1. Tell me about yourself

My husband Mark and I were born and raised in Ohio. We have lived in Marysville for a little over 20 years now along with our son Cole. I’m a Software Project Manager and Mark is a Mechanical Engineer. Our jobs can be stressful sometimes but there is something so rewarding about working with horses and watching them develop. I had already been involved with horses & showing in my teens and 20’s when we met. Mark had family members who were involved with horses as well & thankfully he enjoyed them as much as I did. When Cole was little, I still had my retired show horse “Tuff Win Impress” that Cole showed when he was little and they were a great team! He stopped showing a long time ago but takes care of the dogs and other horses when we are away at shows.

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I didn’t come from a horse family, we didn’t live on a farm, we lived in the suburbs and boarded for many years. I talked my parents into buying me a horse when I was around 11 and it just grew from there! I was a horse crazy girl who read every book I could about horses. We’ve met some wonderful lifelong friends through horses and I wouldn’t trade a second of it!

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2. How did you and your horse meet?

The horses are definitely a family activity! Mark and I went to Roan World in 2023 with my sister (Sarah) and niece (Olivia). She shows a roan QH gelding “Perpetual Intentions” who we bred and raised before they purchased him as a 3 yr. old. It was their 2nd RW show and our first, but I fell in love with show! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and the awards were amazing! I talked with Sarah Wells at the show and she educated me on the Roan to Riches program, the qualifying criteria, etc. I knew right then I would be back next year with something to show in the LL futurity! I spent the 7-hour ride from TN to OH on the hunt for a weanling!

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We have both Quarter Horses and Paints but are active with APHA and wanted to remain with that breed. I had some pretty specific requirements- weanling, filly, APHA, roan, sired by an eligible stallion, oh....and reasonably priced!

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I was able to find all that and more through Dana Crager as the broker and Jerel & Vicki Osborne as the breeders of Offshore Rockin (Baylee). She checked ALL the boxes and was AQHA/APHA eligible! We put a deposit on her at the end of July and picked her up when she was weaned in September of 2023. This was our first time purchasing a weanling, we had always bred & raised our own.

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3. Tell me about your horse.

 

Baylee is sired by The Offshore Account and out of One More Rock. She was sassy as a baby and is still sassy as a yearling! She is one of the smartest & talented babies we’ve worked with and a DIVA in the show ring. She genuinely loves being a show horse and takes everything in stride. Roan World this year was just her 3rd show and it was a 7-hour long ride by herself. She turns it on in the show arena then likes to come back to her stall, catch a snack, then lay down & stretch out for a long nap! She’s a beautiful light rose colored roan with a big white blaze and is built like a little tank! We get compliments on her everywhere we go!

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4. What is your most memorable moment together and why?

 

Baylee is Mark’s show project and the LL and IHT were new events for him this year. We try to do the majority of the work with the youngsters ourselves and he’s done a great job with Baylee. We don’t have an indoor arena so we’re limited to working when weather permits. We were able to participate in Roan World, Virginia Color Classic and Michigan Color Classic earning several top placings (Champion and Res. Champion) collect APAH points in Open/Amateur Halter, LL, and IHT, and some circuit awards.

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5. What events do you all compete in? What is your horse’s favorite event and why? What is your favorite event and why?

Mark and Baylee compete in Halter, Longe Line, and In Hand Trail events. Halter is probably Baylee’s favorite, but she is so good in the IHT events! She is so precise and fearless when she goes over obstacles, I love watching her. Not sure that is Mark’s favorite class with all the trotting involved but they make a great team & she really relies on him.

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6. What is your biggest accomplishment as a team and why?

100% Roan World!! Placing Reserve Champion in the Roan to Riches Longe Line Futurity at Roan World with me and Mark placing 2nd in Amateur LL, 3rd in Open LL, World Champion IHT, and a top 5 and 10 finish in the all age Halter Mares

classes. There were some really nice horses and competitors, so I feel really blessed that we did so well. My sister was there to support us and my mom, and her husband came from Florida to support us as well. We met so many nice people too!!

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7. What piece of advice do you think your horse would give you?

Probably for us to indulge her in more treats, longer naps, and get her some 8 x 10 photos of herself to hand out to all her admirers.

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8. What is up next?

 

We wrapped up our 2024 show season with the Michigan Color Classic Futurity. Baylee is home living her best life getting turned out with her pals and being a wild woman! She loves being a dirtball and rolls in every mud, dirt, poop pile she can find. We’ll let her grow and see where 2025 show season takes us!

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9. What do you enjoy most about the American Roan Horse Association?

The people are just so friendly and helpful! We love the Middle Tennessee show grounds where Roan World is held and it's so cool to see so many roan horses at one show! I can remember back in the late 80’s and early 90’s where you were lucky to see one at a horse show.