in my memory. He wasn’t the fastest racehorse I’ve ever ridden but he had more personality and heart than any horse I had the pleasure of riding.

Talk about a horse you own now or one you used to own or lease. – I share ownership of an 8 year old Shetland Pony (who lives in my backyard) with my grandkids.

What is your favorite Equicizer memory? – I built a number of Equicizers while I was still riding races but I wasn’t sure if the Equicizer alone would be able to sustain me once my racing career was over. I remember a family ordered an Equicizer from me for their son who had cerebral palsy and was wheel chair bound. They were familiar with the Equicizer and had used it the year previous through a therapeutic riding program. When I arrived to deliver their Equicizer to them, the mother couldn’t stop talking about the amazing things the Equicizer had done for her son the previous year. “Watch this,” she said as she and her husband lifted their son onto the Equicizer. He went from being unintelligible to uttering words that everyone could understand. His body unfolded before our eyes as his mother began to gently rock the Equicizer and his muscles unclenched. For me this was an eye opening experience and a sign that I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing. 

www.equicizer.com