My name is Donna Shade and I will be your Guide as we explore the trails of the beautiful hocking hills together.
I grew up on a small farm in Lewisberry Pennsylvania. I was the oldest of 3 daughters and I got my first pony as a surprise birthday gift in 1978. I have never had a day in my life without a horse in it since.
When I was a teenager, I discovered 4-H and it became a focus for my teenage years. I did everything possible in the few years that I was able to be a member. I showed, rode Trail, attended clinics (as well as taught them), mentored younger kids, went to Leadership Congress, was on the Horse Judging team, went to Nationals to represent the state of Pennsylvania, was on the Horse Bowl team, participated in competitive trail riding, was a camp counselor, held both Secretary and President offices in my local club, and learned how to train many, many mustangs at the local BLM distribution center. Then, When I aged out of 4-H, I took on the role of being an Organizational Leader for the club.
As a young adult, I continued with the Mustangs and was eventually hired to exercise random horses in the arena. I did quite a bit of “farm sitting” for people who went on vacation. And of course, I also attended local shows with my Quarter Horse every chance i could get.
Then I got married and started a family. The horses got put on the back burner for a while. As my sons grew, they didn’t have the love of horses that I did. However, they did enjoy camping. In 1996 I joined a local trail riding club, which owned their own Campground. As a member I got a permanent campsite so, We bought a camper and parked it there every summer. This way, The boys would camp and I got to ride. Eventually I became one of the main trail bosses for the rides. During this period of my life, I also was an assistant manager and then later the manager of a feed and tack store. however There was a gap between the two positions where I worked for an equine vet for about 2 years. I also moved onto a 30-horse boarding farm and Eventually ended up being the manager of the facility. Then As my boys got older, I was able to get back into working hands on with horses, trail riding, and doing some shows.
all my life, It had always been my dream to own my own farm. That finally become a reality in 2019, when we moved from Pennsylvania to Hocking Hills Ohio; and We purchased a small farm outside of Laurelville. now My husband and I share the farm with my two sons, who live in a second house on the property. Our livestock currently consists of 6 horses, 2 donkeys, a herd of goats, a flock of chickens, 2 dogs, and of course, a slew of barn cats.
I started The Vacation Vaquera in 2021 and since taking my first rider out, have been mentioned in print for various reasons. In 2022 a photo of me was printed in a “Experience Hocking County” magazine, along with a write up of all the ways to explore the Hocking hills on Horseback. There was also a write up about Sterling (my horse) and the Vacation Vaquera in “Khamsat“; a magazine dedicated to the Bedouin Arabian Horses and their descendants. In 2023, I was mentioned twice in the Local “Logan Times”. The first time was because I caught a mule which had been missing in Hocking County for a week and The second time was about the reunion of the mule and her owner. Most recently, in 2024 I was interviewed by Gina McKnight and that interview was published in “Florida Equine Athlete” volume 220, October 2024.
In addition to guiding clients through the scenic trails around the Hocking hills, I also participate in Mounted Shooting, ride in Parades, run with The Smoke Rise Gang and rob the Hocking Scenic Railway train, join in cattle round ups, participate in open shows and clinics, dazzled the audience at the Ohio State Fair, and go camping/trail riding with my friends in both the Hocking and Perry Chapters of Ohio Horseman’s council.
I love exploring the world on horseback!
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