Holly
Mesick Lozada
I began riding when I was seven years old. My Sunday
morning riding lessons were what I lived for each
week. During the summers, I attended Riding Camp and
learned as much as I could about horses.
Holly
at 7 years old
Holly
at 9 years old
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The day I passed my driving road test at the age
of 17 I bought my first horse from Mike with the money
I had saved from my Communion and Confirmation. I
would have owned a horse sooner but then I would not
have trasportation to the barn each day. I had ten
years of lessons under my belt and some knowledge
in training but my first horse was my best teacher.
He was a four-year-old thoroughbred off the racetrack.
I named him Metro – talk about green! I spent
years learning and understanding him and eventually
winning Champion & Reserve Champion at the Long
Island shows. It was during this time of life that
I began teaching. Eventually, my students bought horses
and we spent weekends at horseshows. When I outgrew
Metro I sold him to one of my students and bought
my second horse from Mike. I named him JD (Just Do
It). He was off the track also, a greenie, but with
more athletic ability to jump then Metro had. Eventually.
JD & I went on to compete in the 3”6 Hunter
classes and did well together.
Metro
JD
It was 1994, I graduated from Dowling College with
Bachelor Degree in Science & Biology, I had two
horses, many students, many students with horses,
I lived at the barn, and spent weekends at horseshows.
In 1996 I moved toSan Diego. I wasn’t in California
long before I bought two more horses (Damien &
Robbie) as projects to train and resell. I operated
my self-employed business out of Del Mar Equestrian
Center for a few years. However, I missed home.
Damien
Robbie
By 1998 I was back home in Long Island and bought
my third horse from Mike (Justin, my fifth horse in
total) and started teaching again in addition to pursuing
a corporate position in Manhattan. Justin did very
well as a hunter and in dressage.
Justin
I spent years in the corporate world and although
beneficial, it never compared to the rewards of teaching.
I was not only a riding instructor, but also a role
model, a coach, and friend to my students who were
transitioning from adolescence to teenagers, and going
on to college. I’ve taught students of all levels
– those who just wanted to have fun, those who
were serious about competing, mentally & physically
challenged, and many adults too.
Having said all this, I felt it was time for me to
follow my passion again. I want to watch my students
grow up around horses again. I want to be there for
them as a positive influence in their life should
they need one. It’s more the just riding for
them and for me. It’s a passion that doesn’t
go away. It’s responsibility, it’s structure,
it’s discipline and consistency, it teaches
compassion and patience, and most of all hard work!
These are things I teach my students and this is what
will take them through life.
       
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