I grew up in central California and started riding at the age of seven. By nine years old I had won many state titles showing Welsh ponies for a local breeder. In the following years I was competitive in many disciplines including saddle seat, jumping, competitive trail and western, and was also active in 4-H with many horse projects. My versatile Arabian gelding as well as a number of Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, POA's, and cross-bred horses with behavioral problems, gave me a wealth of experience working with different breeds. It was these early adventures on horseback that built my confidence and ability to ride a variety of horses.
Moving to Vermont in 1987 after a six year hiatus from the equine world, I found myself working with horses again, this time focusing on dressage and combined training. Becoming a freelance instructor in 1990 offered me opportunities to compete clients horses and to work with my students one on one.
While being a student myself of a number of high level instructors whose methods I consider conventional, I started to seek a better way for me to communicate with horses. I began to learn more about the modern natural horsemanship movement and realized that as a young horsewoman I did many things with my horses that are demonstrated today by top clinicians. I felt a need to get back to the roots of my childhood horse experiences and learn to enjoy the horses again for who they are and not what we want them to be.
While working part time for screenwriter, John Fusco (Hidalgo, Sprit:Stallion of the Cimarron,Young Guns) at his Red Road Farm, I was introduced to Little Fox, a Colonial Spanish horse owned by Fusco. Impressed by Fox's character and build, I became interested in learning more about this rare and historically rich breed. A short year later in 2004 our youngest daughter Eliza was unexpectedly gifted Adelantado, a two year old Colonial Spanish colt, bred by the Baca family of La Costancia, New Mexico. (click Baca Chica farm).
The arrival of Adelantado started a partnership with the Baca and Lockhart families that has helped promote their unique strain, as well as the Colonial Spanish breed in general. With each shipment of young horses that arrive from New Mexico, I gently start them and offer them for sale to other preservation minded horse enthusiasts. The Baca family is continuing their breeding program in New Mexico while I act as their representative on the east coast.
As the promotion of the Baca strain lies close to my heart, so does my involvement in the conservation efforts of a tribal strain of Colonial Spanish horse known as the Choctaw Indian Pony. The Choctaw Indian Pony Conservation Program (CIPCP) (click Choctaw ponies) was founded at Red Road farm in 2005 by John Fusco and Dr. Phillip Sponenberg, equine genetics specialist at Virginia Tech. Bryant and Darlene Rickman of Rickmans Spanish Mustangs have been instrumental in the founding of the program as well, as with out Bryant and Darlene there would be no Choctaw ponies left today. The CIPCP is an immediate effort to protect the historic Trail of Tears ponies. With less than 250 pure Choctaw ponies in existence, "their future is hanging by a thin thread," as expressed by Dr. Sponenberg.
The experiences I am having working closely with the mares and foals, traveling with the horses to events to educate the public, and caring for the herd, makes me feel honored each day to be an integral part of the CIPCP. Through my work with all of the horses I continue to learn from them how to have a harmonious relationship based on mutual trust and respect. The horses themselves have been my best teachers.
In addition to managing Red Road farm, I offer workshops in horsemanship and riding for students of all ages and levels.(click natural horsemanship.) My workshops are geared towards understanding more clearly how horses think, and why they act the way they do. Participants are paired up with my personal horses to get the full benefit of experiencing a positive relationship. In between these workshops and teaching private lessons, I compete on a regional level with my Colonial Spanish horses in dressage and combined training. In 2006 my four year old Baca Chica gelding, Morado, was a year-end champion in training level dressage and in 2008 I will be campaigning him in competitive trail and endurance, with the goal of riding the Vermont 100 mile ride.
As a member of the Horse of the Americas Registry (HOA, see link) I am an active supporter of their efforts of education and promotion of the breed by serving as the strain representative for the Baca Chica farm. I contribute a column in the quarterly HOA newsletter called "On the tracks of Adelantado." I also serve as the publicity chairperson for the newly formed Northeast Colonial Spanish Horse Club. (see link). With the Colonial Spanish horse starting to gain recognition in New England, I have matched a number of these horses up with other enthusiastic riders.
My patient and understanding husband, artist James Lockhart, is involved with the Colonial Spanish horses as well. He has his own Indian pony that he enjoys riding on the trails. James has created a limited edition bronze sculpture "Trail of Tears" as a fundraiser for the nonprofit CIPCP, with all proceeds going to the program (click shopping). Our two daughters, Tory and Eliza, are both passionate about the horses and are involved in every aspect of them. They travel with me to weekend long presentations and shows, helping with the horses and talking about them to the public.
My family and I live in the beautiful Green Mountains of northern Vermont with our dog, Maggie. In my spare time I enjoy riding and being with my horses!
Thanks for visiting Colonial Spanish Pony. Enjoy the site.
Stephanie