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SIDELINESDIGITAL | May 2026
Danae Fryman has always known she wanted a career
connected to her passion for horses. She grew up trail
riding in Michigan, and currently lives in Lexington,
Kentucky, where she is the Equine Discounts Partner
Relations & Events Manager for the National Thoroughbred
Racing Association. “I work at the intersection of equine
sport and strategic partnerships, helping bring our brands
and discounts to the equestrian customer,” she said.
At work, her job involves coordinating high-level
experiences around major equine events such as
the Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup and Kentucky
Three-Day Event; managing sponsorships and industry
relationships; and analyzing and reviewing sales data.
Those analytical and strategic skills come in handy in
her life, too, as she juggles not just working and riding
but being a new mom.
How did you first get involved with horses?
My grandfather had horses growing up so you
can quite literally say I’ve been involved with
horses since I’ve been born.
What were your early years with horses like?
In the early years, my horse experience was
primarily trail riding all over the west coast of
Michigan. I’d ride my little Arabian pony through
the woods and dunes to Lake Michigan.
How did you get to where you
are now in your life/career?
It’s been a combination of persistence and staying
the course. I knew that my early professional career
was not my end goal and I wanted to continue to
be more involved in the equine industry.
What do you like most about
the discipline you ride?
I compete with my 5-year-old solid APHA in a
sport called EXCA (Extreme Cowboy Trail) and
I absolutely love it! I feel it creates a very well-
rounded horse who must be in tune with the rider
on what’s next and handle various obstacles that
may be in the course with poise and confidence.
What do you consider to be your greatest
accomplishments so far, riding or otherwise?
I recently had a baby girl last September and she
truly is my great accomplishment. I’m also very
proud to be back to riding seven months
postpartum.
What do you like to do when
you’re not riding or working?
When I’m not at the barn or working, I love
spending time with my family, getting outside, and
just slowing down when I can. It’s important to
me to recharge and be present in those moments.
How do you balance everything
going on in your life?
I tend to joke that I thrive in chaos. I’m a bit of
a logistics nerd, so organizing moving pieces
and managing the chaos actually energizes me.
But honestly, one of the biggest reasons I’m able
to balance everything in my life is because of
the incredible support system I have. I’m very
fortunate to work alongside coworkers who are
always willing to jump in, support one another
and help carry the load when things get busy.
What people are most important
in your life right now?
My husband. I wouldn’t be able to juggle it all if it
wasn’t for his support. We have a hay business in
addition to both of us working full-time and raising
our daughter, but he’s the main reason I’ve had the
time to get back to doing what I love—riding.
What impact would you most like to make
on the world, or what message do you try
to share by your example?
I hope to show that hard work, consistency, and
kindness go a long way.
What are your goals in life or riding?
I hope to get back into the show ring this year.
Eventually, I’d love to compete at EXCA Worlds
in Glen Rose, Texas, but we might be a year or
two away from that!
DANAE
FRYMAN
Strategizing in Life
and for the NTRA
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Photo by Que Images