What started as a desire to learn to ride and be around horses soon turned into a lifestyle that became a passion of an entire family. Having a horse in the back yard turned into competing on the national level and eventually into the formation in 1999 of Dragonsmeade Farm just outside of Lexington, KY where my family and I raise World Champion Morgan Horses.

 The path that leads to the formation of Dragonsmeade Farm is the tapestry of my life. I went from being a horse crazy kid competing on a local level to working summers during my high school years at Kohler Stables in Kohler, WI. to riding with some of the most prominent horsemen and women in the industry over the next several decades.

I have been fortunate to ride numerous family- owned horses to Grand National and World Championship and Reserve World Championship titles. Many of these wins have been aboard Dragonsmeade bred horses.

My desire to continue riding and competing during my college years lead me to Lindenwood College where noted horsewoman, Fern Palmer Bittner, ran the equestrian program. Although I was a Business major having a stable and a noted instructor in proximity was what drew me to Lindenwood. After graduation in 1985 I remained in Missouri where I married and raised a son.

My governance experience began in 1997 when I was elected to the American Morgan Horse Association Board of Directors as a Director At Large. I served in that position until 2002. In 2005 I was re-elected to the Board as a Regional Director serving until 2012. From 2014-2017 I served on the AMHA Board as a Director-At-Large. I am currently an AMHA Director Emeritus.

During my years of involvement with AMHA I have served and continue to serve on several committees including the Registry and Awards Committees.

It was during my years as an AMHA BOD that I began committee work with USEF. I have been a member of the Morgan Rules Committee, the Admin & Finance Committee, the Saddle Seat World Cup Committee and most recently chaired the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Task Force. In 2020 I was appointed to the USEF National Breeds & Disciplines Council and the USEF Board of Directors.

My family and I have been honored to be the recipients of the 2004 AMHA Breeders Hall of Fame Award and the UPHA Alvin C. Ruxer Lifetime Commitment Award.

In 2016 I was honored to be named winner of the UPHA Associate(amateur) Member Award.

As you can see the love a little girl had for a horse has developed into a lifetime of involvement in a community and industry I love. The horse has framed my life, given me some of my dearest friends and created a bond and common goal within my family that has held and strengthen over the decades.