Request a quote for your horse's next journey: info@horsejitney.com

Hi! My name is Athena Haresign and I'm a fellow equestrian, horse breeder, and veterinary technician with a passion for all things horses. I grew up in Southampton, NY watching all the big, beautiful rigs drive by every summer on their way to the prestigious Hampton Classic. Sure, I loved the horses, and had the unique pleasure of meeting really cool horses such as Calypso, Abdullah, and so many others, not to mention their people, but I was fascinated by the process of getting them all there.

Finally, in December of 2007, after co-founding and establishing a unique softwrae company which enabled communication between pet owners and their veterinarians, and allowed pet owners controlled access to elements of their pets' medical records, I decided to throw in the suit and start a high quality horse transportation company.

Luckily for me, I have good friends who also love horses, have time available, and are experienced drivers, so the Horse Jitney is growing up fast. Dave Benze, a long-time friend, commercially licensed driver, and experienced horse person is our primary second driver, joining me for long-distance hauls, and hauling the second rig locally when the four horse just isn't enough space!

Joining us on the weekends is Tina Payne, a good friend, commercially licensed, talented horsewoman who keeps us on a tight schedule, and generally keeps us in order.

With two drivers, we like to keep the rig moving, not counting stops for fuel and resting the horses, up to fourteen hours a day, but I like to give the horses a good six hour break so their legs can rest and their gut can settle. We alway take twenty - thirty minute breaks every three hour to four hours so the horses can have an opportunity to drink and urinate, neither of which they like to do while rolling along. It makes the trip a little longer, but I believe the horses benefit significantly.

As a kid, I had to beg and borrow rides to horse shows, and I very much empathize with anyone who doesn't have a trailer but has the desire to get out there, which is why I started the show shuttle service. It's a unique service in the Maryland area, and I hope it proves a valuable resource to the local equestrian community, as well as a valuable service for larger barns needing a second rig to get their students to the show on time.

Find out about the Horse Show Shuttle.

When asked which discipline I ride, I have a little trouble answering because I spent many years riding hunters and jumpers, driving a pony, trail riding, and attending hunter paces in New York. Then, after I thought I was pretty good, I was introduced to dressage and realized that everything I knew about riding fit on the head of a pin, which I might add, was pretty humbling!

So there's not really a good answer - I do a little bit of everything with my own horses, and appreciate all disciplines and love learning about them, including thoroughbred racing, Standardbred racing, western reining, and all of the other great equestrian sports. I guess the real answer is I just like all horses and their people.

I do breed sport horses which I show in hand as babies, but in addition to my three home-bred mares, I own two quarter horses from Joe Cody reining lines, and an ex-stakes thoroughbred horse. They're all different, and they're all fun.

Please contact me to talk about your horse hauling needs either by phone 301-526-8273 or emailinfo@horsejitney.com

Below are links we like and want to share with you

Everyone has links and services they like, and we're no different. Below are just a few of the folks we highly recommend for the services they provide.

Horse Trailers

A trailer is only as good as the manufacturer, and the dealer who helps you create your dream trailer. For those reasons, we must mention our dealers, Traveled Lane Trailers in Centreville, MD, from whom we've purchased several Kingston Trailers over the years, and > Cox Trailer Sales, Inc of Upper Marlboro Maryland.

J.D. Cox from Cox Trailer Sales was especially helpful in designing the Hawk trailer, and we owe him many thanks for making the transition from Kingston to Hawk an easy one - no offense to Kingston, but they are no longer building four-horse trailers.

Young horse training and breaking

When you need someone to start your baby, leg up your thoroughbred, or help your horse gain show experience we recommend that you visit our friends at Diamonds Bluff Farm in Union Bridge Maryland. Becky Maticic has a talent for starting horses off just right!

Young horse handler

Christine Smith of Wildest Expectations Farm in Stephens City, Virginia, shown here with Dream Catcher at the 2006 Fair Hill Breed show, handles all of our mares and foals at region 1 breed shows. We highly recommend Christine and her handling services. She is also available for showing-in-hand clinics at your farm. Contact Christine at 540-664-0234.

CEM Quarantine at Rigbie Farm

We routinely transport horses from the USDA Federal Import Quarantine at the Animal Import Center in Newburgh, NY to their new homes, and recently had the unique opportunity to transport stallions from the CEM State Quarantine Center at Rigbie Farm, in Darlington, MD. The folks at Rigbie welcomed us as new shippers to the industry, and we are looking forward to transporting many horses to and from Rigbie Farm.

Persimmon Tree Farm

Westminster, Maryland is home to the K2 show stables and the talented team of Carolyn and Kenny Krome. Horse Jitney recently had the pleasure of shipping some of their lovely horses to the Maryland National Show held at Prince Georges Equestrian Center. Please visit their website to learn more about their hunter/jumper training and showing services.

Legacy Friesians

It isn't often that you have a full load of high quality Friesians on your trailer, but we recently had that experience when we transported a load of three of these gorgeous animals! Two of the Friesians were Jelmer van Manege Nes who joined us from the USDA Animal Import Center in Newburgh, NY traveling to his new home in Tennessee, and the newly imported Friesian stallion Oene R.V. who traveled from quarantine to Bruce Griffin's training center in southern Virginia. Looking for a Friesian? Contact Sue Zoltner at Legacy Friesians.

Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue

Located in Lisbon, Maryland, the Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue specializes in rescuing draft breeds and finding them forever homes. In the past two years they have re-homed over 120 horses. They valiantly try to rescue them from the fate of the killers from the New Holland auction, and for horses which are clearly unhealthy and not adoptable, will often pay the auction veterinarian not to allow the horse to be shipped for slaughter, but will humanely destroy the animal onsite. Of course this takes money, and most people don't want to donate money for euthanasia, however, it is a fate far better than hours of transport on a trailer or van where many animals die enroute. Please consider making a donation to Gentle Giants and learn more about them on their website at www.gentlegiantsdrafthorserescue.com.

Renaissance Center

The Friesian Stallion Wally P, owned by Joanne Bosma, and trained by Laurietta Oakleaf, recently traveled with the Horse Jitney llc to western Ohio from Rigbie Farm where he completed his CEM quarantine. Laurietta Oakleaf is trying out for the Paraequestrian World Championships and Paralympics on her stallino Quimerico KF in dressage. Click here to find out more about Laurietta, Wally P, and Renaissance Center, and consider being a sponsor for her goals.

Skin care!

For my professional skin care services, I use Hulya Daniel, one of the few medical aestheticians in the Columbia, Maryland area. She's done wonders for the skin I've spent over forty years abusing. Visit Hulya at her private studio (Hulya Studio) in Ellicott City, Maryland. Hulya's skills are second to none, and she puts you at ease with her empathetic nature. Her studio is located in her home, and she is humored by horse people who arrive right from the barn.