View of the farm from the house

Open stabling facility

The paddocks after a rare rain

View of the farm at sunset

 

 

The Farm

Ponderosa Perormance Horses is located on 20 acres at Cold Water Ranch owned by Reta and Virginia Conner. The ranch is located in Black Canyon City, Arizona, just 30 miles north of Phoenix and backs up to the Agua Fria National Monument. The preserve's 71,000 acres encompasses 2 mesas and the Agua Fria River canyon at elevations ranging from 2,150 feet along the canyon, to 4,600 feet in the northern hills. This contrasting mosaic of semi-desert area divided by veins of riparian forest, offers one of the most magnificant systems of prehistoric sites in America's Southwest. At least 450 known prehistoric sites exist within its boundaries, and many of the monument's intact petroglyph sites feature rock art symbols etched into boulders and cliff faces.

Black Canyon City has been known by several names in the past, including Goddard, Canon, and Black Canyon. It was a stage stop on the Phoenix to Prescott line and a Military stopover while traveling to Fort Whipple and Fort Verde during Territorial days. The Woolsey Trail in Black Canyon was named after King Woolsey, an early settler who is credited with bringing in the first wagon in the mid-1860's. The best known trail was the Black Canyon wagon road and stage line. Beginning in the 1872's, a stage stop on the Agua Fria River and Jack Swillings' Ranch served the area. Stagecoach service between Phoenix and Prescott continued until 1917. In the 1920's electricity was brought to Black Canyon City for the Kay Copper Mine. The Rock Springs Store supplied groceries and other goods to the mine and it's many workers sometime in the 1920's. Today, Rock Springs Cafe is famous for it's homemade pies, and Black Canyon City is home to about 4,000 residents.

Reta Conner

Reta owns and manages Ponderosa Performance Horses.  Reta was reared on a cattle ranch of over 1 million acres in northern Arizona, Boquillas Cattle Company. Her mother is also a horse woman, and it was natural that Reta would be riding as a toddler. However, these ranch horses were not placid, sometimes barely broke, challenging her to develop a keen sense of intuition and strategies for staying on top.

As a teenager Reta galloped race horses before she went to school in the mornings, and by age 17 had gotten her trainer's license and had several winning horses in her stable. During this time, she also participated on the high school rodeo team, as well as being involved with the 4-H horse projects, as a participant and later as a leader. Her mother was working for a prestigious private liberal arts college, and Reta was eligible for participation in their riding program. She met Pam Goodrich and Belinda Nairn who both became international dressage riders, Belinda having competed in 2 Olympic games. Reta quickly saw that dressage was the foundation for horse competition of all disciplines.  

Shortly after graduating from high school, Reta moved to Pennsylvania and worked for Gunner Ostergaard. With his and Belinda's tutorage she was able to train her first horse to Prix St. George. Reta moved to Germany to manage the International Sporthorse Center which had been purchased by Belinda Nairn (Wertmann). Belinda was preparing for the 1984 Olympic games while Reta managed the barn, took responsibility for riding and training the sales horses, and started the young competition horses. While in Germany, Reta studied with Betsy Steiner, George and Inga Theodorescu, and Anne Gribbons.

After returning to the United States, Reta moved back to Arizona and purchased her own farm. She imported an unbroken Dutch Stallion, Inxcess, which she trained to Grand Prix level, along with several other horses. Due to an injury, Inxcess has since been retired but continues to be one of the foundation stallions of her breeding operations.

Reta has additionally trained and worked in clinics with Jan Eblling, Karl Mikolka, and Christine Taurig. Every couple of years she returns to the East Coast and spends several months training with Belinda Wertmann. In preparation for the 2004 Young Horse Championships, she spent 3 months training with George Williams at Gypsy Woods Farm in Ohio. Since her young stallion, Rhythm, competed in Kentucky and finished 3rd in the 6-year-old championships, Reta has concentrated on the Young Horse Championships as a place to display her young horses and foundation breeding stock. She also stands several Dutch Warmblood stallions and maintains a small breeding operation along with an equine training center.

The Rest of the Team

Linsey Lane

Linsey’s passion for horses started before she was five years old when she rode her first pony, Ginger. She loved trail riding with her sisters and soon discovered trails with natural jumps and obstacles to challenge her and her horses. In grade school, she started a horseback riding club called, “Hoof Prints,” riding weekly with her friends. Throughout high school, Linsey entered horse shows in the area and traveled to Globe, Flagstaff, Prescott, and Litchfield Park in competitive show jumping. She also found time to volunteer with the Autism Spectrum Alternative Program, her mother’s equine facilitated therapy program for children with autism. Linsey graduated from the Arizona Agri-Business & Equine Science Charter School in June, 2004, and currently attends Scottsdale Community College graduating with an Associates Degree in Equine Sciences in December, 2007.  She also works as a professional trail guide taking tourists from around the world on trail rides. She has boarded and trained her horses for over 15 years and has started a breeding program with her twin sister Ashley. She was responsible for mare care, breeding, foaling, handling, weaning and training five foals before she started her own breeding program in 2006. Their Friesian mare, Arianna, is due to foal in April, 2007.  

Linsey started her internship as a part of her Associates Degree with Reta Conner in January of 2006 sparking her interest in dressage. Under Reta’s watchful eye, her attention to detail, and insistence of precision in movement, Linsey soon fell in love with Reta, her horses and dressage, competing very successfully in Level I competitions and continuing her internship responsibilities. One of Linsey’s secrets for success is her practice of Hatha Yoga with the Isha Foundation. Her daily meditations allow her to relax, become centered and balanced mentally, physically and emotionally. She enjoys dancing and having her friends over for dinner, sometimes she will even cook! When Linsey does finally sit down to rest it is usually with a bowl of ice cream, a good movie and her Great Dane, Willow.