SPOTLIGHT
EQUESTRIAN GARDENS Jess Jones helps barns transform their horse show set-ups to feel like a piece of home WORDS: APRIL BILODEAU PHOTOS: PETE COCO PHOTOGRAPHY
WE ALL KNOW the importance of a well turned out horse at the show ring. While a clean, prepared presentation is crucial to your confidence and success in the show ring, a well turned out horse show set-up may leave you equally as confident. And since some may not have the eye for the perfect barn set-up, Jess Jones at Equestrian Gardens wants to step in and help. Jones works with each of her clients to put together a show set-up that is reflective of their farm. From plants with their barn colors to furniture pieces that compliment their individual style, Jones puts her creative skills to good use to make your aisle feel like a piece of home.
GETTING STARTED Horses have always been a passion for Jones, who showed in the Junior Hunters as a teenager and later the Amateur-Owner Hunters.
“I didn’t anticipate that I would have a career within the equine world,” Jones tells The Plaid Horse. “I knew I would need to work really hard to be able to afford continuing to participate in the sport.” She began her professional career in technology, working at Xerox. She went on to work at other large technology firms such as Oracle, Deloitte, and Salesforce, managing large teams and customer relationships at each company. “Growing up around family-owned businesses, under the tutelage of my
artist mother and then throughout my career, I’ve had incredible experiences and mentors that have prepared me for my work today,” says Jones. “And looking back, I try to always encourage others to find their voice, take calculated risks and step into their careers.” With that sentiment in mind, she began focusing on taking risks and breaking out on her own—to apply all of her skills to be able to run her own company. Starting a digital agency occurred to Jones as the most obvious next step, but as time went on, it was the opportunity
December 2023/January 2024
THE PLAID HORSE
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