Synopsis: Riding in Stride looks at the age-old bond between girls and horses by focusing on young equestrians as well a women who have carried the passion for horses into their adult lives including Hall of Famer PJ Cooksey and Best Selling Author Mary Midkiff. Riding in Stride originally aired on PBS.

Riding in Stride originally aired on PBS stations nationwide. Interviews with veteran jockey PJ Cooksey, best-selling author Mary Midkiff, and other women who have carried a passion for horses into their adult lives explore the age-old bond between girls and horses. Segments include an interview with Joan Scott, a racehorse trainer at Lexington’s Thoroughbred Center, and a visit to Keeneland to see one of Scott’s horses, Spacious, run a race.

I was inspired to make Riding in Stride one weekend when I was home reading the NY Times about a female horse breeder, Amy Bondon-Peltz, who gave a percentage of her proceeds to women’s charitable organizations. So I contacted Amy and a few weekends later was down south meeting Amy and a veritable Who’s Who of women in racing, including Joan Scott, the horse trainer featured in Riding in Stride. Contacting Amy and Joan, combined with reading Mary Midkiff’s She Flies Without Wings: How Horses Touch a Woman’s Soul inspired the documentary. Thank you ladies!

“Finally, a look at horse racing from a rarely heard perspective. Women have been an important part of the sport for years and Riding in Stride captures the unique relationship between them and the equine world.” – Craig Cornwell, KET Director of Programming

“I just watched your documentary and really loved it even though I am not a horse person.” – Susan Bunner, Program Director WIPB-TV

“The DVD is terrific. The opening segments explaining the girl (woman) / horse relationship is so touching. The old film footage could have been me and my best buddies. Trying to jump up on top of a bareback horse, hanging around barefooted, galloping through the fields with nothing but a halter and rope. Those were the days. And it really is a hard relationship to describe to those that don’t have it but you did in your movie.” – Mary Gustafson

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I was inspired to make Riding in Stride one weekend when I was home reading the NY Times about a female horse breeder, Amy Bondon-Peltz, who gave a percentage of her proceeds to women’s charitable organizations. So I contacted Amy and a few weekends later was down south meeting Amy and a veritable Who’s Who of women in racing, including Joan Scott, the horse trainer featured in Riding in Stride. Contacting Amy and Joan, combined with reading Mary Midkiff’s She Flies Without Wings: How Horses Touch a Woman’s Soul inspired the documentary. Thank you ladies!

I grew up with horses and love being with them and videotaping and filming their majestic ways. My mother loved horses and made it a point to have them in her life via a small horse stable and a revolving door of horses and ponies in her backyard where her four daughters rode and competed, mostly in Pony Club. Since I have this background, I am very comfortable being around horses and love them so much! In addition I am experienced with video and media. Happy to visit you in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut at one of the many racetracks (Monmouth, Meadowlands,Belmont, Saratoga, Aqueduct, Freehold) or or your stable or home to create a commercial, video short, documentary, promotional video, or profile o you and your horse. Contact me at rachelhartc AT gmail DOT com. Looking forward to meeting you!

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