After decades running her Knightsbridge training stable in Monmouth County, N.J., Mary Knowlton has moved on to an administrative job at Princeton Show Jumping.
She acted on a long-term realization when an opportunity presented itself, making a career change just as many in the equestrian world will consider for their enterprises when they head into their 60s and the right time comes.
Presenting awards is the glamorous side of Mary Knowlton’s job as USHJA president. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
“Ultimately, long term I knew that I was going to have to transition out of my business,” said Mary (formerly Babick). She has huge demands on her time, as she serves a second term as president of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association until 2024.
As is often the case, however, things didn’t go exactly the way she had planned for the future of her business.
“My hope was that I was going to transition out, and (the assistant trainer) Julia (Hogan) was going to transition in,” she said.
But after she sent Julia to Florida for the winter circuit, where she worked with Princeton’s owner, Andrew Philbrick, and trainer Sara Wayda, the plan changed.
Andrew, who looked at Mary and Julia as a pair in terms of employment, had a place for both of them in his business. And for Mary, the time was right.
“The world is changing so fast. The more I talk to my friends who are my age or older,” they told her, “divesting yourself of your business frees you to do greater things, because you’re not weighed down by a payroll or paying workman’s comp.”
She said that the more Andrew pressed her to work with him, “the more interesting the job became to me. It was interesting because he was asking me to do something I had never done before, and I loved that.”
Mary Knowlton spends a lot of time in meetings in her role as president of the USHJA. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Knightsbridge is closing at the end of the month, barn sale items have been advertised on line and 25-year employee Sarah Paulson is taking a break.
“I have been within the same basic structure since 1987 when I moved up here,” said Mary, who came from the Washington DC area and lives in Freehold. She’s still doing some teaching and is learning Mandarin, inspired by the multi-cultural atmosphere in the Princeton area.
“As much as in some ways it’s been stressful, deconstructing my business into its pieces, I absolutely love my new job, said Mary, whose work involves compliance and risk management across Andrew’s businesses.
For example, the Skillman showgrounds in Montgomery Township, Somerset County, where most of Andrew’s shows are held, is preserved farmland. One of Mary’s jobs is “making sure we are always in compliance with the state Agricultural Development Committee. I go to work and there’s always something really fun and interesting.”
