Reta Conner

Reta owns and manages Ponderosa Performance Horses. Reta was reared on a cattle ranch of over one million acres in northern Arizona, Boquillas Cattle Company. Her mother is also a horse woman being the 1955 Prescott Frontier days rodeo queen. 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 two 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 Nairn 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 maintains a small breeding operation along with an equine breaking and training center and lay up facility for thoroughbreds.

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. She graduated from Scottsdale Community College with an Associates Degree in Equine Sciences in December, 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 Ponderosa Performance horses and dressage. 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 rescue dogs Ivy and Willoux.