About Us

Shiredale Farm was nothing more than a dream in 2002, but we all know if we stop at nothing; dreams do come true! Shiredale Farm started in 2003 with a Shire Mare (Heidi) and a Clydesdale Mare (Belle).  So I combined Shire and dale from Clydesdale to get the name Shiredale!  I was born and raised in New Jersey, when my dad got a job transfer to Colorado when I was 9.  This introduced me to my life passion, horses!  Soon discovered my favorite breeds were the Shire and Gypsy Horse, and better yet when the two are combined to create a Drum Horse!  Got a Bachelors degree in Equine Science from Colorado State University in 2006.  Worked for Black Forest Shires & Gypsy Horses before leaving them in 2007 and moving to Arizona.  I started working for Desert Jewel Gypsy Horses in 2007 and worked there thru 2016.  Left Desert Jewel in 2016 and started working for Voliva Equine, a local veterinarian. In 2018, I was offered and accepted a job working for Scottsdale Police Department's Mounted Unit, caring for their Police Horses part time! in 2019 I left Voliva Equine to work for longtime friend, Dr Alward at Southwest Equine Hospital.

 Shiredale Farm's goal is to promote high quality horses of the different breeds that have exceptional personalities and temperaments in addition to conformation!  The horses are handled extensively from birth and are taken to local community events at the Church, Parades, Trail Rides, etc.

I discovered with anything in life, there are less than perfect specimens even with horses.  So it raised me to question what happens to them?  Some get passed around from home to home, some get neglected, some get sent to slaughter/euthanized, and some are blessed to find bleeding hearts that will care for them till the end of their days.  Should come as no surprise I am a bleeding heart and have provided sanctuary to those that I can help!  As you may have noticed on the Horses page, 1/2 the horses here have "issues".  That makes them no less special than the others, and here they will never have to worry about their future.  They have a permanent home full of love, and attention, and the best care that I can provide!

Annie is a horse with Kyphosis otherwise known as curved spine.  She was born with the condition,, is just an anomaly with the breeding for whatever reason.  Due to her spine she can not be bred, ridden or driven.  She is just a pasture pet!  

Cassie and Rampage are Wobblers, meaning they have a compression on their neck or spine that causes neurological symptoms.  As a result they are never to be bred, ridden or driven, are just pretty pasture pets! Cassie was already in-utero when Rampage was diagnosed as a Wobbler.  I knew from minute one of Cassie's life that she too would be a wobbler as she didn't understand where her feet were. Our vets did not want to diagnose it until she was older, and when she split her legs and landed on her belly as a 4 month old, she got the official diagnosis of a Wobbler.

Adrianna, Cami, Cassie and Violet are all diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (Insulin Resistance). As a result it is a constant battle keeping their weight in check which is assisted by being on the product called Insulin Wise, made by Kentucky Performance Products.  

As you can see there are horses here that are just pasture pets and ones that are just retired and living out their days!  I'm happy to be able to provide them a soft landing to live out their days!