Sarah Donaldson-Rioux
EQUINE PROFESSIONAL
To provide relief work to any farm, clinic, or horse program that can utilize my skills and experience. I am a devoted professional with a passion for horses of all disciplines and I am ready to assist in the advancement of other equine professionals. I am team-oriented and capable of handling administrative needs, tasks and support for equine athletes or breeding stock, support for equine care, and general farm maintenance type duties. I have an extensive background in the equine reproductive world and can probably be best utilized in that field but have owned and managed a successful full-service breeding farm for 20 years and can do most things associated with a horse farm including driving a tractor, mucking stalls, fixing automatic waterers, irrigating, fielding calls, bandaging legs, running fluids, halter breaking, talking to clients, billing, scrubbing joints, prepping for surgery, handling foals, AI, collecting, evaluating, cooling stallion semen etc.
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Education
May 1999
Bachelor of Science,
Equine Science
Colorado State University,
Fort Collins, CO
Continuing Education
Continuing Education Colorado State University
Short Course and Certifications
Equine Reproductive Management: Stallion, Mare and Newborn Foal
Advanced Techniques in Preparation and Use of Cooled Transported Semen
Advanced Techniques in Freezing, Handling and Storage of Stallion Semen
Experience
2004 - Present
Owner/ Operator/ General Manager/ Breeding Professional • Born Running Ranch Deming, NM
Responsibilities:
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Owned and operated a full-service equine breeding facility that specialized in mare care
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Mare management for reproductive services, including AI and ET flushes
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Foaling services including top quality and specialized care for foals and pregnant mares
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Managed stallions for collection and transportation of cooled and frozen semen and live cover
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Herd health management for year-round client horses
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Farm management including irrigation and crop production
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Client representation at Equine Sales
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Rehabilitation and Sale fitting for all age horses
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Weaning, Halter Breaking, Walker Breaking and Saddle Breaking
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Reproductive lab work including but not limited to evaluating semen under a microscope, calculating breeding doses, freezing semen, operating densimeter, and limited experience with Equipure,
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Ultrasound Technology
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Billing, Marketing, and Bookkeeping
2001 - 2004
Research Associate • Colorado State University Equine Orthopedic Research Center, Fort Collins CO
Manager at Small Breeding Farm for RLC Investments, Greeley CO
Responsibilities:
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Managed a variety of staff including work study students, interns, volunteers
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Managed the horses for various research projects including studies on Adequan, Legend, and Cartilage patches in stifle and carpus joints
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Performed laboratory tests including but not limited to synovial fluid analysis, blood and serum sample analysis
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Trained horses to run on a high-speed treadmill and Aquatred
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Took radiographs, sterilized lab equipment, ran fluid pump for surgical procedures, necropsy analysis, managed records for research horses and assisted in CV and Grant writing for research projects
2000 - 2001
Breeding Assistant • Royal Vista Equine, Fort Collins CO
Responsibilities:
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Utilized and refined equine reproductive skills and training
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Handled mares and foals and scribed for palpator
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Collected stallions, analyzed, processed and shipped semen
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Administered medications and treated horses for a variety of issues
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Entered data into databases accurately and efficiently
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Greeted visitors, clients and guests in professional manner
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Fit horses for sales
Management
My skill set includes building a team to accomplish goals focused on the success and growth of a business as well as encouraging and helping team members achieve personal and long-term goals. I’m exceptional at building and maintaining client relationships and helping solve complex puzzles that are unique to horses and the equine industry.
Communication
I successfully navigated a multi-state network of equine professionals by communicating with clarity and confidence. The coverage includes many disciplines and skill levels for the breeding, raising, and selling of various breeds.
Leadership
I built a business from the ground up and was the owner/operator for 20 years with a reputation for excellence. I started with inexperienced and untrained workers both with the CSU work-study students and in my own business and trained and taught them to be efficient and effective employees who proved to also be loyal and dedicated.
Key Skills
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Equine Breeding Management
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Ultrasound Technology
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Collecting, Cooling, Freezing, Shipping Equine Semen
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Mare Management
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Medication knowledge and administration
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Client Relations
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Team Management
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Farm Management
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Nutrition Management
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General herd health and disease prevention
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Lab Work
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Veterinary assistant
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Horseman
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Project Management
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Budget Planning
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Communication
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Problem-solving