Jean lived in South New Jersey, where she began riding when she was 7 years old. She had a backyard pony that she rode in 4-H for a few years. They competed in just about everything together: barrel racing, English pleasure, hunter, and trail classes.  After she outgrew the pony, she went on to ride for her sister who was a hunter/jumper trainer in Unionville, Pa. Jean spent a few summers there riding show ponies and horses, concentrating on hunters and equitation. She also enjoyed foxhunting during winter break. 

During high school her family moved to central Pennsylvania and she continued to ride hunters. Jean also spent a couple summers working at Penn National Racecourse as a hotwalker and groom with her sister who had transitioned from a show stable to racing.  After high school she ended up back in N.J. Not sure what career she was headed for, Jean decided to work before attending college. She worked in a lot of different fields: bartender, tech writer, photographer, software trainer, farm manager … she would eventually spend the bulk of her career as an executive assistant.

While bartending she met her husband, Jack. A few years later they bought land and built a small farm in Cedar Brook, N.J. Jean continued riding but moved away from riding hunters and switched to lower-level eventing, hunter paces, and trail riding with friends. She would eventually have a couple of Thoroughbred broodmares on the farm, too. It was a challenge since Jean was working full time as an executive assistant, but luckily foaling always went well. A couple of their homebreds would go on to race, but unfortunately without much success. As time went on each horse was retired and put up for adoption and they started new careers as show horses.

In 2013, Jean lost her husband, Jack, after he died in a work accident.  A few months after her husband died, her friend Kate Goldenberg, gave her a weanling colt that Kate named in honor of Jean’s late husband. The colt was named Saratoga Jack.  The colt would go on to win more than $378,000 for Jean.  Saratoga Jack retired in 2022, and he is transitioning to a new career in Dressage. 

Jean kept the farm for a few more years even though she was no longer riding and no longer had horses on the farm. In 2018, she decided to sell the farm and move to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., her and her late husband’s favorite place on the planet. Jean continues to be involved in horse racing, and currently has a filly running; her name is Love Is Strong.