Dana grew up riding at a large quarter horse show barn and after showing equitation as a child, her interests took her elsewhere. She learned how to drive horses while working for a carriage company in Cape May for five years before completing veterinary nursing school and working in emergency critical care and surgery for nearly 20 years. She joined Split Elm in 2013 and is now a member of USEF, USHJA, and AMHA and competes in eventing, jumpers, competitive distance trail riding, and ranch sorting.