Services & Businesses
Anna Zinkhon:
Growing up we had a small farm with horses and ponies on it. My grandfather had horses to work on the farm and my dad rodeo'd. I purchased my first Quarter Horse with my babysitting money at age 15. Her name was Misty and my farm is named after her. I had broke and trained a couple of horses before her, but she was my first Quarter horse and she will always have a special place in my heart.
I was a typical horse crazy kid. After high school, I applied and was accepted to the Kentucky Equine Education Program at the Kentucky Horse Park. The thoroughbred program was full so I was enrolled in the standardbred program and learned as much as possible about harness racing by working all aspects of that industry.
I graduated early from the "KEEP" program and went to work at the Red Mile Race Track. From there I moved on to Latonia Race Track where I worked 8 horses a day, 6 days a week for $100. Much less than the normal rate. After getting hurt on a race horse, finding out I was not getting the typical pay, getting a minor raise, I decided to move on.
I needed a job, so I interviewed for a job at Kroger. Funny part was, my maiden name was Kroger so the interviewer said he was hiring the bosses granddaughter, which he wasn't. But I got the job and worked my way up to the first female supervisor and worked the next 20 years in data processing. Not only for Kroger but also other large companies like Scripts Howard and Chiquita Brands International.
Along the way my husband, Greg, and I started riding cutting horses for fun and going to horse shows. We purchased the farm I live on now and began to take it from open fields, fence by fence to a farm. Then a sudden life changing event would change my perspective.
My husband was killed in a car accident, right after we broke ground on our indoor arena. This arena was to be a private indoor for us to practice riding our cutting horses. When I lost Greg, I decided to go ahead and finish building the indoor. But I needed a way to pay for it, so I decided to take in boarders.
Then, in 2001 I was laid off from my corporate job and decided to make the farm my full time job. I began helping the boarders with their horses, giving lessons, teaching them how to take care of their horses and it began to grow. Soon I was taking them on trail rides and getting them comfortable being out on the trail on their horse. I never intended to teach or give lesson but people wanted help and knowledge about horses, so I gave it to them the best I could.
It has been 22 years now since we purchased the farm for my horse addiction. I have seen so much change in the horse industry and in my life. It is so amazing and wonderful. I have been helped by so many wonderful people and I have been able to give back to so many more. I have had the privilege of riding in so many aspects of the horse industry - cutting, dressage, pleasure, harness racing, thoroughbred racing, reining, endurance and good ole trail riding. We give as many as 30 lessons per week at our busiest with one other lesson giver. Our teaching is how to be a horseman/woman. The good old cowboy way - share, assist and diversity.
Misty Ridge Farm also breaks young and old horses and takes in problem horses with the goal of helping the horse and helping the owner know how to take care of and handle their horse on their own.