for performance horses, my friends and club mates sent some of their top mares to me. Those mares, all superb athletes with winning records spanning years, formed the basis of my brood mare band.”
Sandhaven’s first foal was born in 2006, and Kellee stood the sire, Waldron’s Starman, from 2005 through 2015 (he is the sire of all seven of the Sandhaven horses at the top of the National and Regional charts for 2017). “My goal is to produce athletic, honest horses with supremely trainable minds,” she explains. Fortunately for the sport, Kellee chose Working Equitation as one way to showcase her horses’ talents.
“I was looking for something that would showcase the versatility of the Australian Stock Horse,” she says. “I had looked into sending different horses into several disciplines but the expense of multiple trainers and competitions proved to be a roadblock. Working Equitation was the perfect match for my horses. The phases allow the horses to demonstrate the Australian Stock Horse motto: ‘The Breed for Every Need’. They have the agility, balance, speed and cow sense needed to excel in this sport. In the early days of competition, the international judges advised me that although the Australian Stock Horse was hard to beat at Ease of Handling, and nearly (except for that speedy little Pippin!) unbeatable at Speed, they had doubts about whether we could ever be competitive in Dressage. We have worked very hard in the last two years to strengthen the horses’ Dressage skills, and it is paying off, with the show string routinely receiving scores in the mid 60's from judges known for their tendency to score low across the board.”
Kellee is understandably excited about the future. “We are now in the process of beginning to outcross my Starman mares on other talented Stock Horse sires and have imported semen from three amazing horses—Soda Justice, El Condo and Silverthorn Shotgun.
Each of these sires has a winning record in the competitive arena themselves, and as importantly, are building a reputation for passing their best traits on to their successful off-spring.”
Each of these sires has a winning record in the competitive arena themselves, and as importantly, are building a reputation for passing their best traits on to their successful off-spring.”
“We know we have a way to go,” says Kellee, “but both Shameless and Party will be competing in Intermediate B next year, and we have young stock (Celebration and Catcandu) coming into work at Novice A and Mardis Gras (a pinto!) entering Intro. Our goal is to have International-caliber horses in competition, but we need a few more years of seasoning!”
View Sandhaven stock honors on page 58 >
Sandhaven Late to the Party and rider Kiki Pantaze
Photo by Kellee Campbell
Sandhaven Shameless with Lisa Harding on board
Photo by Kellee Campbell
Sandhaven Chanel and trainer Lisa Harding
Photo by Kellee Campbell
Sandhaven Pagan Dancer and rider Kiki Pantaze
Sandhaven Catcandu with trainer Lisa Harding