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| Born in West Seattle ever so many years ago, I grew up in Bellevue, Washington before there were skyscrapers. I can't remember a time when horses were not a part of my dreams. I learned early on that Bridle Trails State Park was slightly less than an hour's walk from home, and discovered the joy of riding at Flying Horseshoe/Central Park Stables. I worked summers leading Camp Fire Girls on trail rides there. The old adage was "you're not a horseman till you've bit the dust three times". I got my three off an old school horse named Peanuts quite early on. I lost count shortly thereafter. |
After graduating from CWSC/ Ellensburg in 1971, I bought my first horse and signed my first teaching contract AND married Ron (in that order). I've taught sixth grade in Elma ever since. Ron and I have been married 35 years (you can do the math) and our oldest son Aaron, a computer whiz working for the vet school in Pullman, was born on our 5th anniversary. Corey, now married and getting ready to teach himself, came three years later. Neither of our sons share our passion for horses but they indulge us out "vices". |
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It has been my goal to be an "all around" horseman, trying a little of everything the horse world offers, before settling into driving and minis. I've shown quarter horses in western pleasure, hunters, draft horses in-hand and driven (and worked the hay fields with the same team). I've competed in combined training at the lowest levels (no guts for more) and dressage to third level with a retired race horse we bred and trained ourselves. |
I held a trainer's license for Washington and Oregon, racing thoroughbreds and quarterhorses at Portland Meadows, Salem, Playfair in Spokane, Yakima Meadows and Longacres. Our quarterhorse owns the track record at Harbor Park for 870 yards, a record which will now stand forever. I was there when that horse took his first meal and rode him daily for the years he raced. Now that was a thrill! |
I found minis a good number of years ago, but we were young and they were highly priced. We settled for Shetlands with a foray into shepherding and border collies before returning to minis in the early 90's. I bought a little mare with driving in mind and she provided our introduction to the mini show world. A few years later another mare from the same farm and my passion for dressage and combined events led me to Maureen and Happ's, and a clinic with Tom Hilgenberg. |
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| Sometimes when we watch something from outside the arena and dream of being there, reaching "inside" can be disappointing when we find that it looked better in our dreams. That is absolutely NOT true of the sport of driving!! |
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