Lauren Thoma first took horseback riding lessons at the age of 9. A forensic pathologist, Thoma returned to Hopewell in 2012 and rebuilt the relationship with her horse, Pippen.
By Matthew Bowker
They say that a dog is man’s best friend.
Ask Hopewell Township’s Lauren Thoma, and she would have to disagree. Over the course of the past nine years, Thoma has developed a powerful relationship, filled with literal and figurative ups and downs, with her horse, Pippen.
Thoma had always been interested in horseback riding—horses have been her favorite animal since childhood. So much so that Thoma, at the age of four, would beg her parents to take her to the zoo to ride the horses every weekend.
By the age of nine, Thoma began taking riding lessons, and immediately fell in love with the sport.
“There is no other sport like it,” Thoma said. “You create this relationship with a 1600 pound animal. It’s like you’re a team.”
Soon after she started riding, both her mother and sister began to take lessons and it became “a family pastime” for the Thomas.
Thoma, 35, soon began competing and winning equestrian shows. But when Thoma first met Pippen in 2006, she knew he was the horse for her.
“I’m a short person, and he’s a short horse,” Thoma said of their seemingly perfect match.
Standing at a measly 56 inches tall, Pippen is unlike any other show horse because of his size. Technically a pony, Pippen stands out at any showing. In the early years of their relationship, Thoma and Pippen won blue ribbons on multiple occasions, defeating mostly bigger, full-sized horses.
It was a perfect relationship, up until five years ago. In 2010, Thoma moved to New York City to further her career as a forensic pathologist. During her three years away, Thoma visited Pippen as often as possible. However, the relationship suffered.
When Thoma moved back to Hopewell in 2012, the team had to start from square one. The duo had to relearn each other’s tendencies and rebuild the strong bond they once shared.
With the help of Quiet Victory Farm’s owner and trainer Vicki Peters, Thoma and Pippen have worked tirelessly for the past three years to take their relationship to new heights.
When Thoma first returned, Peters said Thoma was “more of a passenger.” But, as with any team, the relationship needed time and perseverance to grow and developer.
“He was calling all of the shots,” Peters said. “Now, it’s more of a partnership. He’s moving so much better. He was anxious and tense, now he’s relaxed.”
It was not an easy path to rebuilding what the duo once had, however. Thoma showed tremendous dedication, carving out any time possible to work on her relationship with Pippen.
Over the past three years, Thoma would get off of a long day of work at 4:50 pm, and race home in time for a 5:30 lesson with Peters and Pippen.
“We trained whenever I had time off,” Thoma said.
And that doesn’t just mean in perfect weather conditions, either.
Pippen and Thoma trained year-round, in all types of weather. The team hurdled over the standard 2-foot-6 fences in the heat and in the rain. Even in the dead of winter, the team practiced in Quiet Victory Farm’s indoor facilities, training through the cold..
“He’s an athlete,” Thoma said of Pippen. “And athletes have to be in shape.”
Athletes also have to trust their teammates, and building that trust is no easy feat. Like all good things, it takes time and effort. But after a long three year journey, the team has returned to competing in shows, and their love is stronger than ever.
In the Quiet Victory Farm barn, Pippen has a stall towards the end, with a wall blocking his vision of the entrance. However, he can sense when Thoma is near.
“He looks for her,” Peters said. “He starts to whinny when he hears her voice.”
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