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Born in 1949, and raised in the picturesque
farm country of Indiana, Dennis' entire professional life has involved
animals and innovation in designing and marketing animal products. It
is, in fact, unlikely that you could walk into any pet store or tack
shop in the world without seeing a product or product presentation
conceived by Dennis Thompson.
His career in the animal business began at age eighteen, in one of the
most successful pet stores in North America, owned by the man who
invented Kitty Litter. His potential was soon recognized and within two
years Dennis managed the store and was instrumental in building and
managing a second store. When he left the retail business it was to
enter the wholesale distribution side of the pet product industry. First
hired by Geisler Pet Products (America’s largest manufacturer of bird
and small animal products for the independent pet industry), he was next
asked by the largest European and Canadian manufacturer of pet products
to introduce their brands to America (including world famous Tetra Min
fish food). Not yet 25 years old, Dennis set up and managed the initial
distribution of those products in the South and Southwestern United
States.
During his 30+ years in the professional animal products business,
Dennis took companies from "garage" status to becoming
nationally recognized brands. Be Nice halters, Quik Silver Shampoo (of
Exhibitor Laboratories) and the Hamilton Halter Company are a few that,
today, are leaders in their categories.
While extensive travel was involved in setting up worldwide distribution
of products, Dennis moved his home base to a large working cattle ranch
outside of San Antonio, Texas. There, breaking Quarter Horses, roping,
working cattle - and raising four little girls on his own - were his
passions. In 1988 at an animal industry convention in Dallas, Texas
Dennis met fellow pet product professional (and animal lover) Cindy
Tergerson, who would become his wife and change his life. It was Cindy
who, while they were driving in England on a business trip, noticed a
little black and white stallion and asked Dennis if he saw it.
Dennis looked, saw the horse and turned the car around
for a closer look... the rest, of course, is Gypsy Vanner Horse history
(see "The
Discovery"). They had 14 wonderful years together before an
accident took Cindy's life in 2002.
Dennis is the Founder of the Gypsy
Vanner Horse Society.
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Born in Washington, D.C. in 1950, and raised in Maryland's hunt country, Lynn
was a professional horse woman for over 20 years before becoming a full-time artist. Her knowledge of horses is extensive:
She dissected them while attending Virginia's Morven Park International Equestrian Institute, served in the hunt field as a
Whipper-In, managed large boarding facilities on both coasts and began competing with
her own hunter/jumpers at age six.
Her horse career has included 'ponying' race horses at Santa Anita, teaching up to 150 riding students per week and breaking yearlings
at a Florida Thoroughbred farm. She was co-owner/creator of the official dressage saddle of the 1984 British Olympic Team
and has had over a dozen articles published in such worldwide equine magazines as
Polo
and Equus.
Nationally
known as an animal portraitist and magazine illustrator, Lynn's work has garnered five nominations for Best Drawing of
the Year, (the American Horse Publications Awards), has won a Masterwork Award at an AAEA show and
has twice been a finalist in the annual Artist's Magazine competition which had nearly
14,000 entries. She authored and contributed artwork to the book "The AAEA Sketchbook of Horses" published by
Equus.
Lynn's work has been juried into national shows at:
Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs
The Museum of Hounds and Hunting
The National Dog Museum
The Pastel Society of America
Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club
National Arts Club in New York
International Museum of the Horse
She is a member of Women Artists of the West , the Society of Animal Artists and the only
dual full artist member (for both painting and sculpting) of the American Academy of Equine Art.
In the 1980's, Lynn competed her Jack Russell Terriers in trials in eight states and was the first Florida State Representative for the
JRTCA.
Although she's primarily owned and ridden draft horses for fun in recent
years, Lynn is now a Vanner convert.
Click here to visit www.lynnwade.com.
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