circlejranch

Liz was, in all honesty, almost born on a horse. She started showing with the Shilo Riding Club at age 11. She did performance, games, jumped at the Equestrian Park and eventually found Reining. In 1984 she started lessons with Roger Desjardins. Liz rode with Roger Brazeau, Lise Roy and Francois Gauthier - all world champions at one time or another.

In 1986 Liz bought a true reining horse Great Mission. He was one of the greatest teachers she ever had and lived 20 happy years at Circle J Ranchs' barn. Slick, as he was known, taught her husband Doug, daughter Katie, herself and many others a great deal. He could pop a roll back - not a u-turn - that would leave you behind the saddle.

In 1987 they won many awards in the Quebec Reining Association including Rookie of the Year. Riding Bobby Bar Chex, they came third at the Joe Cody Classic in Pennsylvania out of 103 entries.

In 1989 Liz trained and showed Hesa Royal Joe in the world reining futurity in Oklahoma City. They placed and won money in one go-round. Joey and Liz came in the money regularly including the times they got to show at the Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio.

Then there was Little Dots McCue. They won two bronzes at Quarterama. Liz got ready for that show by riding outside all winter long. That year, 1997, she came 6th in the world in the intermediate non-pro division. Cruzier, or Docs Nifty Man, was another one of the good ones in 2001 - he was the top horse in Canada in the non-pro and intermediate non-pro divisions.

Liz's current horse, Tormias Brandy Jac, has been a great horse to show. They have won many pewter trophies in open and non-pro categories as well as winning at free style reining.

Liz intends to continue and expand on what John, Grace and herself have already achieved with Circle J Ranch. She plans to do this by teaching and coaching as well as train reining horses for herself, and perhaps when the opportunity arises, to ride and show one for someone else.

Courtney Allison

I must have been about 9 years old when I started riding at the Simpson's ranch. I started out with only taking a week of day camp in the summer. However, after that one week, I was addicted to riding and couldn't get it off my mind (but then again, how many 9 year old girls can't get riding off their mind!). So, once school started, I began going to day camp on Saturday's.

Lucky, convincing my mom and dad to letting me go to day camp was easy since they both believed that if I really loved something, I should be given the option to do it.
Then, a short 4 years later, I was introduced to a stubborn and cranky horse named Misty. I was never so thrilled when it came to riding her in day camp, however it was love at first ride (even if i didn't want to admit it). I spent all of that summer pleading with my parents that they should buy her and by the end of the summer she was all mine.
Through owing my own horse, I've learnt so many skills that I don't think I would have learnt if I were to stay at home and play on the computer all day. Having my own horse also keeps me humble and really appreciate all that I have accomplished with her.

Now that I had my own horse, I was able to begin my dream of learning to jump. I started taking lessons and going to local shows and clubs. But, as the years went by, I needed to move on to a more challenging circuit. Currently, I'm showing in schooling shows competing in the hopeful jumper division. I think our biggest accomplishment is being able to keep up with the bigger, younger horses in our competition.

I've been teaching at Circle J Ranch for a couple of years now. I teach for the day camp and individual lesson groups.

On my 9th birthday, I was invited to join my cousins in a riding Day Camp. That's when I was first introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Simpson and their many horses.

I fell in love immediately! I wanted to go back and learn how to ride. It didn't take much to convince my dad because he worked and rode there also when he was a young boy.

I went to day camp for 4 years. At this point my parents thought I had enough experience and that it was time to get my own horse. That was when we got "Chip".
Getting my own horse opened a whole new world. I never knew how much a person needs to know when being a horse-owner.

I've learned a great deal from working with Chip. We both have had our good and bad days, but at the end of each day I feel that we've accomplished something together.

Shortly after we got him to Circle J Ranch I started showing in local fairs and club shows. I have had great opportunities to have fun and learn more with my horse. Liz has helped me learn and my own dedication to riding has made me improve as well.
I've owned Chip for 5 years now and I show him english and western in the performance classes. (Performance classes are judged on conformation, cleanliness and performance on the horse and rider together.)

I have been instructing at Circle J Ranch for a few years now. I started out with the Day Camp groups and now I'm teaching group lessons also.

Piczo