Jessica Lane - Equine Herbalist

Jessica Lane has enjoyed a lifelong love of both horses and botany.  Jessica has had a varied and lengthy career with horses beginning when she was in her teens and would exchange mucking stalls for the privilege of a ride.  She also spent time in the summer observing the breaking and  prepping of Standardbred yearlings at one of Armstrong Bros. many farms north of Brampton, Ontario.  This was her first exposure to the commercial horse business. 

During summer vacation while studying at the University of Guelph in 1979, she first applied to work for Argyle Farms, one mile north of Mohawk Raceway, Milton, Ontario. At Argyle she prepped yearlings for the annual fall sales at Woodbine Raceway.  In February the following year, she returned to Argyle to work in the breeding arm of the operation, overseeing the needs of up to 100 broodmares.  She rose rapidly to the position of "Stallionier" at the farm, to become the caretaker/handler of Argyle's four breeding stallions.  Jessica was involved in all aspects of the breeding operation, handling the stallions for semen collection and natural cover, teasing broodmares, assisting in foalings and providing the care necessary to the occasional injured or ailing animal. 

When breeding season wrapped up in July, she again prepped yearlings for the sales. During the late fall through to the beginning of breeding season she worked at the race track as a groom, helping to train sales yearlings to the bit and taking horses into the racing phase of their lives. It was while working at Mohawk Raceway that Jessica gained a reputation for having a way with difficult horses and for her "magical potions".  After four years of following this yearly pattern Jessica became partner in one of the many successful racing barns at Mohawk and spent the next 8 years involved in the racing of the stable at tracks throughout Ontario, Quebec and New York.

An unfortunate accident in the early 1990's ended her physical work with horses. Through the recovery years that followed Jessica turned her full attention to building a successful Equine Herbal Consulting and Equine Herbal Products business, drawing on her extensive equine experience and her lifelong passion for plant medicines.  She has enjoyed reputable success with her custom and standard formulas, earning a loyal following of happy clients and horses throughout southern Ontario and as far away as England.  For three years Jessica was Herbal Consultant and instructor of Herbal Equine Courses as PetLynn Farms of Caledon, Ontario until she moved to Oshawa Ontario.  Jessica continues to offer consultations and custom formulations.  Contact information can be requested via email through GiftHorse Gallery.

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