MILWAUKEE - The 2008 summer Paralympics start Saturday in Beijing, China.

A local stable manager is there to share her expertise.

As equestrian director at YMCA Camp Minikani, Alex Philpin molds young riders into champions…and keeps everything running smoothly.

“There's a lot going on. I mean, it's just crazy. We have so many lessons, and we've got camp. I mean it's a lot, but she handles everything really well,” Instructor Krissi VonBargen said.

Now, Philpin is in for the toughest ride of her life: being stable manager for the U.S. Paraequestrian team at the 2008 Paralympics in Hong Kong!

“It's a huge scale on everything. I mean you are on show all of the time,” Philpin said.

Philpin already has one Olympics under her belt: the 2004 games in Athens, so, she knows what she's up against.

“There's always some nerves. Flying with the horse for that length of time. Usually they fly pretty well, but you never know what's gonna happen,” Philpin said.

The one thing Philpin doesn't really have to worry about is the riders...some of whom are paralyzed from the waist down.

“The riders really don't consider themselves disabled, and I really, having worked with them before, feel they're far more able than most of us,” Philpin said.

In fact, Philpin says the Paralympic riders teach her...making her a better coach.

“I had no idea when I went to Athens about the ability of these riders…so I expect a lot more of my students!” Philpin said.

Philpin will be overseas for more than a month.

To see her with her horses and students...there's no doubt she'll be missed.

“My hopes for Alex is she learns more, and gets to see everything and do everything she wants to,” VonBargen said.

“It's gonna be a pretty grueling schedule, but obviously if there is time, I want to get down and see some of the sites in Hong Kong,” Philpin said.