Gretchen’s parents are originally from PA but moved south in the ’60s. She grew up in Tallahassee, FL with 3 sisters. They were among the first members of the newly formed Ochlockonee River Pony Club, and Gretchen was the first of ORPC to attain the coveted “A” rating. She hunted with Ochlockonee River Hunt Club which was taken over after one season by Marty and Daphne Wood to become Live Oak Hounds.
Gretchen moved to Virginia in 1980, and whipped-in for Glenmore Hunt while attending Mary Baldwin College for a year. She received her Veterinary Technology degree from Blue Ridge Community College. Since she was interested in equine medicine, Gretchen spent her preceptorship at New Bolton Center, working part time for event rider Jane Sleeper, as well as doing tack and blanket repairs for extra cash. She also fox hunted whenever she could borrow a horse.
At New Bolton she developed a strong interest in equine anesthesia. Upon graduation, Gretchen was hired at a private equine practice near Charlottesville, VA. In August of 1985 she joined the staff at the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center where Gretchen first worked the night shift, then moved into the anesthesia department in April of 1988. She left EMC in 2010 after 25 years of service.
Gretchen is married and has 3 horses. One is a retired 26 yr OTTB mare who did a little bit of everything- including hunting, eventing and dressage, the others are 8 yr old Arab/TB/Clyde geldings that she has had since their birth. Gretchen mostly trail and pleasure rides, with hopes of doing some eventing, dressage, and hunting in the future.
Gretchen and her husband enjoy riding the Blue Ridge Parkway and other scenic roads on their “steel horses”- a Suzuki Intruder for Gretchen and a Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad for her husband. They live in Star Tannery, VA.
