News
After much hard work and perseverance, 2009 shaped-up to be a very successful year for the riders of Haven Farms. We at Haven Farms would like to recognize and congratulate everyone for their efforts.
Lisa had another great season in the open divisions, claiming her Trainer of the Year for the fifth consecutive year. Emmy Sobieski’s Ronrico and Kirsten Brown’s Yours Truly had a good start to their careers in the Baby Green and Pre-Green divisions. For the Low Hunter division Taylor Rafii’s Aristotle had another great season, as did Lisa Halterman’s own Mamba, Rachel Kahn’s Twelfth Knight and Yasmin Sexton’s Georgetown in both the Pre-Green and Low divisions. Sweeping the Modified Working and Working Hunter divisions were Niki Nordstrom’s Blue Note, Maile Burtech’s Fagahno, Leanna Lupin’s Private Treaty, Mamba, Cazalet owned by Margaux Burdick and Emily Crommett’s Reginald. Lisa’s stallion, King of Hearts was awesome in the Open 3’9”-4’ Jumpers.
Congratulations are in order for our kids in the hunter arena, as well. Camille Burdick did very well stepping-up to the Pony Hunter division and Rachel Kahn with Twelfth Knight had a great season in the Modified Junior/Amateur Hunters. Tanna Seltzer won an achievement award in the Walk Trot division with Precious Moments. Alex Trubey aboard Willowynd’s Wishmaster and Haven Farm’s own Napoleon and Morgan Stutts with Gingersnap took achievement awards in both the Crossrail and Short Stirrup Divisions. Joining these girls in their Short Stirrup achievements are Devin Lasek with Justice for All and Lauren Matherly with Napoleon.
Our Amateurs had an excellent season, too. Helen Young with Nob Hill rocked the Adult Amateur Jumpers. Yasmin Sexton had a new mount this year, Georgetown, finishing well in the 18 and over Open Equitation. Nina Shields with her beloved Surprise rode great in the Green Rider 18 and Over division and will receive a medal for the Green Rider Medal. Shelly Lachow had a great season, finishing well in Junior/Amateur Hunters, the 18 and over Open Equitation division and will accept medals for taking first places throughout the year in the Flat Medal and 3’ GSDHJA Medal.
The kids’ dedication to working torturously without their stirrups and perfecting their counter canter paid off in the equitation arena. Niki Nordstrom, Emily Crommett and Hannah Ellerbrock are medal recipients for the flat medal. The competitive 3’ GSDHJA Medal winners are: Leanna Lupin, Margaux Burdick, Rachel Kahn, Emily Crommett, Taylor Rafii, Maile Burtech, Hannah Ellerbrock and Niki Nordstrom. We are also very proud of our Mini Medal winners: Sabin Marquardt, Emily Crommett, Ashleigh Mason and Taylor Rafii. In the 11 and Under Equitation division, Margaux Burdick and Sabin Marquardt placed well in the year end awards. Niki Nordstrom and Rachel Kahn ended the year nicely in the 12-13 division. Hannah Ellerbrock’s hard work paid off in the 14-17 division, earning her not only first place for the year, but also overall High Point Equitation Champion. Way to go ladies!
We would like to further extend congratulations to all of our riders who competed with us this past year, whose hard work and dedication must not be overlooked: Tajiana Brust, Kendra Brust, Jordyn Hechter, Abigail Higgins, Alanna Lucier and Noelle Reich. We would also like to thank all the parents for their patience and dedication to horse show weekends. Thank you all for making Haven Farms an amazing team, we look forward to doing it again in 2010!
Wildflower Ranch
by Rachel Khan
There are many things in life that identify or shape a person. However, a place in my life that has had the biggest impact of shaping who I am is Wildflower Ranch. Wildflower is where I ride horses. I have had many great experiences and challenges there that have made me the person I am today.
I have had numerous experiences at Wildflower Ranch. One experience I had was proving to my trainer that I was good enough to ride horses that did not belong to me. I had to prove several things to my trainer to show her I had earned this right. I had to demonstrate significant improvement in riding abilities on my own horse. I showed loyalty and responsibility by staying at the barn after my lesson and asking what I could do to help. At Wildflower I also learned about friendship and teamwork. I leaned these traits from the girls I ride with and my horse. With my friends I learned to be a good friend and supporter even when you are competing against each other for the same prize. We all cheer each other on at home and at shows no matter who is doing well or poorly. With my horse I learned teamwork. It is extremely difficult to work with an animal that has no idea what you are saying. My horse taught me to be patient and open up my eyes to new ways of communication.
Without Wildflower I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Sure, there are other barns in the world but not one of them could have had the same impact on my life like Wildflower did. I wouldn’t have learned hard work, loyalty, responsibility, etc. I don’t think I would be as happy of a person.
Wildflower Ranch has shaped my life for the better, it identity’s who I am. I believe that since I am a part of Wildflower I am a responsible and loyal person that can work on a team and be a friend to others and can open up my eyes to new concepts
Hi Lisa this is Julia Hoon, Champ's owner! I just wanted to thank you for such an amazing horse! Champ is the best little man and such a great teacher! I could not have found a better horse. He is such a Champ at all the shows we go to. So far hes been champion in Green Riders at Del Mar and Champion in Long Stirrup at the Oaks red white and blue! He's always smiling and ready to work! He's my best friend and the best teacher ever! Thank you so much for such a great partner I love him so much!
(photo of him at Oaks,top right)
Practical Horseman - April 2000 - Into the Life
The Horse Biz:
Crafting a Niche in Horsedom
My current career as a Manager, Trainer, and Teacher (see the “Dossier” at right) got a kick-start in the mid-1980s. I was on the road and exhausted. As a groom for jumper rider Hap Hansen’s grand prix string, I had a great job that had given me phenomenal experience: I got to travel North America with Hap, learning from and doing some riding with him, and observing some of the best riders in the world. But after seven years - including some in which I’d spent less than eight total nights in my own bed - I was ready to hang up my traveling shoes. Really ready.
That put me at a crossroads. I didn’t want to give up a career with horses, but I knew one that I involved chasing points on the national show scene wasn’t for me. I also knew that having total control of the horses in my care would be a necessary part of any future job. (I’d learned from experience that many trainers who lease stalls at a barn lose control to barn management and end up in ongoing battles over such critical issues as feeding programs.)
My solution, and the move that shaped my future career, came in the form of Jim and Pat Iverson. They were clients of Hap’s and owned many great horses, including the grand prix stallion Olisco. Sensing my burnout, they offered me a job at their home facility, managing the farm and starting their young horses under saddle. I was thrilled - I could stay home, work with babies, and teach some amateur and junior clients on the side. I couldn’t have imagined a better opportunity.
I worked with the Iversons for five years, during which time I honed my riding skills by taking lessons with dressage trainer Kathy Everman. I also developed a successful program – and an affinity – for bringing along young horses. It was an ideal job.
Sadly, it came to an end when the family took a break from the horse business, selling all of their stock. Still, I left with the knowledge that facility management provided an opportunity to “work at home” – at a top barn – and to maintain total control over the horses’ care.
I also realized that, by cultivating my training specialty, I could carve out a good business starting young horses. Few such trainers exist in Southern California, so they’re in great demand. Trainers on the show circuit don’t have the time and, in many cases, the patience – to put the basics on a youngster: They’re not home enough to execute a consistent program, and taking babies on the road can be a headache. I’d rather stay at home and ride babies than hit the road, so I was happy to fill that demand!
Hidden Oaks Ranch, a large breeding and training facility in Valley Center, California, offered me a position. I accepted it and continued to build my management and training business (I’d started horses for Hap and for such folks as Tish Quirk, who was breeding manager at Hidden Oaks, as well as teaching a few amateur clients).
I also began my own small-scale breeding operation, which gave me another reason to stay close to home. The Iversons had given me a mare by Olisco; I bred her to Tish’s Dutch hunter stallion, Best Of Luck. My first foal went on to success in the hunter breeding ring with Hap and me as handlers. I knew I had a good broodmare, and I soon began to dream of breeding a quality horse of my own.
In 1994, I accepted a job as manager at Wildflower Ranch, which offered even more responsibility – and control – than I’d had at Hidden Oaks. By then, I had a solid string of young horses and a growing roster of amateur and junior clients to bring with me to my new facility. (That’s more important, because one of my responsibilities here is to keep stalls filled.) It turns out that I’d discovered another open niche: adult and junior riders who are improvement-oriented but lack the time, money, horse and/or interest to campaign on the A-circuit. At Wildflower, I began offering a no-pressure teaching program that caters to these people’s busy lives; word-of-mouth has brought me a steady stream of new customers.
My program works like this: if someone can’t ride five days a week, it’s not a problem. If a rider doesn’t want to show, no problem. If another rider wants to move on to a trainer who follows the A-circuit, I send her with my blessing. (I do take interested clients to our local county shows, which are multi-day events that attract top talent in the area, as well as to local A- shows, such as Del Mar and Indio. These competitions offer low-impact miles for customers and my young horses, and give me short breaks from the management routine.)
I’ve come to realize that none of my three branches of business-management, training and teaching – alone would satisfy my financial and career desires. But defining my goals – to stay home, to have total control over my equine charges’ care, and to work with young horses and amateur riders – and then crafting a career to meet them, I’ve found both balance and success.
I also get a “psychic salary” from job satisfaction. For instance, with out ever leaving my home, I can enjoy the success of horses I’ve started. (One alumna of my program, a mare named Graceland, owned by Elizabeth Curto and shown by her daughter, was second in the nation last year in the American Horse Shows Association large junior standings.)
And my breeding program appears to be paying off. I have a here-year-old Oldenburg stallion named L’Attitude, out of my mare and by LeChampion, that could be the horse of my dreams. I’ll show “Luke” in the baby classes; after that, if he’s as talented as I think he is, I’ll sit back and watch Hap launch his jumping career. Then, to cap that dream, I’d like to breed the horse. That would add a new - and exciting – dimension to my stay-at-home career with horses.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |