There’s a moment on every stressful call when you find out who’s actually on the other end. At USRider, it’s not a script reader three time zones away — it’s a real person in the US who’s fielded this exact situation before. They know what a bumper pull is, why your horses need to stay calm, and what to do next. No guessing games, no explaining your world twice.
Here’s a look at one of the dispatchers behind that voice, Paige.
What’s your favorite part of being the person a member reaches when they’re stranded with their horse?
My favorite part is being the calm voice members hear when everything feels chaotic. Horses aren’t just cargo, they’re family, and when something goes wrong on the road, people are scared and trying to make the safest decision they can. I like being the person who steadies the situation, walks them through their options, and makes sure both the member and their horse stay safe. Turning a stressful moment into a clear plan is incredibly rewarding.
Tell us about a call you’re especially proud of — a moment where you really made a difference for a member and their horse.
Within my first year here, I took a call from a member whose trailer had come unhitched and flipped with multiple horses inside. We coordinated a vet to get on scene, arranged towing, PD to shut down the highway, overnight boarding at a nearby barn, and horse transport. It was the first moment I truly realized how much members rely on us.
Years later, by complete coincidence, the same member ended up getting me on the line again. This time it was just a simple tire change, but she immediately recognized my name and told me how grateful she still was for everything we did that day. Hearing that years later reminded me that even one call can stay with someone forever.
What do you wish more horse owners knew about when they haul horses (common types of calls that can be prevented)?
The most common call we see is tire blowouts, especially when the member doesn’t have a usable spare. When someone carries a good spare, the entire situation becomes faster, safer, and far less stressful, sometimes two are even better than one. If the blowout happens at night, tire shops are more limited in their hours, and if we can’t locate the correct tire size, we sometimes have to turn to overnight boarding until morning. A quality spare is one of the easiest ways owners can prevent long delays and keep their horses moving safely.
Tell us about your horse journey and being an equestrian? (Horse’s name, competitions, style you ride etc)
Horses don’t run in my family at all, I’m the one who started it. A simple birthday trail ride when I was a child turned into horses becoming my lifeline. Today I have four: Daisy, Big Gillette, Zerrick, and Covado. Over the years I’ve done trail riding, dressage, jumping, and barrel racing, and I’d love to try a cattle drive someday. Horses have shaped my life in every way, and each one has added something different to my journey.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you would like people to know about you?
We have a blended family with three girls, and we live in the Hudson Valley, NY. Our home is full of animals: horses, great danes, ducks, and cats. We always joke that we don’t actually have mini horses… our great danes have simply decided that’s what they are. It’s a busy, funny, and it fits us perfectly. It’s hard work and can definitely be chaotic at times, but it’s the kind of chaos that comes with love, purpose, and a home that’s always full of life.
My long term dream is to open a horse rescue that also offers equine therapy for disabled children and adults, veterans, and anyone who needs the calming connection horses provide. I’ve worked in that field before, and seeing the improvement in people is something I’ll never forget. Those moments stay with you, the quiet breakthroughs, the way a horse can settle someone’s whole world. It’s the kind of healing I hope to create in a place of my own someday, a place where both people and horses can find comfort and connection. moments stay with you, the quiet breakthroughs, the way a horse can settle someone’s whole world. It’s the kind of healing I hope to create in a place of my own someday, a place where both people and horses can find comfort and connection.
