Location
We are located in Northern Minnesota, also known as God's Country. Our mares are quite comfortable here, even if it does get a little chilly in the winter!
A Passion Is Born
Love and passion for horses started early for me. I have a picture of when I was four years old enjoying my very first pony ride. My dad always jokes that that pony ride became the most expensive ride in history.
A passion was ignited in my heart that day, and it has remained an inferno to this day. A dream began to take shape on that little pony, and a horse of my own became the desire of my heart.
My parents realized that this passion was not fading but growing stronger, and they surprised me with my first horse on my tenth birthday, a little Quarter Horse named Blondie. I was over the moon! Oh how I loved that little mare!
At thirteen, Blondie and I moved to a new farm with a new trainer. I met and fell in love with a Saddlebred gelding named Prince. The only discipline Prince knew and excelled at was dressage. I knew nothing about dressage as I had been learning to ride western with Blondie. That didn't stop me; I love a challenge! Prince became my second horse. We enjoyed three years of successful competition before we reached the end of his potential. The journey may have been over for us, but it was time for Prince to become another rider's dream.
Next in my life would be an off-track Thoroughbred mare named Swinger. We worked hard, and it paid off. We competed successfully through second level dressage and were schooling third level when her track injuries flared up, ending our ability to compete. Swinger taught me many things, hard work, discipline, and trust just to name a few. Swinger is now retired from competition but spends her days as a lesson horse, teaching other riders the art of dressage and the soul of a horse.
For several years I had dreamt of breeding my own horse to take me to the higher levels of dressage competition. In 2003, Boyka was born. Sired by Contango and born of Swinger, Boyka has exceeded my expectations. But...dreams change (more on that later).
A Time To Learn
In the summers of 2003, 2004, and 2005, I had the opportunity to work and train under Keri Erickson. Early mornings were spent feeding horses, midmornings found me riding four to six horses, and afternoons brought manual labor into play followed by feeding horses yet again in the evenings. Feeding, cleaning and filling water tanks, mucking stalls, and all the other chores that are required at a working horse stable were all a part of my job description. It taught me the true responsibility of owning horses. I learned to work hard regardless of the weather conditions. Life is the same at a working stable if the weather is ninety above or forty below. This was not only an amazing opportunity; it was an education second to none. Keri is now my sister-in-law, and I am looking forward to training Gypsy Cobs together down the road. Thank you, Keri, for everything!
A New Dream Is Born
The feathered breeds had been "calling my name" for several years, but, like many dreams in life, there is a season. April of 2007 would be a major turning point in my life. Chris, my husband, and I responded to an ad for a Shire mare for sale named Suki. One face-to-face meeting was all it took to lose our hearts to this lovely lady. A few short weeks later, she found her permanent home with us.
Next came Dallas, a 2005 Clydesdale mare. She was purchased in October of 2007 as an engagement gift to me from Chris. Who could resist a guy like that?! Dallas became our second sweetheart and is best buddies with Suki.
This brings us to February of 2008 when Dunamis entered into our life. Duna is a 2005 Gypsy Cob mare that I met in Arizona at Desert Jewel's Open House. Again, the love bug bit and I just had to have her! She will forever be a lady you will find at DWF!
Our latest addition is Evie, a 2002 Clydesdale mare whom we purchased in July of 2009. Although we were not looking for another horse at the time, Evie is one I am thankful for every day that we had the opportunity to purchase. She is our sweetest mare, a true "Cinderella".
These are our four foundation broodmares. A sweeter group you will not meet. It will take a very special mare to join their ranks!