AFTER many years as the manager of Demco Florist, Judy Baum, 51, embarked on a drastic career change.

With the help of her 23-year-old daughter Catrina, a champion rider, Mrs. Baum took the reins (so to speak) at Spicelands Riding Centre, as owner and manager of Bermuda's only full-service riding school.

Her new job was challenging at first, as she explained.

"It's very different dealing with live animals. This is 24/7, and there's no such thing as a day off."

Indeed, Mrs. Baum works long hours to ensure everything runs smoothly at the Middle Road, Warwick stables. With visitors and locals alike checking in for the first trail ride at 6.30 a.m., Mrs. Baum's day begins at 5.30 and doesn't end until 8.

However, her dedication doesn't end at sundown: Mrs. Baum's own home is a stone's throw from Spicelands.

As she explained: "You have to live on the property. If there's a problem in the middle of the night, you have to be there."

She cited the recent example of a runaway horse, spotted by understandably shocked members of the police force halfway up Khyber Pass, and eventually captured.

Although not an avid equestrian herself ("I stick to the trail rides," she laughed), Mrs. Baum has quickly learned how to manage a busy riding school and training centre thanks to her family.

"My daughter has taught me a lot, and my family is into horses. We own three of the barns on the island.

"My uncle owns Inwood Stables, and my cousin owns Roque Stables. We're a very close family; if we pulled out, there wouldn't be a horse world in Bermuda."

ALTHOUGH Mrs. Baum's heart is in the riding school, Spicelands' financial success is due to its trail rides, especially popular in the summer months with visitors and locals alike.

While these guided horseback tours follow the railway trails and the sand dunes of the South Shore beaches, the Bermuda Government prohibits the use of public beaches for these expeditions. Mrs. Baum takes issue with this ban after the recent publication of certain advertisements by the Department of Tourism.

"We're not allowed in the water, but we're trying to get the Government to let us perhaps use Warwick Long Bay as a track. After all, the Government does advertise the beach rides in their ads. It upsets me; if they're going to use false advertisement, it's not fair to us.

"They want to invite people to Bermuda with these beautiful photos of horses running through the water, and then they turn around and tell me I can't do it. I'm asking constantly.

"We just want to use one little section of Warwick Long Bay."

While Mrs. Baum awaits a decision, the atmosphere at Spicelands remains decidedly hectic. During the school year, five staff members teach some 200 riding lessons per week. "Sometimes we can't keep up," admits Mrs. Baum. "I have a waiting list for riding lessons. We're the only riding school per se; most of the other barns are boarders, where you have to have your own horse."

AFTER purchasing Spicelands from the Canale family three years ago, Mrs. Baum replaced expatriate staff members with Bermudians.

"Whenever I can use locals, I do. I try not to use overseas people. Spicelands is a success because of the staff. I could never do it on my own. I have a very good bunch at the moment, all locals."

After Spicelands changed hands, Mrs. Baum decided it was time to "upgrade and get modernised".

The Internet has proved an invaluable tool for promoting the riding centre, in particular to interested parties overseas.

"We get a lot of inquiries due to our web page," said Mrs. Baum, "but mostly our advertisement is by word of mouth". Looking to the future, Mrs. Baum hopes to secure the finances to build an indoor riding space.

"I want to get a closed-in arena with a roof. When it rains, the lessons get cancelled; this way we can have lessons all the time. Although I'd have to win the lottery or something!"

In addition to her demanding post at Spicelands, Mrs. Baum has a second job monogramming T-shirts and hats, and operates out of her home.

Although overseeing her two businesses takes up the majority of her time, Baum devotes countless hours to local harness racing as a presiding judge.

"I really do enjoy that aspect of the job," she said. With daughter Catrina preparing for her trip to the FEI world jumping championship finals in Germany in August, Mrs. Baum confessed that she'd like to see comparable local equestrian success stories in the near future.

"I'd like us to be able to train and produce real champion horses and riders," she said.