My first assignment was to Hanscom AFB in Bedford, Massachusetts.  By this time I had gone without doing anything "horsey" for over five years.  Time to get back in the saddle.  I had always wanted to learn how to jump so I asked around and ended up with Stephanie Andreatolla, a fabulous instructor.  By the time I got my second assignment, I had decided this was the sport for me!  So we packed up and moved to Valdosta, Georgia for my assignment at Moody AFB.  I decided to purchase a house with five acres so I had the option of getting a horse if I couldn't find a trainer.  Well, the pull of owning a horse again was too strong so I started searching and Native Pepper was the result! 

We met so many wonderful people in Georgia including all the ladies from The Suwannee Valley Chapter of the Deep South Dressage and Combined Training Association (DSDCTA) and our unbelievably wonderful neighbors Tim, Renee, Katie, and Cole.  They have no idea how nice it was to have "family" away from home. 

During this time in Georgia, I was introduced to the Trakehner horse through Ruthanne Gardner at Joint Venture Farm.  Ruthanne has such beautiful horses in both looks and temperament so when she encouraged me to get Pepper approved through the ATA's Thoroughbred Pilot Program, I did a little research into the Trakehner.  I loved everything I read about the breed so I did.  Pepper was subsequently approved and I started down the "Trakehner" path.  Check out Ruthanne's ATA approved stallion Apache!

The purchase of a used 4-horse Sundowner with living quarters was the next step towards expansion as well as a God-send for our next assignment to NORAD and USNORTHCOM in Colorado Springs.  After getting settled, I started contacting Trakehner breeders and searching the Internet in the hopes I could find a full Trakehner mare to add to my little farm.  I was beginning to think it would be a while before I found one that fit in my budget but Terri Sokora from here in Colorado came through for me by finding a three year old Heling daughter she thought I might be interested in.  Sure enough, Anniko was perfect....AND for a little more money she ended up coming with her 9 month old half sister Arrahanna by Feuertanzer.  A big thank you to their owner/breeder Sue Christensen!  Sue - thanks for trusting me to raise and train your babies!