VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
SUSAN (SUE) A. STEEVES Spending time as a cross country jump judge or as a dressage steward or preparing lunches for volunteers and officials are such a wonderful ways to be part of the Aiken, SC, equestrian community. Stable View Farm has given me those opportunities among others. In a way, it’s taken my life full circle. The story that my dad told, and that I’ve often repeated, is that when I was 3 years old I asked for a horse. My dad said I could have my first horse when he had his first million. For Christmas, just two weeks before my 14th birthday, Danny, a bay 57-variety breed standing 15.2, came into my life. My dad never got his first million. Since then I’ve always had a horse. Horses have seen me through marriages, divorces, good jobs and bad, lots of moving. In the process, I’ve been fortunate to work with some top people including Carol Kozlowski and Charles de Kunffy. Though I spent half of my time at Michigan State University in the College of Veterinary Medicine my degree is in journalism. For about 20 years, I was a reporter, editor and photographer for newspapers, news services and magazines, including as associate editor of one on Thoroughbred breeding and racing. The rest of my career I spent working at large universities where I wrote news releases and magazine articles about molecular research for the health both humans and our four-legged pals. In those jobs my long-ago science background and my experience with horses served me well. Retirement has given me a new passion – volunteering. Stable View has allowed me to broaden my knowledge of eventing and dressage, and to see many incredible riders, including Boyd Martin and Doug Payne. I’ve met wonderful people through my volunteer time at this beautiful, scenic property. Every time I go to Stable View I learn something and I see another upgrade that the facility has undergone. It’s a pleasure to help hold the top-notch competitions offered by Stable View and watch and meet competitors and other horse enthusiasts from throughout the country. 10
