| Sweet Spot Samantha- "Sammie" 3 days old |
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| MISSION STATEMENT- To enhance the health, education, safety and enjoyment of each experience encountered by a human equine partnership, and share with them the freedom only found on the open trails. |
| BACKGROUND CHECK Mindy Smith received her first equine teacher at the age of four. A little black Shetland pony by the name of Daisy May. After years of parades and pony clubs her parents bought her her first horse. Mindy then immersed herself in every horse related activity she could drag her parents to. She participated in almost every discipline of riding: English, Western, and Hunter Pleasure Team Penning, Jumpers, Endurance, Driving, Roping and Dressage......... Until she found her element....... Arenas with no fences....... Trail riding!! After graduating high school in 1993 she went onto Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she received her Bachelor of Animal Science Degree concentrating on Equine Sciences. During her studies at the university she started working for world renown Arabian Horse breeder Sheila Varian. Under the expert tutelage of both Sheila and her ranch manager of 22 years, Angela Alvarez, Mindy learned the ins and outs of successfully maintaining a 150 + head horse business. After graduating Cal Poly Mindy moved onto the farm and accepted the assistant breeding manager position. She was responsible for collection of stallions and breeding of mares as well as processing semen for shipment. She assisted in over 100 foalings and was then responsible for the care, handling, and training of those foals until they reached 3 years of age. The Rocky Mountain Horse came into Mindy's life in 1996 when two of the most incredible people in life walked into the local steakhouse where she was employed. She drove up to Gloria and Barney Northcote's house the next day with a horse, a bareback pad, a pocket full of dreams and miles to go. Mindy bought her first Rocky from the Northcotes soon after. A troubled full brother to the International Champion Stallion Choco Dock. This is where her gaited horse instruction began......... Mindy was Velvet's student, Velvet was a patient teacher! |
| WORDS TO LIVE BY: NEVER PAT WOMEN OR HORSES!!!! |