Hello and welcome to the LaRaedo Blog. I am Marie Taulbee, founder of Equine Maintenance, and the creator of LaRaedo horse farm management and invoicing software.  I want to take an opportunity to thank you for your interest in this software.

Allow me to share with you a little history regarding my inspiration for creating this software.

I’ve been involved with horses for much of my life, particularly the past 15 years, providing the financial and emotional support for my daughter’s equine passion since she was six years old. Today, instead of just taking riding lessons, she is now teaching other young people how to ride.

During her early years of riding, I truly loved going with her to the barn, seeing all the horses and remembering when I was her age and loved going every Sunday with my dad to the riding stables for lessons.

I recall my daughter saying to me one day as we entered the barn “ You know, mom, the smell of a barn is my most favorite smell in the world”.  And when I thought about it for a moment, I had to agree.  The smells of well-worn leather, sweet feed, stall bedding and of course the manure were actually fond memories of my past riding days.

I still recall seeing the excitement in her face when she would pass by the warming room window and see me watching her ride.  She absolutely glowed as if riding a horse was her whole purpose for living.  We never missed a lesson and on those really cold Michigan days in January when the temperature dipped below 10° F, the disappointment would sink in when she knew she wouldn’t be riding that day.

The lessons and training went on for years until one day she actually put together a presentation on how her father and I could afford to actually buy a horse.  She was quite convincing to say the least, and it was apparent that this was not a phase she was going through, but a life’s passion.  So we decided to purchase the offspring of a pregnant mare.  Several months of grooming the mare provided her the opportunity to birth her colt and we were also able to videotape it.

Visits and lessons at the barn now increased tremendously and it was quite a learning experience for both of us.  I think that in some ways, starting from scratch was the best thing and the worst thing we could have done.  It is a long haul when you purchase an unborn horse and can’t even begin to ride him for at least three years, but it was an extremely beneficial learning experience on how to raise a horse.

During this period, I had worked full time for a major Fortune 500 company for over 25 years, within computer and information systems.  I started out in repair and customer service and continued on in various positions from data center project manager, to business analyst, and then asset management.

Outside of business hours, I was driving back and forth to the barn.  That got me thinking…

How nice would it be if there was a way that the farm owner could connect more effectively with the horse boarder so that boarder could easily know how the day went for his/her young horse?

• Did the dentist check his teeth today?
• Did the farrier come out and how did that go?
• Was worming done yet?
• Did he get a chance to exercise in the paddock?
• How is he interacting with the other horses?

Questions like that would arise and many times I would have to play phone tag with the farm owner to obtain those kinds of important details.

It wasn’t until several years later, after more and more questions like these arose,  that I began the research and development of the web-based horse farm and invoicing software that is now called LaRaedo. And, as they say, the rest is history.

I am extremely excited to provide LaRaedo as a tool that allows the farm owner and employees an easy method to stay connected with their horse boarders and customers.

My vision is to continue to use the input and suggestions of those that use it (i.e. YOU) to continue to create an even better, more robust software.

I look forward to great conversation and learning more about you!

With Appreciation,

Marie

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