Thermal, CA – February 2, 2025 – Big Business is a relatively new mount for Amy Brubaker, but together they are already making big waves. During Desert Circuit 4 at the Desert International Horse Park – the pair’s third horse show together – Brubaker and Big Business took home the win in the $1,500 3’ Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, sponsored by ShowMD.
Judges Andrea Wells and Constance Tramm Hunt awarded Big Business scores of 84 and 80 for a 164 winning total. Finishing in second place with a score of 163 (79 + 84) was Elizabeth Robbins aboard Sporting Chance, and third place went to Alice Marks and Pop Star Etc with a score of 160.
“[Big Business] is delightful; he’s perfect,” said Brubaker of the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding that she recently purchased from the Kulkins, a family that also rides with Brubaker’s trainer, Rebecca Bruce Glynn. “Becca told me this when I very first got on [Big Business]; she said, ‘He rides just like a big pony.’ You just sort of go along and kick when you need to and pull when you need to. He’s really just so easy and so kind. I really, really enjoy him.”
These days, Brubaker is extremely thankful to have more time to enjoy horses like Big Business, but it wasn’t always that way. Brubaker spent much of her career as a managing director for Deloitte, which rendered her to limited riding hours. Amidst layoffs surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Brubaker ultimately decided it was time for retirement – which now allows her more time with the horses that she loves.
“I was in [Deloitte’s] tax practice, so really I just worked like a slave,” said Brubaker. “When I was still working, and I was in LA, I would work all night on Friday, drive out [to Thermal, CA], sleep a couple hours in the car, show Saturday and Sunday and then drive back to the office to work. It was crazy.”
Brubaker continued, “Now is a whole different thing because now I’m retired! Now, I just come down here about a week before Week 1 [of Desert Circuit] and then I stay all the way through Week 10. It’s delightful. I’ve got a great Airbnb, and the shows are always a little different every week. It’s just super fun.”
Click here to view full results of Saturday, February 1’s 3’ Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, sponsored by ShowMD.
ShowMD provides urgent and routine health care to the DIHP community. Conveniently located right on the show grounds across from the Grand Eq Arena, Dr. Blasko and her team can help guests with issues such as first aid, injuries, XRAY, treatment of illness and many other health and medical services. Learn more at ShowMD.org.
