Blake Westhoff met Allison Trimble Paparoa more than a dozen years ago. He was 19 years old and hadn’t been exposed to the professional horse industry. Fortunately, Allison was looking for someone to clean stalls, so Blake’s inability to pick up the correct lead wasn’t of concern.
Allison was already an accomplished horseperson. She rode on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Quarter Horse Project and before graduation, bought the horse Cutter’s Tourist Trap, a mare she rode at the NRCHA (National Reined Cow Horse Association) Snaffle Bit futurity in Reno in 2000, the same year she moved to Washington state. Over the years, Allison bought and showed some great horses, among them Tangys Classy Sox, Smokums Playlena, and Cow Cuttin Colonel. She built a name and reputation for herself as a reined cow horse trainer.
Blake flourished around the horses and quickly found a passion for riding. “Meeting Allison was exciting because her way of working with horses wasn’t something I had been exposed to. My family used horses practically, for hunting and camping. With Allison, I got to spend time with high-caliber, talented, broke horses.”
Within a year of working for Allison, Blake was competing in limited open cow horse, and was competitive. Their friendship became a genuine working partnership. Blake moved to Arizona for a time where he showed reining horses and started two-year-olds. He and Allison remained close. A love of horses was the foundation of their friendship.
Dedication to Helping Horsemen
In 2013, Allison got married and started a family, and with that came hard decisions. Riding and training reined cow horses is a dangerous business. Showing requires extended time on the road. Choosing to put time with her family first, she returned to her family business and put her equine knowledge and experience to work in real estate, specializing in equine properties.
Blake returned to Washington to be part of Coastal Realty. “I like real estate because it’s something I can stand behind. Property is a solid investment—historically one of the safest. Horses, on the other hand, can be unpredictable. I like helping people find property that makes their horse dreams, whether hobby or professional, come true.”
“Our work is about matching people with property,” says Allison. “There are pitfalls to buying and selling equestrian properties that a lot of Realtors are not aware of. Blake and I have hard-won experience, having seen many of the things that can go wrong with horse properties and hobby farms. Our job is to avoid those pitfalls and make deals come together where all parties are happy with the sale.”
Coastal Realty Expands
Coastal Realty serves clients throughout Washington and Alaska. They specialize in equestrian properties, commercial and hobby farms, and also work with a variety of clients from first time homebuyers to luxury property owners.
Blake is enthusiastic about partnering with Allison. “I enjoy working with Allison because she’s a problem solver. When an issue arises in a deal, Allison is on it. This means that problems don’t have time to develop. We close deals others cannot because she’s quick to act.”
Allison has equal respect for Blake. “He’s hardworking, a fast learner, and has a strong moral compass. We process information and deal with problems in a similar way. Because our relationship is established, we can devote our time to successfully representing our clients. I’m lucky to have someone like Blake as a partner.”
The Future
For Coastal Realty, real estate is about relationships. Allison and Blake help people find properties that meet their needs. They also give back by supporting local charities, contributing to local agriculture and youth organizations, and participating in events that support the community.
Allison is currently the President of the Whatcom County Association of Realtors but in her spare time, she and Blake still dabble in the horse industry. They are excited about Coastal Realty’s up-and-coming stallion prospect, OHickory Rey, headed to the NRCHA show pen in 2021, and stay involved breeding and managing the retired show string on Allison’s 50+ acre ranch in Ferndale, Washington.
www.allisonblakerealestate.com
Allison Trimble 360-961-5537
Blake Westhoff 360-319-5751
Published in the August 2020 Issue:
