Success comes to those who dig in and put themselves in the way of it, or so it's proven for Frank and Robin Merrill, who own and operate M5 Performance Bloodstock, located three miles west of Purcell in the heart of Oklahoma. Determined to learn the horse industry from the ground up, they took their own paths studying under the greats, both human and equine, to prepare for their lifelong dream - developing horses and people to the best of their ability.

Through the last 35 years, the couple has immersed themselves in pursuit of this dream - as competitors, breeders, managers, association officials and consultants. Building upon those early foundations, the Merrills brought their Windward Stud breeding operation to its peak during the 1980s, when they stood some of Quarter Horse racing's most prominent sires, as well as several of the Quarter Horse world's top halter and performance stallions.

Their current pursuit, M5 Performance Bloodstock, an operation built on reputation and outstanding horses, is the next chapter in the Merrill story, as Frank, Robin and their children, McKenzie, Megan and Tyler, continue to make their mark in the industry, one event and one horse at a time.

For the rest of this story, see the November 2006 issue of Western Horseman.