College, marriage and kids took me away from horses for a few years until we moved to North Carolina.

I had been away from horses to long and needed to feel them under me again. I got a job at a local stable, cleaning tack and grooming horses, that taught jumping to the more fortunate kids in the area. Up until then I had only ridden western. These kids were quite spoiled and really didn't know how to take care of a horse. They would come for their lessons and then leave without even the least regard to the care of the horse or tack.

I persuaded the stable owner to let me extend their lesson and show them how to actually care for a horse. The program was successful and that was my start in teaching others about horses. In exchange for part of my wages I was taught how to ride the hunters and jumpers and there developed my love for cross country jumping. Probably the most fun thing I ever did on a horse.

We then moved to Kentucky where I had a short stint with exercising race horses. It was short lived because I didn't get a whole lot of pleasure getting up at 4:00 am, freezing my toosh off and riding a very high horse in a very uncomfortable position. It was a great experience and I met some very famous jockeys but it wasn't for me.

My Dad had trotters and I was fortunate enough to be able to help out with them a little also. I met the love of my life in 1979, Steve, and told him my dream was still to own my own breeding farm. It was seeming less likely with the expenses of the large horses. Steve told me I could do it I just needed to find the right breed.

At the end of 1979 I saw a program on miniature horses. I was taken by them. I called the TV. station and found out who the breeders were. There started my quest to find a mini. On New Years Eve I took possession of my first miniature horse. A little black filly called "Chiquita". As you all know "you can't have just one" and soon to follow was a mare in foal and a colt called "Stretch". My long wished for breeding farm had finally begun!

I was back in California by this time and we had to travel all the way to Los Angeles. for our first shows since there were no shows up north. We decided to put on a show up here to get things started and held it in Santa Rosa. It was small but it was a start and continued up here for 16 years. That little colt Stretch that I had purchased grew up to be a magnificent stallion that I eventually sold to New Zealand. That opened up some exciting doors. I was now showing, breeding, judging and putting on training clinics. I was asked to go to New Zealand and Australia and judge a couple horse shows and put on a few training clinics. That was an exciting experience and I made life-long friends over there. I have been fortunate to have traveled all over the US and parts of Canada judging and putting on training clinics.

I put on a clinic and production sale every year here at Sierra Ranch in September. I am still showing, training, breeding and judging the miniature horse and I hope to continue for a long time. They have won my heart!