Allison Deardorff

I have been involved with Saddlebreds and the NWSA ever since I can remember. My father Don Deardorff has been training Saddlebreds in Oregon for more than 30 years. I grew up showing horses in the Northwest, California as well as in the Midwest.

After graduating from high school in 1997, I went to college at William Woods University in Fulton, MO. I graduated with a BA in political science and minors in Spanish and equestrian science.

After college I worked for, well-known and highly successful Saddlebred trainer, John T. Jones in Union, Kentucky. I worked as assistant trainer there for two years before returning to Molalla, Oregon to train horses and teach riding with my father.

In addition to working as horse trainer and riding instructor, I am pursing my master's degree at the University of Phoenix.

This is my first time on the NWSA Board and I look forward to promoting the breed and encouraging more youth to become involved with Saddlebreds.

Anne Byers

After 34 wonderful years in Kennewick, Washington, my husband and I made a life changing move this past summer to the Medford, Oregon area where our two grown children and their families live.  Having retired after 31 years of teaching elementary school, I am now busy making memories with my 3 young grandchildren.  I am hoping to have a leadline rider in the very near future!

I began riding horses as a child growing up in Maryland.  When my family moved to England to live, I developed my interests in dressage and jumping.  I have extensive experience working with the horse show community in the Tri-Cities area, and was a member of the High Tails Saddlebred Club for more than 25 years.  In addition, I have been actively involved with the Arabian Horse Club of S.E. Washington and Region 5.  In my barn at home are two Saddlebreds, two 23-year-old rescue horses and two miniature horses that participate in many community events.

During my first term on the NWSA Board, I was actively involved in several projects that benefited our members and promoted the NWSA and ASHA.  An exciting networking opportunity has been my work with the national Charter Club Council, in which I have been able to promote both the people and horses here in the northwest and share our activities with other groups from across the country.  I also worked on our NWSA Conventions, the committees of several of our Silver Circuit shows, and was Chairman of the 2007 NWSA Fall Classic and Futurity Regional Championship Show.

I am pleased to see the NWSA concentrating on promoting the versatility of the American Saddlebred and striving to generate interest among youth and people new to our breed.  This can be achieved through a continued grassroots promotion as we all work together to move our beloved breed forward.

Bobbie Anne Welch

My husband Howard and I have lived in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho since 1989. We have a ranch consisting of 680 acres and raise Red Angus cows and lots of trees. All my old, retired show horses live there also. I have been involved with horses since about 1970, and have always loved to watch people ride but was never a great rider myself.

I did show a 5-gaited, spotted mare in California in about 1987. Knottsberry Farm in So. California gave me a retiring stage coach horse and I learned to drive her around the neighborhood. In 2000 I purchased my first Hackney, Five Devil, and took lessons from Chris Gantley in Louisville, Kentucky, and have been showing him every since. Just recently I brought Fire Devil home to enjoy here on the ranch, and moved Heartland Newsmaker to Dick Boettcher Stables.

Courtney Hayden

I have been involved with Saddlebreds for the past 16 years and I have loved every minute of it. I started out in an Academy program in Minnesota, and then my family moved West and we purchased our first Saddlebred and showed on the local circuit in Spokane. A few years later my family started showing on the A circuit with new horses. I appreciate all aspects of the Saddlebred from showing and breeding to backyard companionship and trail riding. My family owns a dozen horses and each one of them fits into at least one of these categories. I enjoy the versatility the breed has to offer and I have shown in every division from Western to Five-Gaited. When I aged out of the junior ranks and went off to college I made a point to stay involved with Saddlebreds. I discovered that being on the Board has allowed me to remain connected with the members and exhibitors even though I may not make it to each and every show anymore.

Saddlebreds are definitely not the predominate breed here in Eastern Washington where I live, so I really enjoy having the opportunity to promote the breed and educate others about what wonderful horses they are. As the Membership chair for the last three years I have had the privilege of meeting many great horse enthusiasts and have made many friends within the NWSA. I have also served as the Silver Circuit chair for the past two years and feel that membership and the Silver Circuit go together well.

Peggy Kelber

My love of horses is life long, but it wasn't until 1996 that I finally was able to start riding and began taking lessons. I was fortunate to choose a public stable that had Saddlebreds in its lesson program. In 1998 I started training with Deardorff Stables and, new rider that I was, a very patient Don Deardoff.

In 2001 my husband Mike and I moved to our home in the country, Pinnacle Farm, which is currently home to 3dogs, 2 cats, 6 chickens, and 8 horses. I especially enjoy our breeding program and watching our young horses develop.

For the past several years I have served on the NWSA Board as the NWSA Futurity representative which is an appointed position. I am very proud to have been a part of the growth of the NWSA Futurity over the past several years. I also was asked several years ago by the NWSA Futurity to produce a yearly calendar representing many of our great champions here in the Northwest and it has been a most satisfactory undertaking for the promotion of our industry. As a member of the NWSA Fall Classic committee the past several years I have watched this show become one of the best Saddlebred shows on the West Coast.