My life is extremely blessed! I am surrounded by my very own most wonderful support team. My amazing husband Peter – ‘PW’ as I fondly refer to him. Peter is my rock through my continued journey of life-long learning, and my crazy work schedule! Peter is there for me day in and day out with lunches as I run out the door, warm suppers after a long, cold Alberta day working on horses, and always an ear to chat with and a shoulder to lean on when my day does not go quite as planned.
Peter is a ‘drop everything’ kind of guy whenever I require
something built or a task completed for my teaching or my
work. He completely supports me both professionally and
personally. Each morning my mare is fed early so that I am
able to complete my training ride before I head off to work
he schleps my mare to shows, and Peter has sat through more dressage then any one man should need to endure!
Peter is a ‘drop everything’ kind of guy whenever I require
something built or a task completed for my teaching or my
work. He completely supports me both professionally and
personally. Each morning my mare is fed early so that I am
able to complete my training ride before I head off to work
he schleps my mare to shows, and Peter has sat through more dressage then any one man should need to endure!
Peter himself is a horseman, and his sport of choice is old-style vaquero roping – of which he does an amazing job! He continues to work our modest herd of cows with his horse, and is a very lovely rider in his own right. The horse bug has also bitten him and he has recently become an accredited professional farrier.
Peter’s amazingly selfless personality is most certainly developed through his upbringing. From the beginning of my relationship with Peter and continuing, his parents have taken me under their wings and have treated me as a daughter of their own. Peter's mother and father, Merle and Ted Watkins, have been amazing role models of a very solid and mutually respectful marriage. Their family is always priority and they are the most supportive grandparents we could ever have for our daughter. Peter and I have subdivided the original family property in the Red Deer Lake District, and we are proud to boast that our daughter will be the fifth generation of Watkins to live on this farm!
Peter’s amazingly selfless personality is most certainly developed through his upbringing. From the beginning of my relationship with Peter and continuing, his parents have taken me under their wings and have treated me as a daughter of their own. Peter's mother and father, Merle and Ted Watkins, have been amazing role models of a very solid and mutually respectful marriage. Their family is always priority and they are the most supportive grandparents we could ever have for our daughter. Peter and I have subdivided the original family property in the Red Deer Lake District, and we are proud to boast that our daughter will be the fifth generation of Watkins to live on this farm!
My own mother Betty has always been a wonderful inspiration for me. A true ‘Alberta Farm Woman,’ my mother showed my from a very early age that a woman can do anything her heart desires. Throughout my childhood, my mother raised her children, operated a horse and cattle farm while continuing to work full-time in the city. I have never heard my mother complain and her motto is: “If this is what you want in life, you do it! You
can do anything you want – just make it happen – follow a plan, and succeed!” I remember growing up thinking my mom could do anything and I still believe it to be true. She is a blessed inspiration and a truly wonderful mother and grandmother! Now in her late 60's, she is still teaching dressage and competing on the national dressage circuit on the Warmblood gelding Piper – a horse that she bred and foaled out herself.
I am lucky to have a wonderful older sister, Michelle, who has always been
such an inspiration to me. She is at the top of her field in feedlot health and
teaches throughout North America on safe-handling and disease recognition in
feedlot animals. Her and her husband, Darcy, own and operate a Charolais
cattle ranch North West of Strathmore, Alberta. She is a gifted
horsewoman and has the ability to easily work with the most difficult
horses. Michelle has always been there for me when I have needed her, and she
is always excited to hear about everything that is going on with my life and
with my horses. She and my daughter, Maddie, have a lot of fun together on
their play days, and being an Aunt is something my sister has a real knack for.
My brother-in-law Todd is much like my husband in that he is always willing
to pitch in. Unlike PW, Todd is more into grease than fur, as he is a heavy duty mechanic. Anyone who spends a lot of time on a farm will note that a mechanic is one's best friend and Todd has always been there when something has stopped working. He his lovely fiancée, Angie, and their two boys Justin and Tanner also live on the property making this land truly a family farm.
I am lucky to have a wonderful older sister, Michelle, who has always been
such an inspiration to me. She is at the top of her field in feedlot health and
teaches throughout North America on safe-handling and disease recognition in
feedlot animals. Her and her husband, Darcy, own and operate a Charolais
cattle ranch North West of Strathmore, Alberta. She is a gifted
horsewoman and has the ability to easily work with the most difficult
horses. Michelle has always been there for me when I have needed her, and she
is always excited to hear about everything that is going on with my life and
with my horses. She and my daughter, Maddie, have a lot of fun together on
their play days, and being an Aunt is something my sister has a real knack for.
My brother-in-law Todd is much like my husband in that he is always willing
to pitch in. Unlike PW, Todd is more into grease than fur, as he is a heavy duty mechanic. Anyone who spends a lot of time on a farm will note that a mechanic is one's best friend and Todd has always been there when something has stopped working. He his lovely fiancée, Angie, and their two boys Justin and Tanner also live on the property making this land truly a family farm.
In June, 2008, Peter and I were blessed with our wonderful daughter Madeline – affectionately known as Maddie. She is the apple of our eyes. She is the sweetest little girl and, as the old saying goes – the apple does not fall far from the tree – Maddie loves horses as well! Owning a pony before she was even born (thanks to her grandma Betty!), Maddie was riding as soon as she could sit up! Maddie is this perfect addition to our lives and the joy she brings to us is infinite!
~ Tina Watkins ~
~ Tina Watkins ~
