Vice-President of Summerfield Sales Agency, Inc.
Barbara Vanlangendonck was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. After high school, she attended the University of Kentucky where she studied art. Upon returning to Louisville, she worked as a veterinary assistant for seven years and became one of the earliest Licensed Animal Technicians in the state. It was while working as the shelter manager of the Kentucky Humane Society that she began to realize the magnitude of unwanted animals in this country.
Barbara returned to the University of Kentucky in 1980 and supported her tuition by working for several notable horse farms in the area including Airdrie Stud and Three Chimneys Farm. As it became clear that her passion was in Thoroughbreds, she set out to learn as many facets of the business as possible spending time on grooming, reproduction, office work, two years of foaling almost 300 mares annually at Nelson Bunker Hunt’s Bluegrass Farm and many hours in the necropsy room at UK.
One of the best parts of this business is how the focus changes seasonally. Sales prepping became her favorite season and then presenting these young horses at the sales. She spent three years managing Bob Courtney’s Crestfield Farm’s yearling division.
In 1985 she met Francis Vanlangendonck at the Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale. The couple had their first date in August in Saratoga and were married the following February. During this time she lived in Philadelphia and managed Bob Levy’s Thoroughbred interests. Eventually, she joined her husband in Florida and they have 38 years together while raising two children.
Barbara has spent many years serving as a Director of the Humane Society of Marion County, Currently, she is the Vice-President of Summerfield Sales Agency, Inc. based in Williston, Florida. She and her husband continue to sell at all major yearling and mixed sales including Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton Kentucky, and Saratoga and Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company in Florida where her husband is the current Chairman of the Board. Summerfield’s sales graduates include many successful yearlings including White Abarrio, Goodnight Olive, Gamine, and Medina Spirit.
