Biography/Hippography

Amanda Hansen

Fondly knows as "Manda Lou" around the barn, Amanda came to us in 2007. She grew up with horses, and her parents are avid horsemen and top 4-H leaders. Amanda recently acquired a stunning buckskin pinto, 1/2 Arabian mare named SA Ali Oop, and she is quickly climbing the ladders of success in the Arabian show world, besides honing her still competitive abilities in 4-H.

Amanda is always at your right hand, willing to help in anyway that is needed. She is the kind of kid you want around when you need a helping hand.

     Bergen Haynes

Bergen started out taking lessons with us in 2005, and quickly moved into a top competitor. She now owns a lovely palomino quarter horse mare named Roxy, that she has show trained herself. She has started  training a few horses for other people, and her talent is barely tapped. She is a lot of fun to have around, and always willing to help others.  

Charity Layton

 

Charity just started riding with us this year, and works hard to pay for her own lessons. Her time at the barn is always productive, she always wears a smile, and is always wiling to give a helping hand to whoever needs one. We are greatly looking forward to getting charity on a horse to show this year...dressage is her first love and she is a beautiful rider. She does not have the money for showing, but perhaps things will change for her as she goes along her way.  

Emma Erickson

The Ericksons are a Team in their own right. A mom that grew up around horses has taught them all an admirable work ethic, and an appreciation of dedication, manners and respect. These three girls have grown up at the barn, and are able to do any job on any horse for anyone.
 

If you have been to any horse shows over the last 5 years or so, you have watched these girls grow up. Besides becoming Champion riders in both hunter and western events, they are organized thinkers and worthy problem solvers.
 

Their parents are an unending source of support; both mom and dad, John and Tami, sacrifice greatly to immerse these girls in this horse thing for the long haul. What a great way to raise a family!!! These girls are not only impressive to watch, but a thrill to know. We love having them on the Team!!!
 

Hannah Kelleher

Hannah busy schedule keeps her from spending as much time as she would like to at the barn, but when she is there, she is a big help, and a fun spirit. Her horse, WH Gabriel, is ready to compete in upper levels this year, and we are all excited to see Hannah move ahead with him.

Kat Fishback

Kat has been with us since 2006, and has come a long way fast. She is one of those kids with oodles of natural talent and a great attitude, so she has gone from a beginner to a national level competitor in a few short years.   She and her rescue horse, Superman, are qualified this year for Youth Nationals in Hunter JOTR and Hunter JTR and for Sport Horse Nationals.

Kat, like some of our other girls, also works for her lessons.  Her talent extends to putting training time on horses for other people, too, so she is not only fun, but handy to have around.  

We are honored and pleased to have her on our Team.

www.KatandSoup.com

 

Lilliene goes by Lillie at the barn, and she and her family jumped into the horse thing with both feet in 2009. They attended the Summer Apprenticeship Program, continued with lessons, leased a horse, and as a surprise Christmas gift, Lillie ended up owning one of our favorites equine gentlemen, Windborne Maestro (Mo).
 

Lillie's sister, Vivienne, loves the horses too, along w/her mom and dad. Lillie will be starting a show career this year on Mo, and is also looking forward to being able to just "hang out" at the barn all summer when school is out. It's gonna be a great year!!!

Lizzy's mom, Geri, actually found us in 2006, and Lizzy caught the bug from there. In 2008, she became the loving owner of a really pretty chestnut gelding with a long, flaxen mane and tail named Golden Memory. Lizzy started competing in 2009, and will be moving forward quickly now.

She is also one of those people that has what it takes to train a young horse...both patience and natural ability. It is a joy teaching her and watching her excel. She has a smile that brightens the world, and is a kind hearted girl with a loving soul. She is a delight to know and have in our midst.

Paula Campbell

Paula will be heading out to college this fall, but her love of horses will follow her closely for her lifetime. She has been with the Team for several years, always smiling and willing to work hard.

She has had the opportunity to enjoy Cedarwood Simba for a few years now, and loves to show dressage and sport horse. She will be going to Sport Horse Nationals with us this year, thanks to Simba's owner, Tonya Shuey. Thanks for sharing Tonya, and Paula, Thanks for being you!!!

Paige Rockwell

Paige came to us as a little bitty kid with a pony. That was the beginning of a long relationship with her, her horse loving mom, and several horses.

Although Paige is the only one with a horse at this time, (her one true love, TR Vandal) she excels as both a horsewoman and as a human being. She is fun, smart, honest, generous and helpful. She has been a Team player for about 7 years now, and we hope to keep her in our midst for many years to come!!! We love you, Paige!
 

Yes, Rikki is as sweet as she looks. She is always willing to pick up the slack when somebody needs a hand. Although she does not own a horse of her own yet, that is ever better for us, because we can set her up with horses that need work.

She is about as cute as they come, and a truly happy soul. You will know her when you see her...she is the one with the shining light all around her!!!

Samantha's experience with horses is very limited at this point, as she has only been working with us a short time here at Team Sha-Wen, but you would never know it to meet her and see her in action.

Sam stepped up to the plate in a big way, and quickly became a top notch personal assistant to our trainers. She always ready and more than willing to take on the jobs no one else wants to do. Her talents as an equestrian are also surging ahead, and we are very proud of her progress as well as grateful for her dedication to being a Team Player.

Although Sam does not own a horse of her own yet, she continues to climb the ladder of learning to become a top horseman. We are proud of Samantha, and welcome her to our Team.

Selina and her mom, Andrea, at Vista Farms since 2004, make horses the number one joy of their lives. A single mom, Andrea works hard to keep the horses available to them both.

They have registered half-Arabians, and both mom and daughter show dressage, sport horse and hunter, and are a big help are around the barn.  Both of them know the ropes, and if you need help, they are the ones to ask.

 

Shelby started with us in 2008, and has zoomed ahead into horse land. She took a rescue horse and made him into something wonderful, and is a sponge as far as learning the "ropes". She can already ride about anything you put her on, and even qualified for youth nationals in equitation for 2010.

Her career as a top horsewoman has only begun, and it will be fun to see how far, (and how fast!), it goes from here!

 

"Shelby 2" started with us taking lessons, then took the Summer Apprenticeship Program, and from there, turned into a little horse crazy barn girl. Her favorite times are at the barn, and although she does not own a horse of her own, that can sometimes be even better, because she gets to ride many horses, and even lease one from time to time. She has become an accomplished rider, and may start competing a bit in 2010.
Cute kid, lots of fun and lots of help, we all love having Shelby around!

Once just a wee little girl, and a wee bit scared of horses, Stacy got the name "Stacy 50 questions" because she was so enthusiastic and excited every moment of every day she spent at the barn. Now she is a senior in high school, all grown up, heading into her last year as a youth competitor.

She has enjoyed trail riding, barrel racing, and rides competitively in western pleasure, trail, reining, hunter, saddleseat, all equitation disciplines, and even sidesaddle. She has shown in every thing from local to national level shows, and will again this year. So, all of those questions must have paid off: she has become a more than competent horse woman.
 

Because of the unending support of her single mom, (who also rides) she has been able to have some lovely horses at her disposal. Soon Stacy will be off on her own, but for now, she is still ours!!
 

Stephanie came to Vista Farms from...well, across the street! Fortunately for her, she lives "in the neighborhood" of the barn. She started out with lessons, and then eventually was the proud owner of a beautiful mare named JD Tiffy. Sadly, Tiffy passed away in late fall of 2009. It was a very emotional loss for she and her family, and all of us at the barn. But, true to form, Stef has been leasing a really cool horse named Leo, and will be showing him with us this year. Stef is funny, smart and talented, and she is joy to have in the barn.

Tayler Bigelow

Tayler's love for horses emanates from her very soul. She is also blessed with a very cool mom who gets her out to the barn as much as possible. We hope to have Taylor around a lot this summer, cuz she loves being there, and she is a great help! She always has a big smile and willing ways. Shelby and her family just adopted TWO Thoroughbred rescue horses, 'Raggedy' Anne and Andy....who are coming along nicely!

 

Taylor came to us for lessons (She has been riding horses since about 2002.), and unfortunately some life changes came to her family. Suddenly lessons were unaffordable, but her love of the horses made her persevere. She works hard to just be around the horses...anything you need, she will do. A lovely rider, she rides many horses for boarders and clients alike, and has been able to start a show career thanks to some anonymous sponsors at the barn.

Taylor will always be in love with horses, and be as immersed in them as her life will allow as she grows up. She is the kind of person you can count on to do what she says she will, and do it with perfection. Her smile is infectious, and her heart as kind as she is sweet. Taylor lights up the barn when she walks in. She is a joy.

 

Once upon a time there was a little girl with a doting grandma and grandpa that got her a pony. And that is the beginning of Taylor's story! She outgrew that pony pretty fast, and has since learned to ride very competitively both western and hunt seat, show in halter, and compete at upper level shows.
She owns two adorable geldings; GQ, and her first love, Dougie, and spends her time going back and forth between two barns, Vista Farms and Copper Hills. Her grandparents, John and Dee Brombeck are her biggest fans, and we are enjoying watching Taylor grow up.

Tyla is just darn cute. The cutest of the cute, in fact. Self sufficient, quiet and contemplative, she is an observer. She has been showing horses with us since she was itty-bitty, and now, still in the 10 and under division, she shows her beloved gelding that she now owns, SS Significant Sam, in hunter, western and show hack.
 

Her mom, Lisa, is the horse anchor in the family, and owns her own beautiful horse, Camelot. Lisa may start her own show career this year, so there are a lot of exciting things on the horizon for the Blancs! They are the kind of people that are always there when you need a competent hand or some serious help. Great people in general...we are lucky to have them as part of our barn family. We hope they are with us for years to come!

Group photos of Our Jr Apprentices - What a close knit, supportive team they are!!!