About Marilyn
Marilyn
grew up in Massachusetts - always with animals.
She had horses, competing in 25 and 50 mile
trail riding competitions and then on
to the show ring with American Saddle bred horses.
She soon knew this was her life path and pursued
it with lots of enthusiasm and vigor. She apprenticed
for many years and then ran a public
stable training American Saddle bred show horses
and Arabians. Her riders did very well competing
all across the nation.
|
|
Marilyn
and Skip (an equine dentist), bought a farm
in Simpsonville, Kentucky, in 1975, where they
began raising Romney Sheep, importing the first
Romneys into the state of Kentucky. Marilyn
soon made a name for herself in the sheep show
ring, and also grew and sold premium hand
spinning fleece from her Romney flock. Her days
were busy shepherding, spinning and weaving,
and promoting the sheep as an active board member
of the American Romney Sheep Breeders Association.
She organized a local sheep group to educate
others about sheep husbandry, and also a
4-H Club in Shelby County. Angora rabbits and
Llamas, whose fiber was harvested and sold,
also resided at Sassafras Meadow Farm.
|
|
|
Marilyn
decided that a Border collie was needed to help
with the expanding flock of sheep. It took a year
to find the right dog, but their much beloved
“Gael” came into their lives. Gael was a wonderful
teacher and soon Marilyn was ‘hooked’, determined
to know everything about Border Collies and their
training. She went to her first dog trial, one
spring, in Virginia and came home telling Skip
“I think I can learn to do that”. And so the goal
was set, and like everything in her life, she
pursued it with a vengeance. She made a connection
with a living legend in “Border Collie Trailing”,
Ralph Pulfer of Quincy, Ohio. He soon became her
mentor and good friend. The Romney sheep were
sold and a sheep more conducive to training dogs
were brought in. The next 15 years were dedicated
to training Border collies, competing in trials,
and promoting the sport she loved. Selective breeding
was done to create the wonderful Border Collie
family lines that Skip and Marilyn competed with;
they became a ‘force to reckon with’, all over
North America, with many prestigious wins.
|
| She
and Skip birthed and managed the prestigious North
American Sheep Dog Trial, held in Louisville for
9 years. She took charge of the promotion for
the National Sheep Dog Finals in Lexington, Kentucky.
She organized a spinning and weaving demonstration
for the North American International Livestock
Show; that exhibit is still in existence today.
(Marilyn retired from that position two years
ago). Marilyn also spear headed a Wool Show in
1985. What began as a Romney Wool show grew to
the annual North American International
Wool Show competition, one of the most prestigious
in North America.
Marilyn’s
focus changed about 5 years ago, as she began
studying Reiki and CranioSacral Therapy. With
her same vigor she pursued these healing methods
with her whole being. She is a Karuma ™ Reiki
Master and teacher, a CranioSacral therapist for
humans and animals and is a Certified Hypnotheripist.
Animal Communication was a natural for her and
seemed to be the perfect blend of her previous
work and experience. |
|
|
