“My name is Katie Lambert-Boone. I own and operate Irish Day Farm in Houston, Texas. It is my pleasure to write a letter of recommendation for my junior rider Jordan Grace Murphrey. I have watched Jordan develop from a beginner rider in the .80 puddle jumpers to a winner at the 1.20 low junior jumpers over the past four and a half years.
Jordan, like many riders I have produced throughout my career, is an exceptionally talented athlete. Jordan possesses many great qualities that would make her an asset to any collegiate college program. A few of her greatest strengths are her commitment to the horse, her support of others, and her positive attitude in the face of challenges.
The greatest standout quality of Jordan is her commitment to the horse. Her passion and compassion for the animal has made her an example of what quality care looks like at Irish Day Farm. Jordan had a mare with a soft tissue injury that required extensive time off and a strict rehab protocol. Jordan prioritized her mare’s care meticulously. The attention to detail significantly aided in her mare’s recovery. Jordan spent five to seven evenings a week tack walking, handwalking and eventually trotting her mare in the cold of November and December. While all of her barn friends were showing, Jordan came to rehabilitate Lucy (her mare). There were many evenings where she would come out to ride after a full day of school, soccer practice, or helping her parents at their business. On the bitterly cold evenings we asked Jordan to hand walk instead of ride. Jordan followed directions and would set a timer all with a genuine smile on her face. For more than two years every time after Jordan rode Lucy she would place the ice boots on the mare and graze her for twenty minutes.
Jordan’s attitude from day one has always been encouraging of her fellow riders. She has a kind, supportive heart and most days you will see Jordan at the horse show cheering others on. Jordan is quick to “muck in” with any task needed. She will hand-walk a horse to the ring, set jumps in the warmup, or retrieve water at the in gate. I would consider Jordan a value added member of our farm. While many teenage girls compete with each other and their competitive nature can come across as tension, or coldness. I have never seen Jordan harbor negative feelings toward anyone else’s success. Jordan has an intrinsic motivation to succeed and she never lets the distraction of others get in her way.
The only competition Jordan has is with herself. She strives to never make the same mistake twice, and if she is unsure of how to accomplish something she works both independently and in lessons to focus on her weaknesses until they become her strengths. While many riders at this level would prefer to lesson every day and jump as much as possible, Jordan has made mastering the finite details of riding her priority. Often, I see Jordan rehearse concepts from prior lessons. During the first year of the pandemic, after horse shows started opening back up, Jordan’s family made the decision not to travel due to concerns over contracting the virus.
Jordan never became discouraged by this, instead she used it as an opportunity to grow her skills with the dressage trainer at Irish Day Farm. Her skill set grew exponentially. It improved her track work tremendously and her connection and feel as a rider. Furthermore, Jordan takes being an athlete seriously. We encourage all of our riders to maintain a level of fitness, flexibility and strength. When other riders are out of breath after a course or too tired to do another lap without stirrups, Jordan is still working.
Lastly, and with great emphasis. Jordan has a great attitude. She comes to every lesson ready to learn and willing to put the work in. She is respectful of the coaches, staff, and employees of Irish Day farm. Jordan has a way of bringing everyone together at the farm and has been dubbed the “welcoming committee” for all new boarders. She has an uplifting soul and a tendency to leave any problems or concerns “at the door” when she rides or when she is at the farm.
Jordan would add value to any equestrian team she is on. She is a talented rider, with the work ethic to match. She is kind, with a great attitude to her horses, herself and others. Jordan knows how to manage her time, balance her personal time, and athletic commitments and is just plain fun to be around. Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions in regards to Jordan. We are very excited to see what the future holds for her.”
~ Katie Lambert Boone, Owner, Irish Day Farm, Houston, TX
“It has been my pleasure to know Jordan Murphrey for over 6 years, and I now enthusiastically recommend Jordan to your admissions committee.
When I first met Jordan, I was immediately impressed by an extremely polite young lady, eager to work hard in order to learn a very competitive, demanding and potentially dangerous sport. Over the two years she trained with me, Jordan was absolutely a role model student. She was dedicated to her training, starting as a beginner rider (always arrived early and left late), and ultimately advancing to AA show level where she routinely placed in the top 4 at literally every show. Trainers like myself that have been training student riders for over 30 years only occasionally have the opportunity to teach a student some of the subtle nuances that can transform a good rider into a great rider. Jordan unreservedly accepted, applied and retained such direction.
I was also particularly impressed with her dedication to her horse, who suffered from anhidrosis and regularly required special care. This was especially evident as many of her fellow students considered their horse simply a tool of the sport. When Jordan’s skill level advanced beyond the capabilities of her horse, she placed her in our equine retirement and rehabilitation facility so she would receive the added care she needed.
In summation, Jordan has always been a standout student, displaying a very strong character, dedication to her equestrian training and work ethic beyond reproach. I can say without equivocation, Jordan was probably the most well-mannered and focused student, with a consistently positive attitude I have had in my thirty plus years of operation. She came so far in the short period of time she rode with me because she would always listen carefully to instructions, then follow them to a tee. If there was ever an area that needed improvement, she would accept the advice and make the necessary changes immediately.
If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me directly via email or my personal cell.”
~ Jody First, Owner and head trainer of Fincastle Farm, LLC. Houston, TX 713-865-6836, fincastlefarm@comcast.net
“My name is Cassidy Williams and I am the Associate Athletic Director and Program Head for Girls Soccer at The Kinkaid School in Houston, TX. Jordan Grace Murphrey has been on the girls Varsity soccer team for the past two years. During this time she has been a fantastic teammate who balances school, soccer, and her passion for horse riding.
Jordan’s priority is her riding and school, but she balances her commitment to her teammates and her soccer team beautifully. She communicates times that she has a conflict well in advance and works out a schedule before the season starts to minimize those conflicts.
While Jordan’s first sport is not soccer, she demonstrates the best traits of a teammate. Jordan is an incredibly hard worker and strives to make an impact in practice and in games. She is an athlete who strives to be better daily. She is supportive of her teammates and genuinely wants the best for everyone on the field. She finds ways to include all of the girls and make them feel like each one belongs.
What strikes me most about Jordan is her effervescent personality. Jordan has a unique way to bring humor and light into any situation without taking away from the seriousness or the focus from the team. Her humor brings energy to games and practices. She exudes joy when competing and encourages others to be better because she brings her best daily.
There is no doubt that Jordan loves her horse and riding and is beyond dedicated to that. What is special about Jordan is that she believes in being a kind, supportive teammate and friend to those around her. Her kindness does not prevent her from being supremely competitive. She has a huge heart, desire to be better, enjoys working hard and would be an asset to any program. Jordan will add soul and brightness to any situation and any team.
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about Jordan. Please feel free to reach out as needed.”
~ Cassidy Williams, 214-796-7886 cassidy.williams@kinkaid.org