Gypsy Vanner Horse Farm at Blarney Stone Acres

Meet Lise McNamara

Lise McNamara was born and raised in Long Island, New York, to prominent psychologist Dr. Donald Milman and New York model Maryln Holstein. There she attended the C.W. Post College at Long Island University studying sociology. Always a lover of nature, and particularly flowers, Lise pursued her passion by beginning a career in the floral industry at the Long Island Martan Viette Nursery. Later, Lise accepted a position as a buyer and designer for the Locust Valley Garden Center in Long Island.

In 1982 Lise left her position at Locust Valley when she married Steven McNamara and moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There she continued her career, and her creative designs quickly garnered her an excellent reputation in the realm of corporate entertaining. At the same time, she became interested in health and fitness and spent time leading low-impact exercise programs at a local gym.

As the McNamara family blossomed with the addition of two sons and a daughter, Lise spent considerable time devoted to school and community activities. After a re-location to Maryland with her husband, Lise continued being active in the community and the local school. In this pursuit she found a creative outlet enjoying her time as a designer of art supplies and classroom educational aides. Eventually, her love of children led her to become a part time substitute teacher for grades Kindergarten through six.

While in Maryland Lise became the Fundraising Coordinator for the Baltimore City United Way Christmas Project. With her help the project, which collected, repaired and distributed toys to children living in shelters, flourished. For each of the three years Lise participated, working closely with local businesses and schools, the Baltimore United Way collected more than 1,500 toys. Her tireless efforts were rewarded when the Mayor of Baltimore presented her with a citation recognizing outstanding community service and leadership.

After a stop in Ohio, where Lise continued designing for corporate events and her husband was an executive with Merck-Medco, Lise and family once again moved, this time to West Milford, New Jersey.

It was in West Milford that her love of nature led her to an interest in equine activities, including horsemanship and training. She designed and coordinated the building of a state-of-the-art equine horse facility that includes 2 six-stall barns, an indoor riding arena and multiple paddocks. As her stable, Blarneystone Acres, became increasingly well known, Lise grew passionate about importing and breeding world class, Romany bred, Gypsy horses.

Drawing from her diverse background that included sociology, creative design and philanthropy, and embracing her love of nature and Gypsy horses, Lise forged ahead with her goal of developing one of the top breeding programs in the country. She devoted countless hours to researching bloodlines, cultural history and the heredity factors known to the Romany bred horse. She assembled one of the finest collections of Romany literature and a library of traceable bloodlines, cultural history and hereditary factors known to the Romany bred horse.

In 2004 Lise's work and expertise was recognized when the editor of the Gypsy Literacy Program, in England, asked her to author a book about Gypsy horses. The book was well received and Lise was honored to receive a recognition award from the Derbyshire Liason Group.

Today Lise continues to support charitable organizations whose missions, like hers, focus on children, education, art and nature. Lise and husband Steven have endorsed and sponsored Lash's Lessons, a nationally recognized program that emphasizes teaching children healthy life skills and uses Gypsy horses and other animals as facilitators. In addition to their continued financial support, the McNamara's donated their Gypsy gelding Merrow to the Lash's Lessons program. Lise is also actively supporting and sponsoring a PMU equine foster program that helps to place homeless foals born to mares in the PM program.

For information on Lash's Lessons and to find out how you can help at-risk children please visit: www.lashslessons.com.