Fitness & Nutrition
Donna’s passion for optimum living began in 1988 after realizing that as a paid professional athlete in a heavily male dominated sport, it was her responsibility to show up as the best possible version of herself.
To be a jockey, she knew she had to be strong, she knew she had to be fast and she knew she had to be fit. So, when she set a course to be those things on the horses she rode, and for the clients she rode for, very early on she realized that being thoughtful about her food choices and her fitness regimens made her FEEL good on top of the athletic benefits she had originally set out to achieve. It seemed like she recovered from injuries faster, she got sick less and she felt GREAT! These were just a few of the happy side effects.
She was hooked, and this ensures that her interest in the health and fitness genre remains on her radar even years after her retirement as one of the winningest female jockeys of all time.
Donna has now been an ardent student of the benefits of health and nutrition for over 30 years. She strives to stay on top of the latest news and scientific discoveries in the field and she is always discovering new ways to improve her quality of life and overall health.
She is passionate about sharing these pearls with her family, friends and beyond. According to Donna, the effort to live as healthy as possible is not about looking good, but about LIVING GOOD, and it’s hard not to catch on to that enthusiasm!
DONNA’S TAKE ON BULLETPROOF COFFEE: BULLETPROOF TEA
(IT’S HER FAVORITE MORNING PICK-ME-UP!)
- 50/50 mixture of organic chocolate black tea and organic rooibos chai
- 1 tbsp Brain Octane Oil by Bulletproof
- 1 tbsp of heavy cream
- a few drops (to taste) of vanilla creme or cinnamon stevia
Directions: Steep tea for 5-6 minutes and while the tea is steeping, put your other ingredients into the blender carafe. Once your tea is ready, pour the hot tea into the blender with the other ingredients and blend to a froth. Pour and ENJOY!
You are uniquely beautiful, so be good to yourself! Subscribe to her blog, where she shares her personal opinions on the latest hot topics in horse racing, personal health and wellness, and even her favorite foods and recipes. Or, follow her on Instagram to see what entree she has on her plate with yoga, nutrition, wellness, and more!
@BROTHERS.DONNA
Finally, a book that explains the nutritional implications of drinking alcohol! The gut/brain connection is real, and this book describes how food choices and your microbiome may be driving you to reach for a drink even when your brain says, “Not today.” It also breaks alcohol use into Four Categories: 1. Nonchalant Driker, 2. Social Drinker, 3. Stress Drinker, and 4. Habitual Drinker, and then goes on to address the biological response to alcohol for people in each category. If you’re “sober curious” or wish to cut back on alcohol consumption, you need to read this book. The Audible version comes with a PDF link—or you can just buy the book, which already includes everything you need ❤️
We had so much fun at Big Sky Ski Resort! First, I am always grateful to spend time with my brother (Jerry) and sister (Leah). Had a great time with everyone in the Louisville Ski Club. Yes, we rode the tram and skied Liberty Bowl, took a group photo at the Big Sky sign, (off of the Swift Current lift) and at the base so we could include the non-skiers. Had dinner at the Montana Yurt Dinner (yummy and fun—plus, we had a fox visit us!), and part of our group visited Yellowstone National Park (I declined—because… skiing 🤷🏼♀️). Fortunate to have a friend with a place at the Yellowstone Club, so my brother and I got to ski there one day, too. To wrap up my trip, I watched “Ski Bum” (the Warren Miller story) on the flight home. Highly recommend it if you love skiing and the Warren Miller films. 38 people on the trip, and we had loads of fun with no serious injuries. Mission accomplished!
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Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope this Holiday Season has you feeling Merry & Bright🎄and that you can enjoy time spent with the ones you love ❤️.
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We had a Ball! Thank you, everyone, for coming out to support the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky (BIAK) and their excellent work. Thank you to Pamela and Lauren from Splendid Events. We couldn’t do this event without you—and wouldn’t want to! Thank you, Tim & Lori Laird, Kevin Harned, and Michael Lattin. Your passion and planning make this event great! I am grateful to Mary Varga for inspiring us EVERY year and for choosing Officer Nick Wilt as your 2024 Mary Varga Award recipient. You and Officer Wilt are amazing. Thank you to Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day for attending and leading our dinner invocation. We all attended to support the brain injured in Kentucky, but after the dinner and Live Auction, we stayed for dancing!!! Thank you to my sweet husband, adorable Mother, and friends who joined me. Time to pick out a dress for the 2025 Brain Ball 🤩!
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My secret to optimal health, vitality, and strong digestion? My twice annual cleanse. I do the @lifespa Colorado Cleanse every Spring and Fall. It’s an easy two week cleanse that involves 3 meals a day (you will not go hungry!!!), Ayurvedic herbs, and ideally, lymph-drained spa treatments. I felt SO blessed this year to discover @holistechlife right here in Louisville! I was able to add 4 days of body treatments to my Fall Cleanse and I felt SO MUCH better after. If you’re looking to get back on track, check out @holistechlife and @lifespa ❤️. You’ll be back to the optimum you you’re meant to be in no time!
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To our Matriarch: Happy 80th Birthday 🎂!!! You’ll always be my hero, role model, mentor, and Wise One. I am eternally grateful for your guidance, support, and love. And I look forward to celebrating MANY more birthdays with you ❤️!!!
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Great to have my brother Jerry here this week ❤️. Great racing, hiking, and drinking. No photos of the latter 😎.
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What a summer of fun it’s been—and we’re not even done! From wedding dress shopping for @mackenziebeyerle at @kleinfeldbridal to the @belmontstakes at Saratoga (aka, Belatoga), Hootie & the Blowfish and Dave Matthews Band, hiking in the Adirondacks, the Horse Racing Women’s Summit (@racingwmnsummit), friends in town, the Fashion Show(s), @hamiltonmusical in NYC, the NYRTC Brunch… and we’re not even at Travers yet! A trip down Memory Lane felt necessary…
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I had such a beautiful time visiting my New Mexico family ❤️. Anne French was the only mother I had from age 3 to 6, and Billy, Tommy, Jimmy, and David were my brothers. Clarence French was my dad. While my stay with them was temporary, my love for them endures. During this recent visit, I reveled in the stories and laughter, the beautiful sunrise meditations, and the plane ride with my brother Jim. We flew over the burned areas in Ruidoso 😔, the lava fields outside of Alamogordo, and could see the White Sands from above. I’ll miss you all! Until we convene again.
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Kentucky Derby 150 was fun and memorable ❤️. It was fun to make the @gardenandgun feed in my red suit 🥰. So good to see my brother and catch up with friends @lifewithmybowie @shannonwavenews @annie_moves … and what a finish!!! Loving my new favorite line @generationloveclothing that I wore for both the @kentuckyderby and @preaknessstakes 😍. #livingthedream
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