Betsy Wright-Office Manager

Betsy has been our secretary, accountant, and customer relations lady for over 10 years now. She is the familiar voice that you hear when you call El Camino. If you want to schedule a lesson, orientation, birthday party, or Girl Scout troop, Betsy is the one to talk to. She is familiar with the ins and outs of everyday life here at El Camino and can answer any question that you may have.

Scott Reeves-Breeding/Health Care Manager

 

Scott has been actively involved in El Camino’s breeding program for a number of years now. He spent 6 days in Fort Collins, Colorado, in November, 2009, attending Equine Reproduction classes, including Artificial Insemination, Cooled and Frozen Semen Transport, Foaling Equine Babies, and Mare and Foal Care. He works here at the ranch in the Breeding and Health Care Department.

Vandi Reeves-EC Riding Academy/Training Manager

 

Vandi Reeves, LaVesta’s granddaughter, grew up here at El Camino Ranch since age 3 years. She always had her own pony or horse. And as she got older, it was Vandi’s “horses”. She showed a number of the ranch owned horses, too. Vandi showed in Walk/Trot, 13 and Under, then in 14 to 17, in Pleasure and Equitation, in Western, Hunter, English, Reining, Side Saddle, Show Hack, and Native Costume. She and her horses won many local and regional Championships, and at 5 Arabian Youth Nationals, they won 9 Reserve Championships, and 20 Top Ten awards. She showed and won with Baseyna, KA Cherry, Jon, Reign Dancer, EC Summer Splash, EC Sylouette, EC Symphony, EC Native American, EC Dreamarosa, EC Macintosh, EC Palomar, EC Mazarati, EC Mercedes, Lost in Yonkers, and Lil Miss Muffett. During the few years that LaVesta bred NSH’s, Vandi rode 2 Saddlebred mares, A Whole New World and It’s Phi Day, and a gelding, Paladin’s Pride in driving . One year when she was 10 years old she showed the Welsh pony, Lloydor Bryt Lyt to a National Championship in English Pleasure. Now that Vandi is an adult, She spends most of her time managing the ECR Riding Academy and Training Departments. She is also secretary of the Rancho California Arabian Horse Association, and an AHA Region One Youth Advisor. To contact her please email her at vandi.reeves@yahoo.com

Juan Irigoyen- Supervising Trainer

Johnny conditions, trains, and shows the halter horses, as well as instructs the Amateur Halter Program. He has worked for El Camino for over 15 years and has gotten to know the industry inside and out. Johnny has a kind demeanor with the horses which allows for a solid well mannered riding horse when it’s time to put a saddle on.

Joel – Trainer

Kayla Shively- Trainer

Tara Ellwanger-Trainer

We are extremely fortunate to have Tara Ellwanger returning to us as the Open Show Barn trainer. Tara worked here about five years ago in the Riding Academy, and taught many young people to ride. In the interim she has been working in the Santa Ynez Valley as a Breeding Manager for a large Arabian ranch. Tara will be coordinating a group of young riders who are ready to exhibit their skills at a small Open Show, and at Arabian Community Shows. She will attend the shows with her students to coach them and cheer them on. These students will be able to rent El Camino lesson horses to show, or they may own their own horse. Tara has many years of experience showing her own horses, and assisting her Mom, also a Trainer, taking students to shows. Tara will also be teaching other students to ride who wish to Pleasure Ride. Partnering with a horse to pleasure ride is a fun and relaxing experience. These students will be learning to handle their horse, how to ride safely on the ranch, and after they reach the Intermediate rider level, will be able to go on trail rides with Tara. As a young child, Tara spent many hours here at El Camino, while her Mom, Anita, was an Instructor here. Tara and Vandi had many fun horse experiences together. The favorite pastime now for Tara on her days off is to take her new horse Team Penning. This is Western riding and involves separating cows, and working as a team with other riders. WELCOME BACK, TARA!!! Tara Specializes in Hunter/Jumper, Gymkhana, Western, Huntseat, Pleasure and Equitation.

Marie Page- Camp Coordinator

Marie first started riding in EC’s Riding Academy when she was only 6. Now she is almost 16 and she is working part-time as a groom in the training departments. Marie has accomplish many types of disciplines including hunt seat, western, saddle seat, and most recently halter. She is a regular attendant at horse shows, weather she is showing, grooming, or providing support for our barn, Marie is a welcome sight to all of us at El Camino.

Jeremiah Guile-Riding Instructor

Kristen Frank- Riding Instructor

Megan Bunn- Riding Instructor

Stephanie Downey- Riding Instructor

Melinda Rodriguez- Riding Instructor

Gregorio Lopez- Mare Care

Miguel Ramos- Maintenance Manager

Valerie Thomas- Ranch Consultant

Valerie has been with El Camino for over 15years. In that time she has bred and welcomed over 150 foals into the world. She has wide-ranging experience in breeding. Whether she is handling frozen semen, or a maiden stallion Valerie is educated and experienced. In addition to her husbandry skills, Valerie is also El Camino’s Health Care Manager. The Health Care department monitors and maintains the health of every horse on the ranch. This could include anything from bandaging the occasional scrape to balancing nutrition. Valerie has recently retired from El Camino to tend to her own farm. She is only a phone call away as Valerie has stayed on as a consultant to El Camino.