This operation is the fulfillment of Anissa Cottongim's life-long dream to breed and raise horses.  Being a Air Force "brat," she was lucky enough to follow her parents to Bitburg, Germany in 1980.  Here she met the Portz family, who owns  Gut Hungerburg and who breed Trakehners.  This began the love affair that Anissa has with this breed of horse.  The family was stationed in Germany for 7 years, and while there, Anissa was given the opportunity to not only take lessons in dressage, cross country, and jumpers, but also assisted with the day-to-day life of running a busy breeding and training barn.  She also began learning about the Trakehner bloodlines, and the history of the breed.   Anissa stayed in Germany an additional year without her parents to attend the Universität Konstanz in southern Germany.   After leaving Germany, she attended Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio.  While there, she primarily focused on dressage lessons from Charlotte Bailey and even rode in a clinic with Betsy Steiner.  Eventually she transferred to Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida and obtained her BA in German.  While in Jacksonville, she worked, rode, and trained at a hunter/jumper barn in the area, Windemere Equestrian Center.  This is where she bought her first mare, Encore, and took the first steps to fulfilling her dream of breeding Trakehner horses.  Anissa has become very active with the American Trakehner Association and is on the Board of Directors for the American Trakehner Foundation.

None of this could have been possible without the support of her parents, TJ and Ann Cottongim.  Both mom and dad are retired officers with the United States Air Force.  TJ was an F-15 pilot, and Ann was in Public Affairs/Personnel.  Neither parent is particularly "horsey," but both are enjoying learning about the breed and are slowly being won over by the horse's natural beauty and friendliness.  TJ is the carpenter, fence builder, heavy lifter, electrician, and general all around handy-man.  Ann is actually volunteering with the American Trakehner Association to help with Public Relations now that she is retired.  Ann is also Anissa's main support at the many shows we attend every year, and has become very proficient in hauling horses.