It has been a great honor to serve on the Board of The American Saddlebred Horse Association for the past three years. My first memories of the Saddlebred are of seeing Lemon Drop Kid enter the ring at Louisville and 16,000 people jumping to their feet to cheer this superstar. Since that time I have been in love with this breed. It would be foolish to think that we can recapture those glory years, as society has changed so much. However, it is also foolish to not attempt to make improvements for our breed. We are trying to recapture as much as we can, and to capture new and untapped markets. We currently have many plans to accomplish this, some are still just ideas on paper. I will continue to work for these improvements in any capacity that I am afforded.
Lifelong love affair with the American Saddlebred began after seeing Lemon Drop Kid at the Kentucky State Fair. I first worked with Saddlebreds during high school at Rock Creek Stable under Ed Teater. Switched to the Standardbred breed in the mid-70s but continued my association with the breed. Both daughters are accomplished equitation and performance riders with numerous world and national titles. Oldest daughter Deveau was a recipient of the Frank Ogletree award and youngest daughter Renee worked as second trainer for Nelson Green and holds the same position now for my sister Cindy Boel.
My wife and I have managed Brittany Farms since 1983. Brittany Farms is the leading producer of stake horses in the standardbred industry. On a personal note, our own Fair Island Farm was the breeder of past Horse of the Year Real Desire an earner of over $3,000,000.00 and currently a successful sire. We also breed a few Saddlebreds and have been fortunate enough to be the breeder of WC Absolutely Exquisite.
I have been heavily involved with the education of young people as both a school board President and a Great Books leader. I have been on numerous committees of the United States Trotting Association, Governor’s Commission on Equine Economic Impact and MRLS Advisory Committee. I have been a board member of the ASHA since 2005 and am currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Maxwell Gluck Equine Center.
