Close-up and personal with Dawn Fire, doyenne of Peeper Ranch

Close-up and personal with Dawn Fire, doyenne of Peeper
Ranch and exemplary Morgan enthusiast.
By Stephen Kinney
P
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
14 May 2012
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
Photos this page © Dave & Andy, Howard Schatzberg
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.
The Morgan Horse 15
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.
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.
16 May 2012
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,
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.
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.
such a ridiculous name! It made us laugh every time we said it so
we decided it was perfect.
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: 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: 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
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
18 May 2012
Photos this page © Dave & Andy, Howard Schatzberg
Dawn with husband Brad; Daughters Annika (center) and Jaden (right). Photos © Dave & Andy, Howard Schatzberg.
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
20 May 2012
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