I have been breeding, training, riding and competing on Akhal-Tekes for 28 years now.  I saw my first live Akhal-Teke in 1986, when my husband and I were moving from Michigan to Washington State.  I stopped off at Eberhard Sprandel’s farm in Colorado (it happened to be on the way!) and lost my heart.  I bought my first Teke mare, Molnija, sight unseen later that year and have never regretted it.  She died in 2006 at age 20, but left behind quite a legacy!

I bought my second Teke at the Sprandel Auction in 1990 and Mirija joined my herd.  At this time, these two Teke mares were the only Akhal-Tekes in the Pacific Northwest.  Since 1986, I’ve ridden dressage, done some jumping, had a few children and I’m now dabbling in endurance.

In 1993, I bought several more Tekes and I was on my way.  Since then, I’ve had over 40 foals born at my farm, many of them by my now retired stallion, Astrachan.  There are now about 100-250 pure and part-bred Akhal-Tekes in the Pacific Northwest and several other breeders.

I started The Akhal-Teke Quarterly in 1995 and published it until 2003. I hosted the 1st Annual North American Akhal-Teke Conference in Snohomish in 1995 and have sat on the Board of Directors for the Akhal-Teke Association of America for many years, mostly in the capacity of secretary, although I’m now acting as registration secretary too.  I have been editing the ATAA Newsletter since January of 2012 and helping out with some beeed promotions, including the first Akhal-Teke DVD and our upcoming one and the Breeder’s Co-op booth at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, along with giving lessons, competing and breeding.    I enjoy getting the word out about our fantastic horses and plan on continuing my efforts for years to come.

Patricia K. Johnston
Swan Farm - Akhal Teke breeder
Dexter, Oregon
For consideration as an Akhal Teke Association of America (ATAA) Board member.

WHY I WANT TO BE ON THE BOARD
As a wildlife biologist by training and profession, I am captivated by the mission of ensuring
the genetics of the breed are preserved while the numbers and quality of Akhal-Tekes
continues to grow and the breed recovers.
I have been involved in nonprofit organizations since the early 1990s. I have started three
nonprofits and raised millions of dollars. I would like to help the ATAA get to the next level
of work, building on the contributions of those who have worked so hard already, to preserve
important bloodlines, promote the breed, and create a standard for the North American
Akhal-Teke horse by working with others, both in this county and worldwide.

HISTORY WITH HORSES
Essentially all my life I’ve owned and trained horses (except for a hiatus when I was raising
two sons), riding at various times for both work and pleasure. When I was thirteen years old,
I bought my first horse with money I’d earned. I worked as a professional trainer at a large
Tennessee Walking Horse breeding ranch in Dubois, Wyoming. I trained my own
thoroughbred in cross-country hunting and jumping.
In the summer of 2012, my partner and I visited several Akhal-Teke breeders in the
northwest United States, and we purchased our first Akhal-Teke sport horse, a Nez Perce
horse. In 2013, we purchased our farm and brought home our first pregnant Akhal-Teke
brood mare and gelding. We are now raising Ehyr Atlaz, our nearly one year old Peren-line
colt.

ATAA member Eron Owens and her Teke sporthorse mare Arslana (Lilly). Eron says "She will be in her first sanctioned beginner novice event this weekend. I do have some great pictures of her. Her teke definitely shines through "

Here's a pic of Scooby after he arrived home from the Inavale Farm One-Day Horse Trials.  He came in second place on Saturday and first place on Sunday in his Novice Division.  He connected with his inner Akhal-Teke to have the fastest cross country time in his division on Saturday.

Hi there!
Hendrix completed his first schooling show at Catalpa Corner Horse Park (http://www.catalpacorner.org/Catalpa/Welcome.html) at Starter Novice and got 3rd!  He is doing well in his training and with continued work I hope to enter him in a recognized Horse Trial soon.  He is very brave to the jumps and seems to love it!  He has become part of the family and is gaining condition and confidence….hopefully we will have more to report soon! 

Hi everyone,

We have 3 terms up on the current BOD:  Terri Fender, Jas Shearer-McMahon and Cathy Leddy’s terms all end this year.  That means that if you would like to serve, let us know now!

Just send our Nominations Chair, Jas Shearer-McMahon an email at [email protected] or give her a call to get your name on the ballot.  As we need to publish this in the next newsletter, please decide soon.  Then you’d just need to write up a bio that will be sent out with the ballots before the Conference.  Of course, coming to the Conference is a great way to get voted in too.

If you get elected, we will need to pick a President and Vice President.  I suppose if anyone else wants to be Secretary we could do that too!

And, even if you don’t get voted in this time, we have plenty of other things people can be involved in…hint, hint..

Thanks, Cathy