A NJ Trainer That Works Miracles:                             Her Start and How You Can Talk With Her                               By Kim D. Lorenc   Born in Cranford, NJ, longtime horse owner Deborah Jean Smartt has been involved in the training of horses and riders and barn management since the young age of 11.  She began her career at that young age taking lessons at a local Edison, NJ barn and working weekends for riding privileges at another local Piscataway Horse Stable.  The lesson barn she was at, quickly realized her talents and placed her in many shows where she earned high marks in the Hunter/Jumper arena.  From there, Debbie moved on to many other lesson barns, some of them well known until early November 2001.  At that time, things changed – radically changed.    In early November 2001, Debbie began employment at a small Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Breeding and Training barn as a manager and horse trainer and even she didn’t know that her life was about to take a wonderful turn.  In a few months, Debbie would soon be working toward realizing her lifetime dream of  owning and operating a boarding and show training barn for quality horses that also assists the “little guys” that are only in it for the love of horses.     It all began that November morning shortly after she moved to Pennsylvania when Debbie gained employment at a local stable caring for and starting Thoroughbred race horses.  That first season, on the farm, there were several horses at that barn that were born with conformation problems that almost cost them their lives.  This is where Debbie gained her skills in rehabilitation and lay-ups.  One imparticular, Charanne Lucky was born with a tendon problem in the rear and an infection that was life threatening.  Debbie nursed the horse staying with it through many long hours of wrapping legs, giving antibiotic shots and massaging the young foals’ limbs in an effort to bring the horse to its feet and save it.  After several weeks, all the hard work paid off and Lucky was pronounced healthy again by the vet and was able to begin his new life.    Because of all the attention, the foal became imprinted and was very easy to handle and teach.  Halter training and all the other subsequent ground work followed and when the horse was ready, Debbie started him under saddle.  He responded well to Debbie’s firm but gentle touch and kind voice.  When it came time to decide if Lucky was to go to the track to compete, his owner decided that the young horse had been through too much and would not do well.   So, he instructed Debbie to keep the young horse home and train him for show.  After only a year of training, the horse shined and at 5 years old, he was sold into a promising show career in the hunter arena.   She had been employed by this barn for 8 years and throughout those years; she learned through experience the art of just how to properly rear a thoroughbred from birth to starting it under saddle.  She also learned much about the diseases and lameness problems these horses, and many other breeds, are prone to having.   She came to love the breed and just how intelligent, trainable, and personable it is.  The horse that taught her that was an animal called Told’s Dancer.       “TD” as he was called, was an ornery thoroughbred that stood 16.3hh and was quite a bit to handle.   He came off the track with bone spurs in the ankle and a tendon injury that ended his racing career.   That barn didn’t have help that was knowledgeable with horse care or training, they were all afraid of TD, so he just stayed in his stall, got turned out, and received no retraining.  This lack of attention left the horse mean spirited and with dangerous habits like biting.  In addition, he had no barn or ground manners at all.  Because of abuse to his ears he suffered at the track, (many handlers twist the ears of horses to get them into the starting gate at the track), getting close to him even for grooming was a dangerous endeavor.  I often visited Debbie at this farm and one morning, I was watching her work with “T” as he was affectionately called by Debbie.  I was astonished.  His attitude, posturing, and large stature didn’t bother “little Debbie Smartt” as she was affectionately called by many, including this writer, at all.  This writer was amazed at how easy she made it look to handle, train, and ride this challenging thoroughbred.  Through patient and gentle re-training, Debbie had him acting like a gentleman on the ground and in the saddle in no time at all.   Then she started re-training him for show riding.   The horse was a wonderful mover.  Told’s Dancer won high ribbons in the Dressage arena.  He even won a reserve champion title later that year at a show at the Bucks County Horse Park.  Debbie and TD had grown into a fine competing team and she grew much attached to this horse that by now had mellowed into an affectionate gentleman with a personality all his own.  He even became quiet enough for this timid writer to ride him.   In 2001, the stable owner decided that he could no longer afford to have TD “take up a stall” in a racing barn and T was in danger of going into a very unfavorable circumstance, so Deb purchased him from the owner and he now resides at Dreams Come True Farm with us and has a special place in Debbie’s heart.           Debbie found this work to be rewarding and was constantly learning, but her real dream was to board and train show horses, continue her rehabilitation work, and teach the new generation of show competitors the ropes.  The track thoroughbreds were nice to work with, but Debbie saw too much that was undesirable to her in the business, so, one early November morning when her friend and confident Rudy Rucki came to her with  information that the barn down the road was going to be available for lease-purchase, she quickly acted on this information.   They decided to call the farm Dreams Come True Farm.   In early December, she moved into this barn and began to inventory what needed to be done to modernize and renovate the facility.  Debbie and Rudy began looking at the facility  and researching it’s past in an effort to discover how best it should be renovated.  It was in total disrepair.   This barn was very old.          There was much to do.  Fences went unrepaired, stalls were not cleaned on a regular basis or repaired at all, a powerful storm blew the roof off of one section of the barn, and old materials remained undisposed of.  Ms. Smartt had much to accomplish if she was to transform this facility into a successful show training and boarding barn and achieve her goals.   This did not deter Debbie.      I began talking with her about how to best go about getting new clients and establish her business.  It was decided that to get the maximum exposure of the new barn at minimum dollar, we needed a website.  So this writer created a small website and hung advertisements for boarding and training in the area.  Shortly after, the business began to grow.       The first boarders were temporary in nature.  They were the clients of a well-known jumper personality that was giving a clinic at her barn nearby.  This gave Debbie some much needed incentive and confidence to begin the massive cleaning up and repairs to the facility.  Over the next several months, with financial help from a local business investor, advertising help from myself, and labor help from Rudy, another friend, and the maintenance man who lived on site, the barn gradually took shape.   Stalls were mucked out, renovated and matted, the outdoor arena was cleaned up, arena footings were repaired, drainage was put in, the building was painted inside and out, and new jumps and equipment were custom built.     One day, a lady passing on the road, glanced at Debbie exercising her Standard bred Cross Plain But Fancy in Dreams Come True’s large outdoor arena.  She decided to pull into the parking lot and ask Debbie for a tour of the facility.  The two women began an animated conversation about the woman’s horse.  “I need to find a new home for my quarter horse, but I don’t know anyone who has the knowledge and facility to properly care for and support my middle aged quarter horse with ringbone.”  When the woman posed this dilemma to Debbie, she quickly replied “No problem.  There’s plenty of room for him here and my farrier is great with leg and hoof problems like that.”  She moved her horse in that week.  Our farrier was able to help him and through proper care at our facility, he was able to stay happy and sound.  When you look at him, you swear you can see the wheels turning in this horse’s mind.   I’m sure like myself; you have all experienced that type of horse at some point in your riding endeavors.     However, good lay-up services are not the only thing that trainer Deborah Smartt does well.  Debbie is also talented with Consignment services.  One of the first consignments she took on was a horse called Father Thyme.  He was a backyard animal that the owner did not have the proper time for.  She quickly realized this and asked Debbie for help.  When Thyme arrived at the farm, he had physical problems from living outdoors and he had been outdoors and without a steady program for so long that he had forgotten most if not all of his training.  In only 4 months, Debbie was able to take this animal into top physical condition and he took a 2nd place ribbon at an A rated show.  He sold for twice the amount the owner wanted to get for him.  Now, Thyme is happy in an upstate show home and doing very well.     Things have been progressing well at Dreams Come True Farm for the last several months.  Trainer Deborah Jean Smartt is gaining wonderful reputation as a horse rehabilitator, caretaker, and trainer.  Her latest equine endeavor is a Thoroughbred called Southern Princess.   Princess (lovingly called “Juice” by the barn staff and her owner), was a horse also given to Dreams on consignment.  When she arrived, juice was a tiny thoroughbred, sweet, and lovable, but with no training, and since she lived outdoors, with many other horses, her coat and feet needed some attention and she too was not in the top physical condition she now enjoys.   Debbie saw riding potential in one of her students and had her lesson on Juice one day.  The girl fell in love with the horse, the horse loved the girl, and now this team is doing very well under Debbie’s direction.  The team has taken several ribbons at local shows and most recently has taken several 2nd and 3rd place ribbons at DVHA shows.  They are headed for a wonderful show career.    It seems that after 2 years of hard work, the NJ trainer that works miracles has done so many times over at a local Frenchtown, NJ barn and she will continue to do so for a long time to come.     Trainer Deborah Jean Smartt operates out of Dreams Come True Farm which has the facilities to offer quality boarding, training, and consignment sales at reasonable rates to all their clients and is pleased to announce that a new hunter/jumper trainer has brought many leasing opportunities to clients of Dreams Come True.  Elissa Boards her horses at Dreams and offers training to anyone who wants it.  Several of them are up for lease this year at Dreams’ and one is up for sale. If you want to “try out” horse ownership without the commitment to see if you can afford it first before buying, then leasing is the perfect option for you.  Come to Dreams Come True Farm, and speak to Debbie about leasing one of our many horses.  Dreams Come True Farm offers in house and “ship in” lessons for those who want to take lessons, but prefer to use their own horses.  The farm has several clients who take advantage of this service.  Clients complement Trainer Deborah Jean Smartt and the way she runs Dreams Come True for its’ pleasant, friendly atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and excellent care provided to all the equines in residence there.      Especially the retired ones.  Debbie has a special place In her heart for older horses, knows their needs and provides a wonderful home to retire your loved equine friend to. Debbie has succeeded in her dream.  She took a run-down and neglected facility and turned it into a wonderful, family oriented training barn where horse owners and aspiring owners of any discipline can come for show training, lessons, a lay-up, or just to provide quality, low cost, full service boarding for their retired or family equine friend.     If you are looking for quality, custom board, training for a young or difficult equine, want to take private, low cost lessons on yours or a school horse, need retirement services for your equine friend, or if you have an equine that you want to sell, but do not have the time to invest to get a proper price for him/her, Trainer Deborah Jean Smartt can help you.    We invite you to visit her in person at Dreams Come True Farm at 966 Hwy 519, Frenchtown, NJ 08825 or visit the website at http://www.dreamscometruefarm.20fr.com  you can also email Kim for information at kd.lorenc@verizon.net.  Thoroughbred owner and horse trainer Deborah Jean Smartt resides on the farm so she is always available for consultation and inquiries.  If you prefer, to contact her directly by phone, you may contact her by calling (908)361-3152.  She would love to speak to you about assisting you with all of your equine needs.  After 8 PM, the barn can be reached to make appointments or have questions answered by calling Kim at (908)689-4391.    If you are having a problem with a horse, are interested in purchasing a first horse, finding quality boarding at reasonable prices, or need sound advice and have come up against “brick walls” contact the NJ trainer that has worked miracles.  She may be able to change things for you.