2005 Horseman of the Year Winners
The Libertyville Saddle Shop and The Sentinel salute these outstanding individuals selected by their organizations for their qualities of Generosity, Sportsmanship, Perseverance & Dedication to their breed or club.
Sharon & Doyle Skinner - Illinois Paint Horse Association
Cindie Kozeluh - Illinois American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Assoc.
Marion Doerfer - Wisconsin Pinto Horse Association (tie)
Nancy Petriak - Blackhawk Appaloosa Horse Association
Darlene Hartmann - Southern Wisconsin Appaloosa Horse Association


Wisconsin-Illinois Buckskin, Dun & Grulla Promoters
Rita St. Germain
Rita St. Germain recalls, “I can’t ever remember a time in my life when I didn’t have this passion for horses.” Growing up in St. Louis, her contact with horses was limited to books or begged rides on borrowed horses during vacations in the Missouri Ozarks. When she want off to pursue a career with Delta Air Lines, thoughts of horses were put aside until she met her husband, Tom.

The advertisement, “Horses Allowed” sold the couple on their first home outside Elgin, IL. A Quarter Horse gelding named Wrecker soon became part of their life, and he and Rita spent many hours trail riding together. Their family grew with the arrival of 2 children, more horses and several goats.

Rita explains, “My daughter Valerie shares my love for horses and as she grew and became involved in showing, I became occupied with being a ‘Show Mom.’ Her Buckskin gelding led us to the ABRA show circuit and our involvement with Wis-IL BDGP.”

Rita currently lives on 15 acres in Poplar Grove, IL, with her husband Tom, a menagerie of animals and children Valerie and Adam when they are not away at college–both are pursuing careers in Agriculture.

Rita comments, “My son, Adam, loves the animals too, but has found his niche in raising and showing his Simmental Beef cattle. Tom and I enjoy helping and supporting both of them with their animals and being their biggest fans at the shows.”
Northern Illinois Arabian Horse Activity Club
Rick Anderson
Rick Anderson has a 28 year history with Northern Illinois Arabian Horse Activity Club, during which he’s served the organization as a Vice President, Director and Delegate. His family’s involvement with Arabian horses includes breeding, showing, training and marketing these fine horses. Just this past year one of their homebred horses was a Reserve National Champion. They look forward to continuing this tradition and breeding more National Champions in the future.

Rick is pictured here with his wife, Tammy and daughter Danielle. In addition to a successful breeding program, the family also operates a private zoo. They go out and do educational talks with wild animals and also private and corporate events, including providing Santa’s reindeer at Christmastime.
Mid-States Morgan Horse Club
John Goldschnikl
Attending an open barn at Orwin Osman’s farm was all it took for John Goldschnikl and his wife to become hooked on the Morgan horse breed. After that, John explains, “One night I came home and found two Morgan youngsters in the pony shed. For ten years we raised Morgans with an emphasis on the older type Morgan and nice family horses. Our brood mares were of Nocturn and Pepper lines.”

Woodhaven Hearts on Fire was the only horse the couple bred for show. John remembers, “His trot was amazing, especially when hitched.” One of his most outstanding accomplishments, was winning the English Pleasure Championship–first in Pleasure Driving and English Pleasure–at the Illinois State Fair in1998. Now that John and his wife are semi-retired, they only have their senior citizen, Woodhaven Shyfox. Four out of five years in a row he won the Justin Morgan Standard. He’s kept company by two miniature horses.

John says, “Through the Morgan world we have met many great people and made some good friends. We continue to support and promote this wonderful breed as members of the Mid-States Morgan Horse Club. Morgans are a wonderful, versatile breed...capable of doing it all; jumping, driving, saddle, cow ponies, and all around family horses.” Since retirement, John drives a Pace bus in McHenry County and enjoys coaching bowling teams and girls softball. A cowboy at heart, he’s a fan of country/western music, especially that of Rex Allen, Jr.

Illinois Pinto Horse Association
Tricia (O’Connor) Angell
Originally from West Chicago IL, Tricia Angell owned her first horse , Danny, in 1971. Tricia was involved in Horseplay 4-H Club and was a member of the 1976 Horsebowl team when they received second place in the national competition in Harrisburg, PA.

As a professional Horsewoman , Judge and longtime breeder of Pinto and Paint horses , Tricia now resides in northern Illinois, where she and her husband own and operate Haylo Farm . With the help of their staff, they raise, train and show PtHA and APHA horses, as well as Texas Longhorn Cattle. In 2001 big dreams were filled when a mare bred by Haylo Farm was Reserve World Champion Paint Horse in Ft.Worth TX.

Tricia currently serves as the Vice President of the Illinois Pinto Horse Assn. After serving as the Youth Director since 2003 she was elected into the VP position in 2005. Tricia enjoys the club and her very busy schedule and plans to continue pursuing her dreams.
Illinois Dressage & Combined Training Association
Heather Jans
Heather Jans has been a member of IDCTA since 1997 when she began eventing. She has had the opportunity to compete throughout the Midwest, West and East coasts. She earned three National Championships in eventing (1997, 1999, 2000). Injuries from an accident a year ago, and a lack of appropriate “horse power” has kept her out of competition the last three years. Not to bemoan her fate, however, Heather dove face first into volunteering for many Area IV events and running the Area IV Young Rider Program (May 2004 thru 2005).

Heather is a retired board certified small animal Internal Medicine Specialist. She earned her DVM degree at the University of Illinois and completed an internship and residency program at North Carolina State University. After Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, she loaded her truck and horse trailer with donated supplies and traveled alone to Baton Rouge, LA. A temporary shelter was set up on the LSU campus. Heather was in charge of the triage unit and spent 5 weeks volunteering at the LSU veterinary school’s efforts for animal rescue. Hurricane Rita came through shortly thereafter, displacing even more pets.

Heather returned home with 5 homeless pets in tow: 3 dogs who found wonderful homes and 2 kittens who still live with her.

She found the experiences of the hurricanes and relief efforts very rewarding and she has submitted paperwork to be part of VMAT5 (Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams).
The Hub Club
Sue West
As member of The HUB Club for 10 years, Sue West is currently serving her second term as Vice-President. She’s been driving competitively for about the same length of time. Although she occasionally competes in Pleasure shows, she focuses most of her time and energy to Combined Driving Events (CDEs).

In addition to showing herself, she volunteers at many of the clinics and events that The HUB Club hosts. Perhaps her largest commitment has been to serve as the Event Secretary for the Iron Horse CDE (Caledonia, IL Aug 4-6, 2006) for the past three years.

Sue’s “day job” consists of being a Project Manager for the True Value Company headquarters in Chicago. This makes for a long commute from Woodstock, IL each day, but she always find time to take care of her four horses, drive her carriage and occasionally even cook a meal for her husband, John (pictured with Sue in the water hazard at the Indiana CDE).

She remarks that, “The members of The HUB Club have always been very supportive, and we have wonderful times together sharing knowledge and skills. My thanks to them and to the Sentinel for this honor. “
Wisconsin Pinto Horse Association
Deb Abrams
Deb Abrams has been active in the Wisconsin Pinto Horse Association for over 15 years. She first became involved in the club through good friends Denny and Gale. Deb said, “I’m grateful that I have special friends (Denny and Gale ) that allow me to go to their place to love and pamper their horses.”

You’ll often find Deb helping out at the Pinto shows. Her favorite job is serving as ring steward during the morning halter classes.