Return to Rancho Corazon site



JANUARY 2007 - CLIENT SHOW UPDATES:

Hi Betty,
I attended the NMHJA awards banquet last night. Leoncito (Toby) was State Reserve Champion Baby Green Hunter his first year of showing (2006) and the horse that was Champion had to go to 2 more shows than Toby did to beat him. After this year of showing, Elani wanted Toby and the other horses at her place to have a month off ... so we just started him back in training this past week. I had my first lesson on him Wednesday and another one on Saturday and he was PERFECT! Betty, I've been in this business almost 50 years and I've had a lot ... I repeat... a lot of very nice horses (including "Winter Sun" owned by George Morris. George put Winter Sun's picture on the cover of his second edition "Equitation" book) ... and I have to tell you I not only LOVE Toby so very much, but believe he is possibly the finest horse I've ever owned and ridden!! He is an AMAZING horse!! He is fabulous every day Elani or I work with him... he is ALWAYS willing to please and do his job. I'm so excited about this next year of showing. He will compete in the Pre-Green Hunter divisions with Elani and the Adult Amateur Hunter divisions with me. I hope to show him locally as well as in Colorado and Arizona this year. Elani is talking about taking Toby to California next year!!! Elani owned a beautiful and talented mare (Crazy Quita) who was out of the TB stallion TWO A DAY. As you know, Toby's dam "Nags to Riches" was by Two a Day (small world). That cross you made between Nags to Riches and Ladamo was genius! .... as I'm thinking that LADAMO is possibly one of the most outstanding stallions I've ever come across as far as conformation, temperament and "correct" in form jumping producers current living. Your foundation Stallion was without doubt one of the most incredible producers I've ever seen!!! ... but I am thrilled to see that you have another Stallion standing at Rancho La Querencia who is producing the kind of quality horse to take anyone, anywhere they want to go in the country and be competitive! Thank you again for Toby!
Regards,
Lucy

APRIL 2006 - HITS Arizona Winter Circuit Results:

  • The results for Sharon McElvain and her Oldenburg stallion, Casanova (by Champion du Lys) were:
      WEEK ONE
    • 6th in the Low A/O's
    • 4th in the Modified A/O's
    • 3rd in the Low A/O Classic
      WEEK FIVE
    • 5th in the Modified A/O's
      WEEK SIX
    • Two 1st in the Modified A/O's
    • One 2nd in the Modified A/O's and Champion

  • The results for Chenoa McElvain and Corcel (Columbus/Lord/Wahnfried, Stem 162) were:
      WEEK ONE
    • 3rd in the Low A/O's
    • 2nd in the Level 6 Jumpers
      WEEK TWO
    • 4th in the Modified A/O's
      WEEK FIVE
    • 5th in the Modified A/O's
    • 8th in the High A/O
      WEEK SIX
    • 1st Level 4 Jumpers, Reserve Champion
    • Best Junior Rider of Circuit
    While doing this, Chenoa (age 14) and Corcel competed in five of the six $25,000.00 Grand Prix's, finishing just out of the ribbons in the fifth week with their best score of zero jumping faults with three time faults.

  • The results for Guy and Chapeaurouge (Churchill/Lord/Wahnfried , Stem 162) were:
      WEEK TWO
    • Two 1st in the Low A/O
    • 2nd in Low A/O Classic and Champion.
      WEEK THREE
    • 2nd in the High A/O
      WEEK FOUR
    • 8th in the High A/O
    • 1st in the High A/O Classic
      WEEK FIVE
    • 2nd in the High A/O
    • 8th in the High A/O Classic
      WEEK SIX
    • 6th in the High A/O Classic
  • The results for Guy and Courchevel (Columbus/ Rulla Roque xx/ Crazy Kid xx ) were:
      WEEK ONE
    • 2nd in the Low A/O
    • 3rd in the $25,000.00 Grand Prix
      WEEK THREE
    • 6th in the High A/O
      WEEK FOUR
    • 9th in the $25,000.00 Grand Prix
      WEEK FIVE
    • 11th in the $25,000.00 Grand Prix
      WEEK SIX 6th in Level 6 Jumper
  • The results for Guy and his new horse, Chubby Checker (Calato/Fernando):
      WEEK THREE
    • 1st in the Modified A/O
    • 2nd in the Modified A/O and Reserve Champion
      WEEK FIVE
    • 4th in the High A/O
    • 4th in the High A/O Classic
      WEEK SIX
    • 6th in the High A/O
    • 5th in the High A/O
    • 3rd in the High A/O Classic
    Guy had ridden Chubby twice in Germany, before he was delivered to the Pima County Fairgrounds directly from import quarantine.

  • Lichtenstein (Lesanto/ Othello/Marlon) arrived for the last two weeks of the circuit and Guy and he had the following results:
      WEEK FIVE
    • 7th in the Low A/O
    • 3rd in the Low A/O Classic
      WEEK SIX
    • 1st in the Low A/O
    • 2nd Low A/O and Champion
    • 2nd Low A/O Classic


    Clayton (aged 10) and his pony, Starbuck, showed every week in the Medium Pony Hunters with wildly varying results from blue ribbons to biting-the-dust. But presence and persistence paid when Clayton was named Best Pony Rider of the Arizona Winter Circuit!


FEBRUARY 2006 - HITS Winter Circuit
  • The HITS Winter Circuit is half-way through its 6-weeks of competition. Betty has been attending every weekend to watch her family compete. There are LOTS of Holsteiners competing at every level. It would be fun to try to identify them all, but who has time with 4 family members riding? It is interesting that there were at least 6 Columbus (Calypso II/Farnese) offspring competing. Corcel, stem 162, competing with rider, 14-year-old Chenoa McElvain in Jr. A/O, Welcome Stakes, and her 4th and 5th Grand Prix's. Corcel won the Desert Finals GP in 2005 with rider Guy McElvain. Courchevel and full-brother Chamonix, Stem Q0363, are both competing at the GP level with placings of 3rd and 6th places with riders Guy and Elani Rager of Caballo Creek, Corrales, NM. Castellano del Rio, bred by Pete Paulson (also a "Q" stemline) is competing in the Modifed Jumper Division. Ksarina, Stem Q 423, and Nova, Stem Q are both competing with their rider/owners and professional rider, Laura Simpson, in both hunters and jumpers.