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SIDELINESDIGITAL | May 2026
Born to a Naval aviator father, Donna Russell Martin said,
“My dad came out of the womb wanting to fly airplanes
and I came out wanting to ride—there was never a time
that I didn’t want to get on a pony or horse, anywhere,
anytime.” It was her father who introduced Donna to
horses, at military bases all of the country and his close
cousin’s farm in North Dakota, as Donna grew up.
Donna’s first job in the equestrian industry was working
for C.P. “Chuck” Graham in East Amherst, New York.
Learning every aspect of running the show barn, Donna
also got to ride and show. Donna faced an uphill battle
as a woman in a lengthy career in the mortgage banking
division of a major home builder that took her from
Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., then from the West Coast to
Florida. Then, vowing never to work in a male-dominated,
corporate environment again, Donna worked as an
appraiser until fate intervened.
Donna’s two daughters were showing hunters with
her and they needed a four-horse head-to-head trailer.
“No one ever explained the differences in different
manufacturer’s models and what I should consider in
features, based on the needs of myself, our girls and our
animals,” Donna said. Once they found the right trailer,
everything shifted and she and her husband ended up
founding Blue Ridge Trailer Sales and Service.
Donna and her husband, Rob, who manages the service &
fabrication departments at Blue Ridge, live in Culpepper,
Virginia, about 23 miles from their business location. “Our
intent is to educate the customer, so that she/he can make
an informed decision, regardless of where they ultimately
purchase a trailer,” Donna said. “You could voice our motto
as ‘Educating the Customer for the Benefit of the Horse’—
succinct but clear.
After 27 years of running the business, Donna and Rob will
soon be looking for someone to carry on the Blue Ridge legacy.
How did you first get involved with horses?
My dad came out of the womb wanting to fly
airplanes and I came out wanting to ride- there
was never a time that I didn’t want to get on a
pony or horse, anywhere anytime. Most military
families in this era did not have the financial
resources for horses, especially with four children
in the family. My father spent his summers on his
aunt and uncle’s farm in North Dakota and rode
regularly with his cousin—more like a brother to
my dad, so we called him Uncle Earl. In those
days, for whatever reason, most military bases
had a stable of horses, most available for rent. My
dad took me often as possible out to rent horses
so we could ride together and at least once a year
we spent time on the farm in North Dakota for
at least a week. Uncle Earl always made sure that
there was a pony available for me to ride while
we were there.
What do you like most about the
discipline you ride/the job you do?
I never realized, even while in graduate school,
that I needed to be an entrepreneur who can
control my actions and results as completely
as possible. I encourage younger women to
consider how to possibly end up an entrepreneur
so she can have as much control as possible over
success and, mostly, happiness.
What do you like to do when
you’re not riding/working?
Travel with my husband and read, read, read!
How do you balance everything
going on in your life?
Rob & I have hired and trained a team of both
sales associates and service technicians, over the
years, who are capable of running this business
with very little day-to-day input from us. This
helps build their self-esteem and confidence
and gives us more flexibility to do other things
outside the office.
What pets, family or horses are most
important in your life right now?
I just lost my “hearthorse,” a foxhunter whom
I had for some 13 years. She took incredible
care of me always and when shared with my
friends, gave everyone a safe and enjoyable
ride. Fortunately, one of our sales associates, a
professional hunter/jumper trainer, has found
me a coming-6-year-old OTTB whom she
took to the Thoroughbred Makeover two years
ago. Currently this friend is putting miles on this
mare that will contribute, together with her very
mature innate personality, to producing a safe
horse for this “golden oldie” rider!
What impact would you most like to make
on the world, or what message do you try
to share by your example?
One day at a time. Do no harm and help any way
that you can!
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
DONNA
RUSSELL MARTIN
Finding a Way to Haul Happily