At the end of 2023 there will be five Board of Director seats and two committee positions open. The following members of the AHS have been nominated for these positions. Below in alphabetical order by last name, are short bio's for each nominee. Members with a current 2023 Active level membership and Lifetime members are eligible to vote. An email will be sent to those members on November 28, 2023 with a link to a ballot. All ballots must be submitted on or before January 15th, 2024 and all results will remain anonymous.
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Lori Barrett is nominated for one of the Board of Directors seats and the Nomination Committee position. Lori has been an AHS member on and off since 2005 and steadily since 2019 and is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. Lori is the Managing Director for the North American subsidiary of a Spanish bicycle part company and serves on the Executive Leadership Board for the Utah High School Mountain Bike League, which has 8000 student athletes and is the largest in the country.
Horse background summary:
In 2004 Lori had a love affair with a client's Lauries Crusador/Argentan mare that sparked her goal to breed her own FEI horses. Donnerzeit was her first bred Hanoverian that went on to be a CDI competitive FEI horse. Lori's professional start in dressage was as a working assistant for 2 years in Germany under Grand Prix trainer Carla Symader. Before owning her own farm, Lori followed Olympian Heather Blitz as Head Trainer for Oak Hill Ranch. She was head of the Danish Studbook in the US and was the Head Trainer at Chesapeake Dressage Institute. Previously she was Assistant Trainer to Olympian Tina Konyot. In 2019 Lori started Revel Ranch Hanoverians and began her own breeding farm where she has hosted inspections each year.
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Kathleen (Kate) Dressel is nominated for one of the Board of Directors seats and one of the Finance or Nomination Committee positions. Kate has been an AHS member on and off from 2006 and steadily for the past four years. She is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. Kate is the Founder and President of Strategic Compliance Solutions, LLC a Georgia-based consulting firm, assisting alternative investment firms with regulatory compliance and operational issues. She previously spent over 10 years at ARA Portfolio Management Company, LLC, a Commodity Trading Advisor Commodity Pool Operator, Registered Investment Advisor and hedge fund.
Horse background summary:
Kate grew up with horses and has always maintained 1-18 horses her entire life. She began her show career with Morgans riding hunters, equitation, and western pleasure. She then moved on to riding hunters and equitation on the open circuit. She taught and trained at a barn that stood 4 stallions where she helped handle and collect stallions. In the 90’s she shifted her focus to warmbloods and dressage. She purchased a schoolmaster that had been long listed on the 1976 Olympics (Kilanan — Mike Plumb's horse) and her love for dressage and eventing was cemented. Kate and her husband bought a farm in 2011 that they named Black Watch Stables. Since then, they have been breeding primarily Hanoverians on a small scale with the focus on exceptional sporthorses that are both capable of performing at the pro level, but with amateur friendly personalities. They have been hosting site inspections for the last 3 years with another one scheduled this year.
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Julie Hagen is nominated for one of the Board of Directors seats and the Nomination Committee position. Julie has been an AHS member since 2002 and became a lifetime member in 2021. She is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. Aside from various equine jobs, Julie has been an Owner/GC for a single family home rehab company, President/CEO of medical research company, and a COO/Principal of a university medical research team.
Horse background summary:
Julie began riding at the age of ten. She spent 3 years in Germany in her late teens working, riding, and competing in preliminary eventing at a Trakehner farm. After returning to the U.S., she was a manager and instructor at Morven Park International Equestrian where she implemented a 9-month graduate program for training, farm business management and horse care. In 1990 she opened Bascule Farm, LLC, a 200-acre equestrian facility specializing in Dressage and Eventing. Through the years she has mentored young horsemen and women to become professionals. She launched a protégé to the Olympic level in the sport and has imported and handled horses from all over the world for clients. In July 2022 she created Hagen Sport Horses, LLC, for the purpose of breeding Hanoverians and Rhinelanders with a focus on Eventing. She began attending the AHS annual meeting in 2023 and has participated in the MAHB Inspection as well as hosting a private inspection at her farm.
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Sandy Hunt is nominated for one of the open Board of Directors seats. Sandy has been an AHS member since 2011 and is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. She is the Office Manager at Equine Fertility Specialties.
Horse background summary:
Sandy grew up with horses, was an active member in 4-H, showing horses in many different disciplines including hunters, dressage, and the 4-H horse judging team. She was the owner and Show Manager of Dressage at Copper Creek, an annual series of three, two-day USDF, USEF approved shows. Her daughter Taren competed in Dressage to JR/YR level with Sandy at her side as supporter and coach. They often traveled to Germany and had competition horses both there and at home. As a certified Equine Massage Therapist, she learned the equine musculoskeletal system, functional assessment and muscular issues, and related performance issues. Sandy has been both a participant as well as a keen spectator of Equestrian Sports. This experience has helped her shape her own breeding program. Sandy enjoys promoting the Hanoverian breed, has hosted the Michigan Inspection site for many years, and attends the AHS annual meeting. She has attended the Breeders Orientation course in Germany twice; once in 2015 for the Stallion Licensing and again in 2018 for the Mare shows. Sandy has produced at her Spruce Glen Farm numerous top foals, Elite Mares, Elite Mare Candidates and Premium Mare Candidates, and USDF National Dressage Sport Horse Breeder award winners. In 2016 Brianka SGF tied for year-end awards, the Engler-Friedlander Memorial Trophy for high score MPT, and the Benchmark trophy for highest jumping score mare performance test. In 2017 Delacour SGF won the Hartwig Memorial Trophy for best-combined Inspection and MPT score and was accepted into the AHS Jumper Breeding Program. As the office manager of Equine Fertility Specialties, she has the opportunity to learn and observe all facets of equine breeding. It's a wonderful experience to see the black dot develop into a live foal.
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Candice Klingbeil is nominated for one of the Board of Directors seats. Candice has been an AHS member for 11 years and is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. Candice received her PhD in 1998 in Biochemistry from the University of California at San Diego. After two years of post-doctoral research for Scripps Research Institute she entered teaching. She has taught Microbiology, Majors Biology, and Genetics as an adjunct professor.
Horse background summary:
Candice started riding horses in 1978 and purchased her first horse in 1980 where she took hunter/jumper lessons. In 1985 she joined the U.S. Pony Club and did eventing rallies. After an 8-year break for schooling, she bought a dressage horse. In 2012 she purchased Reydena Ster and began breeding Hanoverians. Since then, she has had Top Site Inspection Foals, a Gold Medal Foal and a Mare Inspection and Performance Test winner. She has served on the Education Committee, Fundraising Committee, and the Rhineland Ad-Hoc Committee. She has attended Breed Orientation Courses with Dr. Christmann at Hilltop and in Germany. In 2022 she attended the AHS Breed Orientation Course as an organizer at Dressage at Devon with Dr. Christmann.
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Nat Masin is nominated for one of the Board of Directors seats and is currently the incumbent for the Finance Committee position. She is a 3-year member of AHS and is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder, a licensed CPA in TX, and an executive finance professional with extensive experience in corporate finance, leadership, and business consulting, including non-profit entities and private equity value creation. Nat is active in the equine industry through her ownership and operation of Warmblood Stallions of North America, leading North American warmblood stallion marketing platform. She is actively involved with industry organizations such as USSHBA Board member since 2020 and AHS through active committee involvement. She has been on the Editorial Committee since 2021 (Chair starting in 2023), Finance Committee since 2023, and attended the Hannoveraner Breeder Orientation Course in Germany this year.
Horse background summary:
Nat began riding warmbloods at a young age, competing in Hunter/Jumpers through high school on her first mare by I am Graf Royal/Graf Gotthard. She transitioned to Dressage in college on her second warmblood mare by Ideal. These two mares became the foundation for her fledgling warmblood breeding program, Sierra Downs Sporthorse Farms, which she co-owns and operates with her mother, Lynn Masin. Recent additions to her broodmare string includes three Hanoverians and a second generation Oldenburg mare that was presented for the Hanoverian book this year, scoring over 7 overall. Today, the Sierra Downs breeding program targets producing 3-5 Hanoverian or Rhineland foals each year. This year, the first Hanoverian foal from the SDSF program received the Gold Medal award and is the top scoring USDF DHSB Horse of the Year for 2023 on median scores of 84.4%.
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Laura Serkes is nominated for one of the Board of Directors seats. Laura has been an AHS member for the past 15 years and is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. For over 20 years Laura has served in Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service positions for startups and Fortune 100 size technology companies.
Horse background summary:
Laura has been riding/competing most of her life. In her younger years she was predominately an eventer with the last 20 years being mostly dressage. She earned her Silver Medal on her foundation mare Rosenstolz and now competes with one of her sons at PSG and another son at First level. Her goal is to receive her Gold Medal on one of Rosie's boys. She has recently re-entered the breeding world and has 3 foals due in 2024. She was active in 2020 and 2021 with the AHS Marketing Committee.
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Jessica Stallings is an interim board member of the Board of Directors and was elected to fill a seat vacated earlier this year. Jessica has been an AHS member since 2002 and is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. Jessica is currently the Director of HR for the City of Suffolk and has been employed with the city since 2001. She has a degree in Education and Counseling from Norfolk State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Old Dominion University.
Horse background summary:
Jessica has been breeding Hanoverians with her partner Jennifer DesRoche at Signature Sporthorses for more than 20 years. She grew up doing hunters, pony club, and a little dressage. She has attended 3 Hanoverian Breeder Orientation courses in Germany, and 1 in the US. She has hosted inspections at their farm over the years. During her time with AHS/ARS she has led and revamped fundraising and promotions in the Society and currently is the chair for the committee that runs the Silent Auction and Stallion Service Auction. She also serves on the Annual General Membership meeting committee. Jessica is a horse show mom with two very active equestrian daughters who compete regularly at USDF and NRHA shows.
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Meg Williams is the incumbent VP, Board of Directors and is running for another term and has been a member of the AHS since 1986. Meg is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. From 1986 through 1998 Meg worked as a Radiology Technician responsible for running CAT and MRI machines.
Horse background summary:
Meg is a lifelong horsewoman and has been an active member of the AHS since 1986. She was appointed to the Mare and Stallion Committee in 2006 and holds numerous positions within the AHS/ARS organization. Meg owns and operates Oakwood Farms in Lawrenceburg, IN where she breeds, trains, and stands two Elite Hanoverian Stallions, Widmark and Fabregas. She has made numerous trips to Germany to increase her knowledge, completing the Breed Orientation Course and attending European Young Horse Championships. Oakwood Farm's current broodmare band represents the most respected Hanoverian bloodlines available and the farm's breeding program is consistently evaluated to produce foals with correct conformation and high rideability. This is evidenced by having numerous Hartwig Memorial Award winners, Bari von Buedingen Memorial Trophy winners, and Gold Medal Foals. Meg has trained numerous horses to the FEI levels in dressage and has earned her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals, in addition to many USDF and AHS Year-End Awards. She currently competes Elite Stallion Fabregas in dressage.
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COMMITTEE POSITION NOMINEES
Nicole Dean is nominated for the Nominations Committee position. Nicole has been a member of the AHS since 2017 and is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. Nicole has been in the transportation, warehousing, and logistics business for over 36 years with 28 of those years as a General Manager.
Horse background summary:
Nicole has been riding since the age of two. From ages 6-12 she focused on English Equitation and Hunter Shows. Her passion switched to Eventing and a true love of being around warmbloods was born. Eventually after having children, she moved her focus to Dressage. For the past 7 years she switched her primary focus to breeding Hanoverian dressage horses. She imported mares from Germany in 2017, and in 2019 imported her heart horse Elite Stallion Ron Rubin. She has expanded her breeding program to include St Pr mares in Germany with the hopes of breeding and importing future stallions for the US breeders.
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Natalie Mercer is nominated for the Nominations Committee position. Natalie is an AHS Lifetime member and is an owner, breeder, or competitor of either or both a Hanoverian or Rhineland horse. Natalie owns and operates her own small animal veterinarian clinic.
Horse background summary:
Natalie grew up riding 3-day eventers and is now riding dressage and hunters. She has a small farm where she is enjoying the journey of breeding and raising her first home-bred Hanoverian horses. She is hoping to be able to add value to the Nominations Committee from a non-political perspective of what horse owners and small farm breeders would like to see from AHS. She would also like to educate new/young breeders about Breed Value Books and the importance of how structure relates to function for long term use of the horse.
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