P14 May 2012

eeper Ranch is nearly unique in the Morgan horse business.It is privately owned by a couple, one of whom is the woman on the front cover of this issue.

Brad and Dawn Fire also own a string of Morgan show horses and maintain a herd of Morgan breeding animals that includes well-known stallions and incredible mares retired from the show ring and producing at the world championship level. And, in

addition to Dawn, their two daughters ride. To do this on behalf of their family they employ trainers, managers and instructors. The number of “private” facilities like this in the Morgan world can practically be counted on one hand. But Peeper Ranch is more than a private training and breeding operation. It offers to the public all the services enjoyed by the owners at this expansive facility. Phil Fountain and Kristen Tramposh train and instruct a large

Close-up and personal with Dawn Fire, doyenne of Peeper Ranch and exemplary Morgan enthusiast.

By Stephen Kinney

PPhotos this page © Dave & Andy, Howard Schatzberg

The Morgan Horse 15

group of Morgan owning clients in addition to the Peeper Ranch owned horses. Breeding services and an academy lesson program, complete with an annual horse show called “The Peep Show,” make this program about as complete as possible. All of this is housed in what is well-known to be one of the most beautiful and finished barns in the horse industry, let alone the Morgan world. (To learn how these two tee-shirt and shorts wearing people ended up with such a grand showplace, read on.) Dawn Fire is an enthusiast. She is funny. She is articulate (she’s written a couple of “View From The Ingate” columns for The Morgan Horse which have ranked among our most popular opinion pieces). She is an attentive mother to daughters Jaden and Annika, both of whom ride, and to son Brock who is afflicted with autism. And Dawn Fire will talk to you any time with care and compassion about the travails of autism. In an editorial piece introducing AMHA’s new “The horse that chooses you” tagline in 2008, marketing researchers Lynn and Jeff Yelton discussed the role of horse loving women as an important demographic for the Morgan industry. Dawn Fire is an exemplar of this demographic and we are proud to have her on the cover of the Women In Our Industry focus issue. And equally proud to present her well chosen words which follow:

Stephen Kinney: What got you into Morgans in the first place? Dawn Fire: Serendipity! I was looking for a place to board my

“dream horse.” I walked into a boarding facility, and I saw a black Morgan. I was instantly in love! I still have her today. She’s my best trail-riding buddy, and she teaches kids how to ride.

Stephen: Did you ride as a child or did you mostly learn to ride as an adult? Dawn: I rode as a child, but I didn’t have any formal instruction. My cousins had Quarter Horses so we did some small rodeos with them. We had horses at home until I was about 12. Looking back, I can’t believe my sister and I survived the stupid stuff we used to do with our horses. When I bought my first Morgan in 1999, I had not been on a horse in 16 years.

Stephen: What have been the challenges of getting on top of the saddle seat discipline in the years you were approaching 40? Dawn: I honestly haven’t given thought to my age affecting my riding until I read this question. Gosh, now I feel kind of old.

Stephen: What routines do you go through today to stay at your peak? Dawn: I have worked out with a personal trainer for many years. However, with my 40th birthday approaching as well as the addition of my new roadster, I was inspired to make some serious changes. I have completely changed my diet, and I now work out with my trainer five days a week. As a result, I have lost almost 30 lbs. Although I am horrified that I had that much to lose, I feel better than I have in years!!

Left page: Dawn Fire with daughter Jaden and (inset) with Treble’s First Take. Below: The Peeper crew.

16 May 2012

Stephen: How was Peeper Ranch conceived? Dawn: I don’t know if I could say that Peeper was “conceived.” Snowballed might be a better description. We had the idea to create a small training and lesson barn where the horses would get the best possible care. As we were building the barn, it began to snowball into the monstrosity that it is today.

Stephen: We know it’s grand and elaborate facility. What was behind the decision to develop such a show place? Dawn: When we started, we were not planning on it being such a show place. It just evolved as we were building the facility. My close friend is also my interior designer. He made most of the decisions when we were building the barn. I hold him completely responsible for how fancy it turned out. Left to my own devices, it would be as casual as I am every day. As I always say, I don’t dress up, and I don’t decorate.

Stephen: What role did you play in the design of it? Dawn: I had a list of things I wanted for the horses and a list of things I wanted as a horse owner. I used that list to stay on track throughout the design and building process.

Stephen: It also appears to be full service—lessons, boarding, training, breeding—discuss the overall concept of what seems to be conceived around both personal lifestyle and business considerations.

Dawn: I knew I wanted to show Morgans before we started building the barn so the training department was initially the biggest focus. As we were building the facility, I realized how much I love having foals, so we made some last minute changes to accommodate a breeding operation. The program eventually grew to the point that we needed an onsite breeding manager. Kenda Benn joined our team in 2005 after 17 years at Callaway Hills. She now manages all of the mares and stallions at Peeper. We also wanted to host a lesson program to introduce others to this incredible breed. Nicole Lawrence graduated from Stephen College with an equine science degree and joined our team in 2010. She now runs a very successful lesson program! Both of my daughters ride with her every week. When my best friend of almost 20 years, Teresa Beers, joined our team to help me run the barn, she decided it was the perfect venue for weddings and parties. We added that feature in 2011. Peeper Ranch is a big operation. The facility sits on 700 acres, with 72 stalls and 50,000 square feet of indoor riding space. However, all the departments are intertwined in some way, and they all tie into my personal goals. I could not be happier with each person that works at the barn and the job they do. It takes a village to make it run smoothly, and they get it done.

Stephen: What is your role at Peeper Ranch other than owner? Dawn: One of the many benefits of working with the phenomenal Peeper team is that they are all incredibly self-driven, professional,

Top: The barn, pictured from the outside and inside the lobby and trophy rooms. Background: The front gate at Peeper Ranch. Photos © Dave & Andy, Howard Schatzberg.

18 May 2012

and independent. When the business first started, I had a hand in everything. Now that we have the most perfect team anyone could hope for, my role is much smaller. I still take care of paying the bills, various paperwork, making major decisions, and running a quarterly team meeting that everyone has to endure. A team member generally handles the issues that come up on a daily basis.

Stephen: Are you actively involved in the management of it? Dawn: Peeper Ranch would not run without our barn manager, Kenny. He knows everything that is happening at the barn at all times, and he can fix or build anything. Kenny has been with us since day one, and he does an incredible job! However, I will always be actively involved in the management of Peeper because the end result ultimately lies on my shoulders. Fortunately, our team is so strong that I am able to rely on their expertise most of the time.

Stephen: Where did the name come from? Dawn: I love when people ask me this question! As the building progressed, we knew it was going to be much more fancy than Brad and I are, so we decided we needed a silly name to offset the formality of the facility. We were pondering names about the time that Jaden was born. The first thing I said when I saw her was “look at her Peepers.” She had these huge blue eyes that were popping out of her head. We started calling her Peeper. Shortly after that, we came up with the idea of calling the barn Peeper Ranch. It was

such a ridiculous name! It made us laugh every time we said it so we decided it was perfect.

Stephen: It was as recently as 2005 that you won your first world championships with Boogie Nights and Erotic Dancer. Almost every year since then you’ve won at least one world title yourself. What dreams have come true for you with Morgan horses?Dawn: Just the honor of swinging a leg over one of these magnificent animals is a dream come true! I remember sitting on the rail in OKC watching Judy Whitney ride HVK Bell Flaire and thinking “I want to show a park horse some day.” At that point, I wasn’t thinking about winning, I just wanted to be in the park class. It wasn’t until 2005 that it occurred to me that I actually might win some day. My wins in Oklahoma are definitely proof that if you have the combination of right trainers and the right horse, you can accomplish anything.

Stephen: Talk about your relationship with your trainers. They are private employees, they are residential trainers for the Fire family and they serve the public as well. Yet you all seem personally close. How does that work? Dawn: It works beautifully! We work so well together as a team because we have the same goal of meeting our clients’ needs. As with any relationship, the key to success is mutual respect and communication. These qualities are strong among the three of us, which makes everything run smoothly. I truly believe Phil and

From left to right: Dawn with Peeper trainers Phil Fountain and Kristen Tramposh; Peeper Ranch’s famous concierge, Mr. Wendell Williams; Dawn with World Champion Erotic Dancer and her roadster, Wood Valley Odyssey. Background: A Maretta Kennedy statue of Treble’s First Take at the Peeper entrance.

Photos this page © Dave & Andy, Howard Schatzberg

20 May 2012

Kristen are among the best trainers in the industry, and I can’t imagine Peeper Ranch without them! It also helps that I enjoy their company on a personal level. I can’t remember a major celebration or personal life event without them present. They are both precious to me personally and professionally.

Stephen: What is the source of the most satisfaction and of the most stress? Showing yourself? Watching Jaden and Annika show? Watching trainers show your horses?Dawn: That’s a tough call, it’s all so much fun! The moment that Jaden won her first world championship was amazing! She came a very long way in one year. I was proud of Jaden, and happy for Kristen who has worked very hard to bring the combination together. At the same time, it’s super exciting to see Phil and Kristen have success with Peeper bred horses. Riding is such a strong passion for me that it’s hard to compete with the feeling of showing my horses. Each of these scenarios is extremely satisfying, but in a different way. Hands down, the most stressful is getting Jaden and Annika into the ring! They both showed at our recent Peep Show. I didn’t have a show manager this year due to a last minute date change so I ran the show myself. Getting Jaden and Annika ready to show in the same session was by far more stressful than running the entire show! I am definitely better at being an exhibitor than a show mom.

Stephen: Did you set goals? As a rider? As a breeder? As a ranch owner? Have you achieved those goals? Do you have more goals to fulfill?Dawn: I absolutely believe in the power of setting goals! I have set many goals as a rider. I generally have one goal per horse, per show season. Some times I hit my goal, and some times I don’t. As much as my goals vary, they are never related to the color of my ribbon. All of my riding goals are set and worked on with Kristen. She has a

gift of breaking things down to the most manageable step, plus she rides all of my horses so she knows exactly what they need. In regard to breeding, I will always strive for beautiful horses that are athletic. I work closely with Phil to determine the direction of my breeding program. He has the nickname Philopedia because of his incredible memory. When he thinks about breeding, he will make the decision based on several generations. I tend to look at what is standing in front of me. It’s a good balance between the two of us. Quality is extremely important to both of us. Phil and I always say that it doesn’t matter what division the horses end up in as long as they do it well. As a barn, we set goals quarterly and annually. We have a very strong team that does an incredible job of going full steam in whatever crazy direction is weighing on my mind at the time. I can’t think of a goal they have not hit. There isn’t anything this team can’t do. Of course I have more goals! Whether it’s with my horses, for the barn, or within myself, there will always be something new to work on. For the first time, I am riding a roadster this year (YAY!!!!). I have no idea what I am doing, and my horse is only four, but I am ridiculously excited about it! My goal this year is to stay on the top side at every show. We will work our way up from there next year.

Stephen: What lessons have you taken away from our sport? What advice do you have to give to other women and amateurs who are involved in our industry?Dawn: Oh gosh, I have learned so much over the years! The biggest lesson I tell people when they start showing horses is to not judge your ride by the color of your ribbon. You will win some you shouldn’t, and you will lose some you shouldn’t. It all comes out in the wash. First and foremost, enjoy your horse! That’s why we all start down this crazy path in the first place. Get out there, show your horse, and don’t be afraid to fail. After all, you have to experience failing so you can truly feel the joy of success. n

Dawn with husband Brad; Daughters Annika (center) and Jaden (right). Photos © Dave & Andy, Howard Schatzberg.