I would like to thank you for visiting, and take the time to tell you a bit about myself.
I am an "equine enthusiast" to say the least. I have had a love of horses my entire life, as most little girls do. When I was in 5 years old, I started taking lessons at a hunter/jumper barn. This was my first real foray into riding and basic care and grooming. Unfortunately, eventually, as the cost of lessons became too great for my mom, and I had to stop. I continued riding a pony, Honey, at a neighborhood family farm. Honey was blind in one eye but could, and would, jump the moon if you pointed her at it! She had had a successful show career, and a typical pony attitude. She was probably my best teacher. For many years I was horseless, and through college and graduate school I recall riding just a handful of times. But that was to change. In 1997 I started teaching. With a regular job, there came regular pay...and the extra cash for my first purchase!
When I finally started looking, I tried many horses that would probably would have suited me better, but I fell in love with an Off Track Thoroughbred mare named Sheza Spy. She was not competitive at the track, but completely sound and not even 4. SheShe was my girl, and we endured many life-changes together, along with training issues, foaling, the births of my children, and the pressure of raising a family and working full-time. I am heartbroken to say I lost her to colic on July 8th, 2003. She was a true individual, and will always be my first love. Losing her really pushed me to look to finding "the perfect horse" for me, and I did my research and made the decision tp purchase a Trakehner. My ultimate goal is to produce high-quality sporthorse prospects, at an affordable price. I have wonderful broodmares, and I have found everything I have ever wanted in the Trakehner breed: athleticism, personality, intelligence, strength, beauty, and a wonderful history as well as a small but passionnate community of breeders and owners who are committed to the preservation and promotion of this incredible breed. Of course, I will always have a soft spot for my thoroughbreds but my broodmares are THE reason I do this, and I know I can stand behind my broodmares 100%. I love my girls, and they are the backbone of this venture. All of my mares are proven in performance, pedigree, and progeny...and they have good minds and nice temperments. True to their heritage, they are also hardy, and have good bone and substance, yet are not coarse. In order to afford the BEST broodmares, I looked for older, proven mares, and I have not been disappointed in any of my mares.
While I keenly enjoy riding and retraining, my passion lies in breeding and foaling. I think this passion was cultivated as I spent countless watching, loving and grooming (and riding) the broodmares at the very large Standardbred farm in our country subdivision. I can vividly recall being chastised once by the farm owner for braiding the broodmares' manes and tails...but it wasn't even me! I can only assume that somewhere out there there is another woman who shares my passion now, and shared "my" broodmares with me as a child. I love working with my foals closely, while also allowing them the freedon to learn how to be horses. I feel that this socialization and handling will make saddle training a much more positive experience, and I anticipate that each of my foals will be exceptionally trainable and amateur-friendly, yet capable of performing at the upper levels in sport.
I keep my small herd "au natural" on rolling acres of quality pasture. The mares do not stand in stalls all day, but rather they enjoy being actual horses, and the foals learn to socialize as they grow. I am blessed to have the freedom to make sure the mares are cared for as I think is most healthy and natural, with the convenience of quality veterinary care and modern science. Of course, there are buildings and stalls to accomodate the various needs of foaling, lay-up, vetting, and shelter, and individual wood-fenced paddocks if necessary, but overall, I feel that the horses are healthiest when they are able to live out 24/7, with free access to grazing and hay, and daily "grain" rations for a balanced diet.
I always look forward to the many opportunities these wonderful animals will enable me to pursue in the future! I feel blessed to have the opportunity to have them all in my life. This is my passion...my love. They are part of my family, which also includes a wonderful, supportive husband, and three beautiful children. Without them I would be just a woman with a dream, but because of them I am able to dream.
