Involved with horses as a very young child, Annette has dedicated most of her life learning how to care, judge, select, train and ride horses.  Most of Annette’s early years were spent under the tutelage of Cynthia Warner (Hand-Me-Down Farm) and the the legendary show jumper trainer, Sylvia Hector (Winter’s Run Farm).  Sylvia Hector was legendary for having an eye in idenfying horses with immense jumping talent that had fallen by the way side and reschooling them to go back into the showring.  She reschooled numerous horses that went on to claim various international jumper wins.  Touch of Class was reschooled at Winter's Run during my time at her farm prior to finding her home with Conrad Homefield and winning gold at the 1984 Olympics.  Sylvia was very excentric.  She loved animals, but did not care much for people.  She usually would only having one or twoworking students / riders working for her at any given time.

Maryland provided a fantastic training ground with exposure to many disciplines including… jumpers, dressage, eventing, fox hunting, steeple chasing and thoroughbred racing.  Occasional visits, clinics or opportunities to train and/or meet such legends as Kathy Kusner (one of first successful women in show jumping), Linda Zhang (international dressage competitor), Joe Fargis, Conrad Homefeld, Ann Bedford (founder of USPC) or Ann McKay (prominent dressage trainer) were not unusual at Hand-Me-down Stables and/or Winter’s Run Farm.

Coming from a household of modest means,  Annette only ever owned  two horses of her own as a young person.  Annette had to create opportunities to ride.  Having the ability to ride difficult and/or young horses as a kid and immense desire to learn, she was able to pick up catch rides from a variety of owners at local and rated shows... many of whom were associated with Hand-Me-down Stables or Winter's Run farm.

Annette garnered championships in several of the Maryland local horse show circuits, as well as several 4-H state championships, equitation finals championships and championbships at a number of larger Maryland and Virginia rated shows in hunter, jumper and equitation divisions. Annette rode for a number of prominent Maryland and Virginai horse owners including Ann McGee, the Ulrichs, the Stewarts, Anna Agnew and Sue Hill duiring her junior years.

Annette won numerous college scholarships in various horse judging contests. After successfully representing Maryland with 10th place high individual finish at the national championship 4-H horse judging contest at 14, Annette began to coach county and youth teams for competition.  She coached eight winning 4-H state and national teams between the years of 1978 to 1986.   She then went on to win several collegiate judging contests, as a member of the VA Tech judging team.  She trained a Pennsylvania state championship team in 1995, that went on to compete in three national competitions.

	Annette was also heavily involved in 4-H.  Annette was a national horse project winner in 1982.  4-H provided fantastic opportunities to learn through various horse judging, horse bowl and hypology and horsemanship competitions and programs.  Annette represented Maryland on three national horse bowl teams, winning the Maryland State horsemanship contest three straight years.

In 1982, Annette entered and won the highly regarded "Eastern National Horsemanship contest" and was awarded a registered quarter horse yearling of her choosing and a $1000 scholarship. The "Eastern National Horsemanship Contest"  was a three day contest, where qualifying contestants had to 5 hours to train and turn-out an assigned young horse for showmanship.  Each contestant had to then show their animal.  In addition, there were judging, interview, hypology and written test components to the contest.

Fox hunting and pony club were also a part of Annette's horse activities as a youngster in Maryland. Northern Maryland housed one of the most active and oldest fox hunts in the country, Elkridge Harford Hunt.  The hunt was also home to the Elkridge-Harford Pony club, founded by Ann Bedford, who brought the pony club concept from England and founded the USPC program.   Annette was member of a Maryland state championship USPC combined training team.  She was also a national competitor in pony club knowdown

After high school Annette attended Virginia Tech to major in Chemical Engiuneering.  She continued to show for Sylvia Hector until the middle of her sophomore year, when Slyvia passed away to cancer.  She then took a hiatus from riding to focus on school.  Annette completed her five year chemical engineering degree in four years.  She was given the outstanding senior in engineering scholarship.  She also was named an Allied Chemical Scholar and provided a full scholarship for study at Exeter University in England and a stipend for a semester of travel in Europe.  Annette went on to do graduate at Penn State University in Food Engineering.  As a graduate student, she was awarded several national fellowships, had five publications, a patent, developed two peices of software  and helped in the development of food engineering quality control course.

Tied to the State College area, as her husband completed a PHD and unable to secure employment in the area in her area of expertise, Annette went on to get a real estate license.  She was heavily involved in commercial and residential real estate sales and development for nearly two decades.  She is a licensed broker and holds the highly respected CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Manager) designation (held by only 8000 realtors across the US) She has been sought out to provide real estate related investment consulting, business planning, training and technology consulting by various individuals and organizations, over the years as well.

In 1989, Annette & Mark purchased 8.8 acres and started construction on the first Carousel Farm.   The land that the current farm sits on was purchased April 17, 1997.  Throughout the late 80's and 90's Annette studied and traveled both domestically and abroad in search of top horses. Annette wanted to breed top youngsters in order to be able to support other young riders like herself that could not afford to otherwise compete at top levels.  Carousel farm has consistently produced horses that have competed well at local, regional and national competitions.

	Carousel Farm stands several exceptional breeding stallions.

Carousel farm is constantly seeking out learning opportunities to assure that the farm is providing a high level program. Elizabeth Solter and Tommie Turvey have had a significant influence over the current training program at Carousel Farm.  Elizabeth provides assiatance in the competition hunter and jumper competition ring, while Tommie provide training assistance in training tricks and performing on horseback.

IN CLOSURE.......Mark and Annette are proud and pleased with what they have accomplished.  Carousel Farm is the result of what has been Annette’s life long dream.   The farm is built on a little girls incredible love and respect for horses.  Annette has always considered every moment spent with horse to be a privilege.  She truly loves and respects all the horses that have come into and out of her life.

Horses have provided Annette with iincredible opportunities and an aamzing journey.  From the many farm trips attended up and down the east coast with various judging teams...... to scholarships and acceptance to Virginia Tech as a result of horse activities.... to time spent riding in Germany or England..... to the opportunity to own the young quarter horse won in a national horsemnaship contest in 1982....and the list goes on.

	Annette believes that life comes full cycle.  As a serious horseperson, you are always a student.  For a period of time, you might have the privilege of being a serious competitor or performer.  But there is a time when the student becomes the teacher.

Annette's daugther Lizzy in now 11 years old and seems to have her mom's same passion for horses and riding .  Annette has cut back her real estate practice to assist her daugther in the development of Taiji Horsemanship and to help her in her journey to develop as a true horseman.  Through these efforts, Annette hopes that she and her daugther together can use the many opportunities and experiences she has had to help others to get more enjoyment with their horses.

Annette hopes that Carousel Farm can become the training ground for the development of the next generation of great horses and horseman/horsewoman built on old school principles.....the old school principles being......the choice to be involved with horses (or any animals for that matter) in any capacity should be for the pure love, passion and enjoyment of the animals.