Deb discovered the Methow Valley in 1985 when she visited for a cross country ski trip.  She and her husband, Arnie, have lived in the Valley part-time since completing their home here in 1997.  They purchased the ranch land in 2004 and started BCEC in 2005.  Deb’s dream of owning a horse began when she was a child in New York but it did not materialize until 2000 when she purchased “half-a-horse” with a girlfriend who quickly sold her the other “half.”  To say that Moochie, a buckskin quarter horse, and Deb have had many adventurous times together is an understatement!

The founder of Leap of Faith Training Services, Krista has managed, trained and taught in Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, California and Texas. She has more that 25 years of teaching and training experience in English and western disciplines including showing horses in Hunters, Dressage, Combined Training and Eventing. She also has experience training horses for harness, western pleasure and trail. Her expertise covers your horse’s first days with a trainer to turning out a polished show horse.  She is able to work with riders of all levels from tiny-tot to advanced. Krista, her husband Tim, and their young daughter Samantha, live on-site at BCEC.  Look for Krista and her young horse Breaker out and about during the 2012 show season.

Sandie is our office manager and a fifth generation valley resident.  She grew up with her family in the Upper Rendezvous area of the Methow where they raised cattle and hay.  “I really enjoy working with the horses here at BCEC,” says Sandie.  “It’s like I have come full circle.  My Dad put me and my brothers on horses about the time we learned to walk.  As kids, our summers were spent on horseback moving cattle in the Paysaten Wilderness where dad had a range permit.”  When she’s not billing and ordering products for BCEC, you’ll find her “lovin’ on” the horses at the ranch.  Sandie lives with her husband Rick, their cat, Uh-Oh, and too many ducks to count!  Rick calls her “the mad duck lady of Twin Lakes.”  

Nikki is a fourth generation Valley resident who has been aboard horses since before she could walk.  Nikki’s mom and dad, Leanna and Tom Melton, raise quarter horses here in the Valley.
One of her first jobs was working for the Lloyd Ranch chasing cows, which continues to be one of her passions today.  “I love to help local ranchers chase cows,” says Nikki, who also admits to a new found passion for cutting.  She owns three quarter horses and is looking forward to working with her colt, Kite. Nikki participated in 4-H, was the Rodeo Queen in 1991, and also attended Vet Tech school in Yakima.  She worked as a veterinarian assistant for 3 years with Dan and Terry DeWeert of Twisp.  She currently volunteers at the Winthrop rodeos and helps with the 49er’s Day parade.  When not out chasing cows, you might find her in a nearby river or lake where she enjoys her other pastime, trout fishing.

Nate joined BCEC in the spring and brings a unique skill set from his work in construction, demolition and various other fields. 

His time working for the Forest Service packing mules in Pasaten helped give him hands on experience that he uses daily at BCEC.  Nate is always ready to pitch in and help where needed and you can usually find him busily working on a facilities project or helping with the horses.