El Camino Ranch Training Staff

Vandi Reeves- Resident Trainer

Vandi grew up here at El Camino, and decided to stay. She took lessons from age 5 through 18 with many different trainers and instructors; showed her Arabians and Half Arabians in the Class A Arabian shows in southern California, Arizona and at the AHA Youth Nationals, held in Albuquerque and Oklahoma City. She has dozens of Top Ten wins, and awards for her Championships at the Youth Nationals. She loves the horses, and translates her caring and knowledge into her riding lessons. Her students who own horses keep them in the El Camino Ranch Amateur Barn, where she is the Show Trainer. She teaches Western, Hunter, English, Native Costume, Side Saddle, Show Hack, and Reining.

Specializing in Showmanship, Equitation, Western, Reining, Huntseat, Saddle Seat, Show Hack and Trail.

Juan Irigoyen-Halter 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 its time to put a saddle on.

Tara Ellwanger-Open Barn 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-Groom

Marie first started riding in EC’s Riding Academy when she was only 6. Now she is almost 18 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 regularly attends  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.