Gretchen grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, where she hunted and obtained a coveted “A” rating from Ochlockonee River Pony Club. Gretchen moved to Virginia in 1980 and whipped-in for Glenmore Hunt while attending Mary Baldwin College for a year, and then received her veterinary technology degree from Blue Ridge Community College.

Gretchen spent her preceptorship at New Bolton Center, working part time for an upper-level event rider as well as doing tack and blanket repairs. At New Bolton, she developed a strong interest in equine anesthesia, and upon graduation, she was hired at a private equine practice near Charlottesville, Virginia. In August of 1985, she joined the staff at the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center where Gretchen first worked the night shift, then moved into the anesthesia department in April of 1988 until August 2010. Having done some anesthesia for elective surgeries at PEP over the years, Gretchen was happy to join the nursing staff part-time in 2012, helping with emergency anesthesia coverage.

Gretchen is married and has two horses which she pleasure rides. She and her husband live in Star Tannery and enjoy riding the Blue Ridge Parkway and other scenic roads on their “steel horses” — a Suzuki Intruder for Gretchen and a Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad for her husband.