Life and Work with Georgie Murray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Georgie Murray.

Georgie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a family who was very involved with horses. My Mom was a successful jumper rider and trainer and my Dad rode bulls, team roped, judged PRCA rodeos and shod horses. My parents established Dapple Gray Farm in New Mexico in 1986 and then moved to Texas in 1990. My first word was horse, so I was “obsessed” from an early age. I started riding at the age of three and began competing at rated horse shows when I was eight years old, starting with ponies and then eventually progressing to the junior jumpers. I competed in my first Grand Prix when I was 14 in Pebble Beach, CA. I continued to ride and compete while attending college at Arizona State University and graduated in 2009 with a degree in English. Following graduation, I moved to Minnesota to work for hunter/jumper trainers Nora and Morgan Thomas for two years where I spent time competing in Palm Beach, Florida, and Lexington, Kentucky. In 2012, I moved back to Arizona to re-establish Dapple Gray Farm. My Mom is now my assistant trainer and my Dad also helps out with the day to day operations.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wouldn’t say the road has always been smooth. There were several struggles along the way. Making the decision to move to Minnesota was definitely a big decision, but well worth it in the long run. I gained so much knowledge about the horse business and was able to see places I had never been. Another big struggle was reestablishing Dapple Gray Farm. It took time, patience and a lot of hard work to build up the successful business I have today. My advice to young women starting their journey would be to figure out what they are truly passionate about and then figure out a way to make money doing it. I would highly recommend interning or working for someone in that field for a few years to gain knowledge and experience. If you are starting your own business, you have to be willing to work hard and not give up when things don’t happen right away.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dapple Gray Farm – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I train horses, compete, teach riding lessons and coach riders at competitions. I really enjoy the process of training young horses and developing them into successful showjumpers. I would say that my patience to take the time and correctly develop a young horse sets me apart from others. I’m proud to say that most of the students at Dapple Gay Farm have progressed from their first riding lesson into successful showjumping riders under our program. We strive to create horsemen and hope to pass on our knowledge of horses to future generations.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
My most important piece of advice to a young woman starting her career is that you have to be willing to take the job nobody else wants. You never know what kind of opportunities it will lead to. Whether you are starting your own business or working for someone, you have to pay your dues.

Pricing:

• 1 Riding Lesson $75
• Package of 10 Riding Lessons $600

Contact Info:

• Address: 15030 E Chaparosa Way
  Scottsdale, AZ 85262
• Website: dapplegrayfarm.com
• Phone: 4803304319
• Email: georgiemurray13@hotmail.com
• Instagram: @dapplegrayfarmshowjumping
• Facebook: @dapplegrayfarmshowjumping

Image Credit:
Gene Devine, Tricia Booker, Amanda Shapiro, Megan Hackbarth, ESI Photography

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.