I am a long term member of USEF, USDF, AQHA, GLDRA,
UMECRA (distance riding groups, endurance and competitive trail), am the Secretary for Glass-Ed (a GMO of USDF), and belong to two local riding clubs, Yankee Springs Trail Riders and Allegan County Pleasure Riders.
I have owned horses all of my adult life, and my small “herd” presently consists of a Morgan, a Quarter Horse, a Half-Arabian, two Arabians, and a Rocky Mountain Gaited Horse. My main area of concentration in training throughout my life has been rooted in dressage, and I am a Bronze Medalist with USDF. I have also competed in Western Pleasure, Hunt Seat, Competitive Trail Riding and Endurance, and Competitive Mounted Orienteering. I enjoy doing groundwork with my horses, using a “blend” of natural horsemanship techniques, and am a Level 2 Parelli Graduate. I am also a graduate of the Train the Trainers WD Program and volunteered to help put the first TTT Program on here in Michigan last spring.
My husband and I have owned and raced Standardbreds for many years and I was one of the first in the country to compete in a “Racing Under Saddle” series–riding Standardbreds in a series of races at tracks all over the Midwest–I rode a pacer. That was an experience! I also have extensive experience with many breeds of gaited horses, both ones I own and those of students that I teach. Presently, I work with two students who compete in national and international mounted police work, and their competitions include dressage tests. I have several students that I teach “all things horse” to each week.
I am a USDF L Graduate, and have been judging dressage schooling shows for the past few years. These shows, of course, include Western Dressage classes. I was honored to be chosen to be the judge at our first-ever WDAMI Western Dressage Schooling Show this past summer. I am in the final stages of attaining USEF Western Dressage Judge licensure this month, and am looking forward to being a part of our ability to sponsor USEF WDAA recognized shows in this area. I was a participant in the WDAA Judge’s Apprentice Program at the WDAA World Show in 2015 and again in 2016 in Oklahoma, and also attended the Judge’s Training Seminar last February in Oklahoma.
I volunteer for our local Pony Club in Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo Valley), giving lessons and assisting with examinations for Pony Club. I am certified to be an examiner for D-3 to C-1, and am working toward higher certification.
I continue my education in horsemanship by attending seminars such as those at Equine Affaire, Road to the Horse, Stallion Expo at MSU, USDF Continuing Ed Series, and any offered at Albion College’s Equine Program. I am auditing the L Program that our GMO is offering again, and although it is a review, it is an invaluable opportunity. I have also worked with western trainers, Eddie McMurtrie, Peter Campbell, and Brian Neubert. I feel that there is never a moment wasted that is spent learning more about how to relate to and care for horses. To quote a wise horseman, Ray Hunt, I’m always “looking for a way to make a better deal for the horse”, and I enjoy helping others find that way. I also like to write, and have had articles published in horse magazines and other publications (see Horse and Rider, June 2014).
My career outside of horses was and is (now part-time) teaching in a public school and now counseling middle school students. I find that kids and horses are very much alike, neither care how much I know until I show them how much I care. I’m very excited to be part of Western Dressage, as it has opened up so many wonderful opportunities for horses and riders to learn about a better way to enjoy each other, and am honored to be asked to be on the WDAMI board.