Western and rodeo disciplines were the main focus. In her sophomore year of high school, she got her Quarter Horse and her mother got 2 Tennessee Walking Horses……oh dear goodness! At the beginning, it was a bit of an embarrassment for Diane to be seen with her mother and her spotted up, strawberry roan TWH. Diane ended up doing gymkhana on that colorful TWH mare. Between Diane’s junior and senior year her whole “idea” of what her ideal horse would be shifted. One of her most pivotal life situations placed her in Big Arm, Montana with Pearl Tompkins and over 50 head of Tennessee Walking Horses. She fell in love with the breed… drawn in not only by their beauty and wonderful gait but mostly their amazing, kind personalities. Since that time Diane has served on national Boards of Directors both in the United States and Canada. She has been a sound horse advocate since the late ’70s. She holds 2 Gaited horse show licenses (her first license was with the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association). Both current licenses are with The Independent Judges’ Association (Friends of Sound Horses judges division) She is licensed both for open shows and is a Senior IJA Dressage Judge. She also held a 4-H judges license for years. Her commitment to supporting the Smooth Gaited Horse and community drives her to continued education and research. Diane owns Back To Basics Equine Awareness, Valley, Washington. She travels throughout the country and internationally sharing, teaching, and consulting about the WELLBEING for and the healthy FUNCTION of this amazing horse.