Donna brings a life time of equine experience with her into the reproduction field. Her involvement with horses began when she was only 5 years old. Raised by her grandparents (fathers side) who were avid horse owners and breeders. Her grandfather was a proud member of the Shriner's and rode for the Arabian Horse Troop (Masonic Temple - Detroit MI). Her other grandparents (mothers side) were long time breeders of Standardbreds (both trotters and pacers) and produced numerous track winners throughout the country. Donna learned how to drive a horse long before she learned how to ride a bicycle.
Donna was very competative in the show ring as a junior exhibitor showing arabians, appaloosas, quarter horses, morgans and saddlebreds. During her early adult career she garnered multiple championships as an amateur owner. Her professional training career began in 1990. Through the next 10 years she amassed a large host of impressive wins for her clients and their horses. Donna gave up her professional status as a trainer when she was diagnosed with cancer in May 2000. She will return to the show ring in 2006 again as an amateur owner to enjoy her own horses.
Donna's breeding experience started well in her youth. Working with both sets of her grandparents she was taught stallion management, mare management, foaling, stallion handling, and foal handling. She began managing client stallions in 1984 and purchased her first stallion in 1988. As semen collection, artificial insemination and fresh cooled semen transportation came into favor Donna eagerly followed the trend and worked with several top reproduction experts. She garners her current high success rates to the talents and expertise of the veterinarians she apprenticed under. Donna continued her education by attending various schools to receive her certifications in equine reproduction. She continues to this day to attend schools to keep up on any new techniques that may be of considerable value to her devoted clientelle. To date Donna has worked with many other farms in a consultation position assisting them in organizing and maintaining a successful shipped semen program. She has conducted seminars offering hands on experience to those in attendance. Her reputation has grown in such that many Amish communities now trust her expertise to help them learn and establish solid results in semen shipping and artificial insemination.
Donna specializes in difficult shipping stallions and problem mares. Working closely with 3 local veterinarians she has been able to improve the shipping successes in several stallions and has returned many mares with serious reproduction issues to successful broodmares.
