My great grandma had Shetland ponies and she put me on a pony when I was born. I got my first horse, yearling Arabian, I paid for myself at 9 years old (Still have him), I was very involve in 4-H than and local shows than and I trained him myself. I started to work with my neighbor’s horses by helping her “break” her horses because she had major hip problems. I continued to work with other kids, horses and even adults. I than got involved in FFA and the Arabian Associations. I had to board at a new place and moved over to Windy Creek Stables and got involved in Morgan horses and I was hooked! I loved the breed. The owner taught me about showing Morgans, confirmation, breeding, and training and she got me involved in the Mid-State Morgan Association. In that Association, I learned a lot from other farms (Merriehill Farm) and Morgan people. She let me work and show some of her horses and I decided to buy my first Morgan. I bought her from Double Time Arabians and the owner took me under his wing and taught me more different kinds of training. I continued to work with local people in any kind of training and started to give lessons at a young age. I than went to college in IN and took classes and became a certified Therapeutic Riding instructor, working with kids and adults with physical and mental disabilities. I still am a therapeutic instructor. The training, showing and lessons slowed down a lot because of college and my mother being sick. I only worked with local trainers and did local training/lessons when I could or had time. When my husband and I got married we moved down to Pontiac, IL. I got really involved in the 4-H program for the kids and started doing lessons hard again! Most of the horse riding 4-Hers in Pontiac were my lesson kids. I was also invited to be a horse judge up near Amboy, IL for their 4-H. Also in Pontiac, IL I started to work at the Salem ranch, mainly training or “re-training” the horses they have there and I also worked with the “troubled” boys. I also got involved with Heatherwald Morgans and bought my stallion from them too. I still train for them. I worked at the Salem ranch for quite a while and then moved to East Peoria, IL. I worked on my own in Morton, IL and that helped me start my VonderLind Morgan career in Hopedale, IL where my husband and I bought a farm about two years ago. We have a few clients now and have been slowly continuing to grow. We are a “newer” farm that is starting out but most clients knew me by my maiden name and still come to me for help, input, training, etc.