Another job Sharon took on was driving an 18- wheeler semi truck for an older gentleman, hauling registered cattle across the United States.
“ He taught me all the ins and outs of truck driving. I would drive every three hours to relieve him,” said Sharon.“ I got to see quite a few states doing that job. Every night, we had to stop and unload them at a fairground and continue on in the morning. This man always had a load of cattle going and a load coming back, so it was very prosperous. That was the first time I made that much money in a week, $ 800.”
She also had half interest in a reconditioned battery store in Rapid City, but that didn’ t“ work too good.” From there, she went on to work at an exotic animal ranch near Black Hawk, S. D., taking care of the animals and training horses for the family.
“ I wore a lot of hats in those days,” Sharon said with a laugh.
In 1990, Sharon moved to Colorado Springs, where she served as a home companion for an older lady and helped with her horses.
“ I kept her horses in shape so she could ride,” said Sharon.
Later, she worked at a ranch near Castle Rock, helping a lady start a gaited horse business.
The tack room in the barn is one of Sharon’ s favorite places.
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