Margaret (Cookie) Root, co-owner,
farm and Veterinary practice manager
Cookie Root met Jack Root, at a party held at Oregon State University to celebrate Jack’s acceptance to veterinary school at Iowa State University. This was the beginning of their forty-two year marriage and business partnership centered on, and rooted in, their mutual love of horses. Cookie worked in the Theriogenology Department at Iowa State University in the Equine Hospital during Jack's 4 years of college. She then began managing Jack’s veterinary practice when they returned to Oregon and hung their sign out on Redland Rd in Oregon City in 1979. Cookie managed all business affairs through the growth of the solo practitioner practice to its present status, as well as helped manage the growth of their Thoroughbred breeding and training businesses. She trained race horses both in Portland and Seattle. In 1996 Jack and Cookie invested in their present 148 acre farm and built separate businesses there including the veterinary practice, breeding farm, and the training and racing stable. Cookie also manages equine and hospitality events at Oakhurst. Along with Jack, Cookie has won the Oregon Thoroughbred Breeders Association Breeder of the Year award several times. Cookie and Jack are proud parents of four sons. Jack and Cookie began their family of four boys when Ben was born in Iowa in 1977. You could say that Thoroughbred race horses must be in the family’s bloodline. Ben Root grew up around race horses and started his own racing stable in Seattle and Portland. On any given day you can run across a daughter-in- law, grandson, or granddaughter riding, breaking, or training horses, or tending other farm animals at Oakhurst Farm. In early childhood, Cookie was captivated by horses. She saved money from her first job at age fourteen and bought her first car at sixteen in order to drive to and from boarding and riding stables. She bought her first horse at eighteen and has never looked back.
Myla Natvig, customer service and front desk
Myla Natvig, a former elementary school teacher, has been part of the Oakhurst team since October 2015. Myla combines her years of customer service experiences with her knowledge of horsemanship to help meet our customer's needs and focus on their care. She has the skills it takes to organize each day and keep the office running smoothly. Her number one priority is you. Myla has a love for horses that started as a young child. On her off time, she enjoys riding her horse Bella and has a special interest in dressage and trail riding. Myla and her husband, Paul, enjoy traveling the United States to visit their grandchildren.
Andrea Miller- customer service and front desk
Andrea joins Oakhurst with a background in office and operations management from 10 years at the Albany Paper Mill. Her passion for everything equine makes her an excellent addition to our team. Andrea competes as a non-pro in the National Reining Horse Association. Recent accomplishments include finishing in third place at the National Finals in Oklahoma City, with her gelding, Shredded Wrangler. Andrea is looking forward to starting the 2016 competition year with her new horse, Chic Out My Chrome, aka 'Leroy'.