The Balanced Animals Team
Sherie
For the past 20 years Sherie has literally immersed herself in animals. Having been brought up around animals in Western Australia, learning to ride and competing at State level from a very early age, it is no surprise her ultimate career path took this turn.
After competing in Horse Showing, Pony Club Gymkanas, Prince Phillip Games, and eventing, Sherie finally settled on the skill of dressage. In 2000 she ventured to the UK to concentrate on her riding. Training up to the Grand Prix in dressage. During this time she discovered the sport of dog agility and dived head-first into training her self and her dogs moving through the ranks of this fast growing sport and represented Australia in international events.
Alyssa
Having spent almost every weekend at dog agility or equestrian events it is no surprise that Alyssa has taken an interest in those pursuits. Alyssa has been very successful in her own right in dog agility competing at Crufts as a junior hander and winning the junior international dog handler.
More recently she has turned her hand to equestrian events and is aiming to compete at school events.
Alyssa helps out Sherie with Agility training, dog conditioning, and a little bit of back office tasks on product sales.
Matt
Being a tech nerd & mechanical engineer, Matt generally prefers things with wheels & gears but knows Balanced Animals clients have 4 legs and neigh or bark and that Sherie makes them feel a lot better after she’s worked on them.
Matt does backend tasks at Balanced Animals and runs their small mixed farm enterprise. He does the cattle, Sherie prefers the sheep and horses.
The Product Testers
Twist
11 year old rescue dog of unknown parentage. Twist was Sherie’s top agility partner for 10 years, going to dizzy heights of top level competition in UK, Europe and later years in Australia. Is the most devoted working dog and just loves to hang with his favorite human.
Disco
3 year old crazy Working Cocker Spaniel brought back from the UK. Thinks everyone loves her, and they do. The adoration between Sherie and Disco is mutual. Disco does agility and will be used to start a new breed line of Working Cockers into Australia.
Tango
6 year old JRT x Poodle and another rescue. Tango is officially Alyssa’s dog, whom they have done really well in the agility ring together, but Sherie has stolen her for some big events in the UK and Europe before they moved back. Disco’s partner in crime around the farm.
Blondy
16 year old Haflinger. Typical Haflinger, Blondy is full of attitude, smart, cheeky, fun and loving. Send from the UK to live out her days in Australia from one of Sherie’s clients. Blondy is very food motivated and has to be carefully managed.
Joe
21 year old Australian Stock Horse. Joe has been there and done that, the perfect school master for Alyssa and enough buttons to please Sherie. Being older Joe also takes careful management to aid his aging body to keep him sound and happy in his job.
The Chickens & The Sheep
The chickens are very naughty and have been known to hop into clients cars or tease their dogs who are at the farm for treatment. The sheep are a great distraction and great to introduce to dogs. And who can resist a cute lamb or 2 running about?