Wendy's Auto Biography:
I grew up wanting a horse from the time I can remember. I came from a family that wasn’t into horses, but I sure am. I finally got a horse when I was twelve and before that I managed to find horses to ride from the time I was six years old. My first horse was an unbroken 2 year old and I really did do a good job breaking him without knowing that there is a true skill to breaking horses. I learned most everything by trial and error at first. I watched and read as much as I could and had lots of fun practicing. I grew into a different life style when I married and had children, but time and the break up of my marriage lead me back to what I knew I loved. I met my second husband and my lost life dream started to come true. I married Bob Workman of Woodstown, NJ and soon after we got a horse together and before long we were training horses for others. Bob’s father Lou raised reining horses and we started breaking and training his horses.
Unfortunately, I lost my husband to ALS (Lou Gerigh Disease) in 2004 and decided to move from NJ to NC. I came to Smithfield because of the reining trainers concentrated in this area. I worked for Bryant Pace and Brian Bell before I went out on my own training in the great state of NC.
I have been successfully training here in Smithfield, NC since July 2007 at Ruf Creek Ranch. Ruf Creek is owned by Art and Joy Frannicola whom I am very grateful for allowing me to make their facility my office. I have been doing well in the show pen from the time I started training on my own. Joy has had me show some of her horses and I can say with confidence she is pleased with my accomplishments aboard her stock.
Effective May 2010 I have moved my training operation to Pace Reining Horses and am taking on training horses and clients. I am more than fortunate to have up rooted and replanted so well. North Carolina is now where I prefer to be and the competition here is really good in my levels. I am still eligible for Rookie Professional classes in 2009, but I anticipate this will be my last year in this division. I have gotten some nice show horses for this show year and hope to gain more. I am grateful for all that support and praise me, and hope that I can please all of them and more for years to come.
