The long term success of any program or business relies on youth.
Dedication, commitment and devotion to youth and programs directly related to youth and horses are what
we are all about. We served an estimated 600 youth and adults from as far away as Canada, Florida, New
York and Virginia this year in 2008. Our goal for 2010 is to greet 1000 youth here at the farm and on the
road with our horses, through outreach programs we develop. We have met children from our own area,
Cleveland and closer that have never touched a horse, that is a shortcoming from our own industry.
One young girl didn't even know what Barrel Racing was, forget the sport of Reining.
They are very aware however, of the names of various illegal street drugs.
Whether or not these children ever own a horse, take a riding lesson or compete in a equestrian sport is
irrelevant, they will still grow up and in some capacity support the world of horses
through positive memories they make from people in the industry they meet.
Although we train and compete in Reining and other equine sports, we still take the
time to share with those who might be considered, in some circles, "less fortunate" than us,
and that is what we would like to be known and remembered as.
EMIS Coordinator
BRSD
State of Ohio
Member
American Quarter Horse Association
Beginner to Advanced
Western Riding Instruction
Specializes in
Handicapped Assisted Riding Instruction
Working with Beginner Youth
Summer CampProgram
Handicapped Riding Program
Mindy was born and raised in Valley City, Ohio where her family continues to own and operate a very large family farm.
Through Mindy's work in the community and her family she knows most of the families in Medina County, if she doesn't, they
know her or her family. She is no stranger to the rural farm lifestyle, and very hard work. During her youth as a member of
4-H, she raised and showed cattle. She has been a constructive member of the community for many years. She graduated
from Buckeye High School and attended Kent State University. She has a lot of life experience working with youth. She is a
former youth director for a very large church in Tampa, Florida and was also employed by the Hillsborough County School
District as counselor/advisor. She was founder and designer of a highly successful after school program for the Hillsborough
County School District in Tampa, Florida, that is still in operation today. Mindy sponsored and coordinated Christian Youth
Retreats to Panama City, Florida and Montreat Christian College, North Carolina. She and Tom have also co-sponsored
youth scuba diving excursions to the Florida Keys as well as week long youth camping/fly fishing trips on horseback, for
inner city kids, into the back country of the Appalachian Mountains. She is highly skilled at setting up successful youth
programs, which is why our equine youth programs have been so successful here at the farm.
She was employed with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office working with youth and a member of the Medina County
Sheriff's Office Mounted Patrol Unit serving as treasurer for a year. She is currently the EMIS Coordinator for the Black
River School District , ODE State of Ohio. She sets up, plans and coordinates all the Equine Activities for this farm, which
encompasses roughly 600 kids and adults throughout each year, which is no small task. She is a great youth beginner riding
instructor for kids and adults just starting out and getting their feet wet. She has endless patience. She also works tirelessly
with the handicapped children here at the farm and coordinates activities and financial aid packages with many State and
Federal agencies that benefit persons with disabilities. She develops, schedules and coordinates all the various equine
related school programs throughout Northeast Ohio that Duchess attends, including the Junior Master Horseman Program.
In addition she also coordinates all the tours that come to the farm from local schools, church youth groups, Medina
County MRDD, Murray Ridge and Medina County Fall Foliage Tours which boast a significant 5000 visitors each year, to
name a few.
She loves animals, especially horses.
Erin Baker R.V.T. C.R.I.
Registered Veterinary Technician
Associate Degree of Applied Science
Certified Riding Instructor
Member
American Quarter Horse Association
American Paint Horse Association
AQHA Professional Horseman Association
Raising/Training/Showing
Registered Quarter Horses
Reining
Western Pleasure
and
Working With Natural Aids
Legs/Hands/Seat/Voice
trains all her own horses from babies. She loves showing, and introducing new youth to the show arena.
She assists Mindy in all the horse programs here at the farm. Erin started riding instruction at the age of
6 at Brandywine Stables in Florida and has shown, trained and handled her own horses since, an
educational 18 years of horsemanship experience. She is in charge of all the marketing and plans out
all the advertising brochures and pamphlets that are distributed throughout the community. She
coordinates all the horse shows here at the farm. Erin graduated from college with an associates
degree in Applied Science and continues to study horse training, is a Certified Riding Instructor, and a
member of the AQHA Professional Horseman's Association.
She is responsible in part for our very successful riding lesson program. Erin loves Reining and
Western Pleasure, unfortunately the activities at the farm have taken away a lot of time from showing
and competing with her horses we stay so busy.
She likes training young horses, to work under saddle without "breaking" them, or their spirit, rather
gentle techniques. In addition, taking them to competition level horses where they jog, lope, can spin and
rollback balanced without interference from the rider.
Tom Baker
Traffic Homicide Detective Rt. HCSO
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Tampa, Florida
Member
American Quarter Horse Association
American Paint Horse Association
AQHA Professional Horsemen Association
Training/Coaching
Rollbacks/Spins/Flying Lead Changes/Sliding Stops
years he road horses on and off in competitions for fun and small money (very small money), and working cattle for cattle
ranches around central Florida on weekends mostly for the fun and experience. This is where Tom says he learned that
you are not a true horseman until you "get back up in the saddle" after you're bucked off or thrown. Work and family grew
and demanded more time. In 1995 Tom and Mindy decided to move the family to Ohio, closer to Mindys family, where they
opened up Circle-B-Stables and started working with youth, and horses. They got involved in Reining and were hooked,
learning how to train and compete has been an exciting experience.
Tom retired from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office as a Traffic Homicide Detective. He was instrumental in
setting up programs to address underage drinking with teens, working closely with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and
Firearms, the U.S. Marshall's Office, the State of Florida and locating and recruiting youth to help out with these programs,
he is also qualified as an Expert Witness in Federal Court, possesses personal commendations with seals, from two
sitting U.S. Presidents, two U.S. Senators, a U.S. Congressman, a Governor, and two County Sheriff's, as well as
numerous citizens commendations for "Above and Beyond the Call of Duty". He helped develop the pilot program for the
current DUI Unit for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and served on it for 4 years, with over 600 DUI arrest and a
98% conviction rate with the State Attorney's office. He was lead investigator on 30 fatal traffic crashes most involving
teens and alcohol, which is why he is so passionate about working with youth. In addition Tom worked with several
college Youth Teams on innovative programs to curb drug and alcohol abuse on campus, he is no stranger to working with
youth.
He attended the University of North Florida, is a 32nd degree Freemason, a member of the Scottish Rite and the
Shriner's, and sponsored several children through Shriner's Hospital for critical non-typical surgeries.
Prior to law enforcement Tom was Project Design Engineer on a team of seven engineers that designed the Fire
Protection System for the Shuttle Craft Program for NASA, which included the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Orbiter
Processing Facility, Launch Complex 39 B and the Shuttle Craft Platform Modifications.
He loves introducing youth to horses, the American Quarter Horse Association, and the AQHYA Youth Association
which he believes offers wonderful opportunities for youth.
He currently does consultant work as an Accident Reconstructionist for the private sector, coaches individuals in
training their horses and manages the day to day care of 18 horses here at the farm. He has spent the last 30 years of his
life devoted to youth, who, as he says often, are the future, and now uses horses to connect with youth.
He loves Team Penning/Ranch Sorting, Reining and coaching Barrel Racing. Even at 58 years of age, he still likes the
challenge of training his own horses, and passing that along to young people. One of his favorite things to do is take his
horse Duchess to schools, perform some tricks and have Duchess answer questions for the kids.
Toms philosophy: The criminal element seize every opportunity to recruit youth, you have to get out there and get
involved with youth, everyday.
so successful that there is little time left. Sharing and working with youth however, is
just as rewarding and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Mindy, Erin and Tom