Merry grew up on the shores of Pine Lake, Wisconsin, riding horses for as long as she can remember. ”As a child, growing up in the country in a family of 8, our horses were our mode of transportation…our ticket to freedom before we could drive". Her parents allowed her and her siblings to have horses as long as they were accountable for everything the horses needed. So at a very early age Merry learned the huge responsibility of owning a horse. Her passion carried her to the Western Pleasure arena at the age of 13 and has continued throughout her life.

  From riding bareback on a pony to riding with some of the industry greats, like Monte Foreman (one of the most influential horseman of his time) and Jerry Stanford (a leading western pleasure trainer) or working on a cutting ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico during the summers of her college years. Top ten at the World and Congress, top NSBA high point and futurity wins, multiple breed top ten World wins and hundreds of AQHA points.... Merry’s experiences have sculpted a well-rounded and well-grounded equine education. Going from an amateur rider to a professional trainer after more than 40 years of riding wasn't just a flash of brilliance, but rather a natural course of events.