Nicole Mantineo Jefferson, 39, of Williston, Fla., was killed in an automobile accident Feb. 24, 2009. She was headed to see her beloved Saddlebreds and when she was a mile from the barn, she lost control of the car and hit a tree. She died at the hospital several hours later.

Jefferson was from Scituate, Mass., and rode with Pine Valley Farm throughout her teenage years. She attended William Woods University and was the daughter of the late Andrew and Helen Mantineo. Jefferson leaves her husband, Phillip Jefferson; a sister, Andrea Mantineo of Ashley, Mass.; two nieces and many cousins and friends.

Jefferson showed SDS Dallas in country pleasure throughout New England until she moved to Florida in 1992. She purchased Wee Pee’s Sable in 2006 and showed him in open park and recently in open fine harness on the Southeast circuit.

Jefferson will be mostly remembered for her compassion to all animals she brought home including many lost and stray dogs and her devotion to the Saddlebred.