What's New
Christmas Spirit at the 2023 Desert Classic
At West World in Scottsdale, Arizona
December 7-10, 2023
MacNificent RS
2023: Cow Palace Honors Sheila Varian
Videos:
On October 14, 2023 Nan and Dick Walden were proud to accept an invitation for a Tribute to Sheila Varian at the 75th anniversary of the Cow Palace in San Francisco during the Grand National Rodeo. Rancho Sonado sent 5 of its National/Scottsdale Champions to honor Sheila’s historic 1961 win as the first woman at age 22 to win the reined stock horse competition on her own Polish Arabian mare Ronteza against the best cowboys of the day. Special thanks to Bozena Hagen for these wonderful photos of our crew ❤️ Picante Jullyen V+ & Lane LeClair Renegade Mac V++ & Shea Johnson Romance V+++\\ & Griffin Alexander May Flower RS & James Fehr Pandora’s Seekret V & Raeann Haley
Behind the scenes at Cow Palace stalls with Evie Sweeney.
2020 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
February 13-23, 2020
West World of Scottsdale, Arizona
Our contenders this year:
| 1993 – Agracie Girl V | 1999 – Sweet Kirsten RS |
| 1994 – ROL Heart Breaker | 2000 – Ckharisma RS |
| 1995 – Benedito Bey SMA | 1470 - Macnificent RS |
| 1996 – Kiss ME Kay RS | 1471 - Picante Jullyen V |
| 1997 – Agraced RS | 1472 - Spade Fellow RS |
| 1998 – Kaytie Barthe Door RS |
Click here to view schedule marking our classes!
Set up for Rancho Sonado at Scottsdale. Crew did great job!
Near Arena 8, west side of WestWorld. Trail starts Saturday the 15th!
{gallery}news/2020_scottsdale{/gallery}
AHT - 2019 Horse of the Year Nominee!
Wow! Our Gracie made the top 13 AHT nominees for AHT Horse of the Year!
Schedule a Farm Tour for 2020!
Rancho Soñado will be participating in the 2019 Silver Buckle Duel
September 12 - 15, 2019.
Pima County Fair Grounds ~ Tucson, Arizona
Rancho Soñado will be taking these horses this year:
Back number - Name
|
246 - Renegade Mac V 247 - Agracie Girl V 248 - Benedito Bey SMA 249 - Chicago Chaps RS 250 - Ckharisma RA 251 - Cowgirl Jake RS |
252 - Duns Smokey Lady 253 - Philomena V 254 - ROL Heart Breaker 255 - Stars And Stripes SF 256 - Texas Two Step RS |
Click here to view/download schedule
We would love to see you there in person to cheer us all on.
2019 Spring at Rancho Sonado - That means Babies!
Two glorious babies by our beloved, kind stallion "NIfty" or MacNificent RS (by Mclintock V) frolicking at Rancho Sonado! The paint colt is out of A Good Time in Texas and the filly with a blaze and 4 hi socks is out of Flower Girl V (by Sundance Kid V) ...video by Nan Walden
Look at our 48 hour old filly go!!!!!
She is out of Flower Girl V (by Sundance Kid V) and by our beloved, sweet stallion, MacNificent RS who is sired by Mclintock V.
Colt born April 28, 2019
A Good Time in Texas Paint mare and colt born Sunday 4.28.19 enjoying some Arizona sunshine!
By our stallion MacNificent RS or “Nifty”
EC Vivacious at Empire Ranch
“Vee “, once owned and started by Rancho Soñado, finished 2nd in the race only by a few minutes, and won the “Best Overall Competitor” in terms of the vet checks and his placing. The Empire Ranch is open to the public as a National Recreation Area, and has historic ranch buildings and exhibits.
2019 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
Rancho Soñado Arabians Competitors:
Picante Jullyen V
MacNificent RS
See the list of all our Scottsdale and National Champions below.
Come See Your Next Reining/Ranch Riding and Western Pleasure Sires at Scottsdale 2019
The Stallions of Rancho Soñado Arabians will be at the 2019 Scottsdale Horse Show.
Barn E 11 - Visit them in person at the stalls of Gary Ferguson Performance Horses.
Picante Jullyen V:
Back #1378
Classes:
Tuesday Feb 19
Gary Ferguson – Equidome Arena – 9:00am – Class 960 - Arabian Ranch Horse Riding
Dick Walden – Equidome Arena – 9:00am – Class 962 – Arabian Ranch Horse Riding AATR
Wednesday Feb 20
Gary Ferguson – Reining Arena 5 – 9:00am - Class 967 – Arabian Reining Horse
Thursday Feb 21
Gary Ferguson – Reining Arena 5 – 9:00am - Class 982 – Arabian Ranch Horse Riding Championship
Dick Walden – Reining Arena 5 – 9:00am - Class 984 - Arabian Ranch Horse Riding AATR Championship
Friday Feb 22
Gary Ferguson – Reining Arena 5 - 9:00am – Class 985 – Arabian Reining Horse Championship & ARHA Maturity
Click here to view his web page
MacNificient RS:
Back #1377
Classes:
Friday Feb 15
Gary Ferguson - Wendell Arena pm – Class 71 - Arabian Western Pleasure Novice Horse
Tuesday Feb 19
Gary Ferguson - Wendell Arena 1:00pm – Class 271 – Arabian Western Pleasure Limit Horse
Wednesday Feb 20
Gary Ferguson – Equidome Arena 1:00pm – Class 299a - Arabian Western Pleasure Championship
Saturday Feb 21
Gary Ferguson – Equidome Arena 6:00pm – Class 299f – Arabian Western Pleasure Championship Final
Click here to view his web page
List of ALL Rancho Soñado Arabians Scottsdale and National Championships by Horse
AGRACIE GIRL V++++//
US National Championship 2018
Arabian English Trail AAOTR RES CHAMPION
US National Championship 2017
Arabian English Trail Horse CHAMPION
Arabian Western Trail Horse CHAMPION
Arabian Western Trail AAOTR RES CHAMPION
Canadian National Championship 2017
Arabian Western Trail Horse CHAMPION
Arabian Western Trail AAOTR RES CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2017
Arabian English Trail Horse CHAMPION
US National Championship 2014
Arabian English Trail Horse RES CHAMPION
Arabian English Trail AAOTR CHAMPION
Canadian National Championship 2014
Arabian Western Trail Horse RES CHAMPION
Arabian Western Trail AAOTR CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2014
Arabian Western Trail Horse CHAMPION
Arabian Western Trail AAOTR CHAMPION
Arabian Western Trail ATR CHAMPION
US National Championship 2010
Arabian Western Trail Horse RES CHAMPION
Arabian Western Trail AAOTR CHAMPION
BENEDITO BEY SMA +++//
Sport Horse National Championships 2018
Arabian SH Gelding In-Hand Dressage Type CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2017
Arabian SH Gelding In-Hand Dressage Type CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2015
Arabian Western Trail AOTR CHAMPION
Arabian Western Trail ATR CHAMPION
CHICAGO CHAPS RS+/
US National Championship 2017
Arabian English Trail AAOTR RES CHAMPION
US National Championship 2015
Arabian English Trail Horse RES CHAMPION
Canadian National Championship 2015
Arabian Western Trail Horse CHAMPION
US National Championship 2013
Arabian Trail Horse Futurity RES CHAMPION
Arabian Western Trail Junior Horse RES CHAMPION
DUNS SMOKEY LADY+//
Canadian National Championship 2017
HA/AA English Trail Horse CHAMPION
US National Championship 2016
HA/AA Western Trail AATR Select RES CHAMPION
Canadian National Championship 2015
HA/AA Western Trail Horse CHAMPION
PICANTE JULLYEN V
US National Championship 2018
Arabian Open Reining Derby CHAMPION
RENEGADE MAC V++
Canadian National Championship 2017
Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack CHAMPION
ROMANCE V+++/
Canadian National Championship 2017
Arabian SH Mares In-Hand Hunter Type RES CHAMPION
Arabian SH Under Saddle ATR RES CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2017
Arabian SH Mares In-Hand Dressage Type CHAMPION
Arabian SH Mares In-Hand Hunter Type CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2016
Arabian SH Mares In-Hand Hunter Type RES CHAMPION
STARS AND STRIPES SF+//
US National Championship 2018
HA/AA English Trail Horse AAOTR RES CHAMPION
US National Championship 2017
HA/AA English Trail Horse AAOTR CHAMPION
Canadian National Championship 2017
HA/AA Western Trail Horse CHAMPION
HA/AA Western Trail AOTR CHAMPION
HA/AA English Trail Horse RES CHAMPION
HA/AA English Trail AOTR RES CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2017
HA/AA English Trail ATR CHAMPION
US National Championship 2015
HA/AA English Trail Horse RES CHAMPION
HA/AA Western Trail Horse RES CHAMPION
Canadian National Championship 2015
HA/AA Western Trail Horse RES CHAMPION
HA/AA English Trail Horse RES CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2015
HA/AA Western Trail ATR CHAMPION
US National Championship 2014
HA/AA Western Trail AAOTR CHAMPION
Canadian National Championship 2014
HA/AA Western Trail Horse CHAMPION
HA/AA Western Trail AOTR RES CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2014
HA/AA Western Trail ATR CHAMPION
Scottsdale Arabian Show 2011
HA/AA Western Trail ATR CHAMPION
|
|
|
Click Here |
2018 U.S. National Championship Show - Contenders!
We are proud to be taking another show string to Tulsa this year and wish the best to all competitors.
Here our contenders with their back numbers:
|
1754 - Agracie Girl V +++// 1755 - Benedito Bey SMA +++// 1756 - Chicago Chaps RS +/ 1757 - Duns Smokey Lady +/ (Were Dun x Zerrette) 2007 Grey Half-Arabian Mare |
1758 - Romance V 1760 - Stars & Stripes SF +// 1664 - Cowgirl Jake RS (Jullyen El Jamaal x Precious V) 2010 Bay Stallion |
2018 Region 7 Show - Updates
We are off to the Region 7 Horse Show at West World.
Come and join us in Scottsdale.
Thank you all for your support and check back here for show updates.
Our 2018 Region 7 Contenders:
AGRACI GIRL V+++//
BENEDITO BEY SMA++/
CHICAGO CHAPS RS+/
DUNS SMOKEY LADY+/
EC SWEET DREAMS
RENEGADE MAC V
ROL HEART BREAKER
STARS AND STRIPES SF+//
TEXAS TWO STEP RS
Click here to view schedule - in pdf format: 2.8 MB
2018 March Tulsa Show - Region 9 Qualifier - Picante Jullyen V
Exciting news from Gary & Tami Ferguson at Tulsa:
Picante Jullyen V won under both judges in open reining March 27, 2018.
After the class they announced on the loud speaker that both judges thought he was the prettiest reining horse they had ever seen.
The judges were Cathy Callahan and Sherri Odom.
2017 Region 7 Show - Updates
We are off to the Region 7 Horse Show at West World.
Come and join us in Scottsdale or click here to view the live streaming of the show.
The schedule will let you know which arena they will be in.
Thank you all for your support and check back here for show updates.
Our 2017 Region 7 Contenders:
Back number and Name
|
374 - AGRACI GIRL V+++// 376 - CHICAGO CHAPS RS+/ 377 - DUNS SMOKEY LADY+/ 378 - RENEGADE MAC V 379 - ROL HEART BREAKER 380 - ROMANCE V
|
381 - STARR STRUCKK LRA 382 - STARS AND STRIPES SF+// 383 - SUNDANCIN KID 384 - KC HEART OF GOLD 697 - MACNIFICENT RS 698 - PICANTE JULLYEN V |
Click here to view schedule - in pdf format: 2.2 MB
2017 Scottsdale Arabian Silver Saddles Championship
How fun are these photos of Dick recently winning the 2017 Scottsdale Arabian Silver Saddles Championship on Benedito Bey SMA ++/?
For those of you that don't know, in Silver Saddles, the combined age of horse and rider have to equal 70 or more! (Dick is celebrating his 75th this March!).
Beni is by Brandon Bey JCA+ (Jade Creek Arabians) by Bey Shah+ out of Onapar. The Schuttes bred him at Show Me Arabians. Ali Brady found him for us and started him in CA.
I included Tommy Garland in this announcement because when he was a little boy, Tommy Jr. aka " T-Bird" told Dick, "Mr. Walden don't EVER sell Beni!" and he was right.
Some highlights of Beni's career, and he is only 10:
- East Coast W. Pl. Jr. Horse Res Champion AOTR with Nan
- East Coast W. Pl. Jr. Horse Res Champion Open with Katie Garland
- East Coast W. Pl. Horse, JTR with Tommy Jr.
- 2015 Scottsdale Ch AOTR and ATR W. Trail with Dick Walden
- 2016 Sport Horse Nationals Top Ten Show Hack Horse with Kirsten Prutch; Top Tens in Hand
- 2017 Scottsdale Ch Sport Horse Geldings in Hand, Top Ten in Trail
- Multi-National Top Tens in Western and English Trail
Dick has ridden him on the Santa Barbara County Rancheros Visitadores Trail Ride with 1,000 horses + riders, bands, wagons, etc. parade and for a week in Los Padres National Forest.
Dick and Beni are a great team two silver haired handsome gents!
2016 U.S. Nationals Updates
Updates: from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Rancho Soñado is ready for their cheering section, in person and afar.
There will be 10 Rancho Soñado horses showing this year.
|
Stars and Stripes SF+//
|
Picante Jullyen V
|
Click here to view class schedule and our stall location - in pdf format: 7 MB
Click here to view the live streaming - you can find which arena in the pdf above
Humane Society of U.S. Event Sunday October 16 in Solvang at Alisal Ranch + USDA's Proposed Amendments to Horse Protection Regulations
Friends,
Here are some very important comments from USEF regarding soring of horses, commonly used with Tennessee Walking Horses, but also some other breeds. Let’s all lend our support and hope we can eradicate this cruel practice. Comments are accepted by the USDA til Oct 26. See below.
The Humane Society of the US has been a leader in this fight. Dick and I are cohosting a reception for HSUS in Solvang at the historic and beautiful Alisal Guest Ranch this Sunday Oct. 9 at 5:30. Many of you have received an invite, please come or send a donation if you can to this worthy cause.
There is a meeting Oct 20th at 3pm at Arabian Nationals, regarding soring and I will attend and report back to you.
Thank you.
Nan
The submission period for public comment on the regulations is open until October 26, 2016. The USEF encourages its membership to submit comments in support of the continued delegation of horse welfare governance to the USEF at its licensed and endorsed competitions.
We are in Idaho for the 2016 Sport Horse Nationals
Rancho Sonado Fans, if you can't join us at the show, you can watch the live feed here.
We will feel you all cheering for us from afar!
Thanks again for your continued support.
Click here to view our entries and map of stall location.
2016 Region 7 Show - Updates
We are off to the Region 7 Horse Show at West World.
Come and join us in Scottsdale or click here to view the live streaming of the show. The schedule will let you know which arena they will be in.
Thank you all for your support and check back here for show updates.
Our 2016 Region 7 Contenders:
|
SUNDANCIN KID RENEGADE MAC V DUNS SMOKEY LADY+ ROL HEART BREAKER CHICAGO CHAPS RS+ |
ROMANCE V STARS AND STRIPES SF+// BENEDITO BEY SMA+/ WGA KABERNET BEY |
Click here to view schedule - in pdf format: 9.2 MB
MacNificent RS goes to Gary Ferguson's
We have just sent our 3 year old black stud, MacNificent RS (MacClintock x Ravvens Skylark), to join Picante Jullyen V at Gary Ferguson’s.
Both arrived safely yesterday and Gary is thrilled with him.
We are so happy with how well conditioned and happy, PJ is there—time for Nifty to join him at “college.”
Nifty will choose his own path be it; hunter, western pleasure, trail and/or reining.
2015 U.S. Nationals Updates
Updates: from Tulsa, Oklahoma
Rancho Soñado is ready for their cheering section, in person and afar.
There will be 7 Rancho Soñado horses showing this year.
· Benedito Bey SMA +/ - Number 785
· Chicago Chaps RS + - Number 800
· Duns Smokey Lady – Number 814
· Picante Jullyen V – Number 219
· Renegade Mac V – Number 826
· Romance V – Number 1060
· Stars and Stripes SF +/ - Number 1059
2015 Canadian National Show Updates
Updates: from Brandon, Manitoba from Rancho Sonado, Canadian Nationals 2015
The Canadian Trail courses were the hardest in 5 years of going to any Nationals, with many jumps, a trellis, water hazard and very complex tight combinations. It took a lot of heart to even get through it—there were a number of zeroes in Open and Amateur. We were so proud of our brave, Varian bred horses and our Half Arabs Duns Smokey Lady, “Lady” and “Deuce” aka Stars and Stripes SF.
The Rancho Sonado crew, led by Jill Mitchell, did super well at Canadian Nationals this year.
2 National Champions + 2 Reserve National Champions in Trail; 19 Top Tens Overall in Trail and Sport Horse with 5 horses showing.
Thanks to all including Maggie, Brin and Debbie McCarthy who helped out tremendously, as well as crew at home who watched over both ranches while we were up in Manitoba.
Rancho Soñado Arabians Receive National Horse of the Year Awards
(AMADO, Ariz.) In a Lexington, Kentucky ceremony Saturday, the national governing body for equestrian sports awarded two National Horse of the Year awards to southern Arizona’s Rancho Soñado. The United States Equestrian Foundation (USEF) awarded its National Champion Half Arabian Working Western Horse of the Year to Stars and Stripes SF +// and Reserve National Champion Working Western Horse of the Year to Agracie Girl V +++//. Cynthia Richardson, President of the Arabian Horse Association, presented these awards to Nan and Dick Walden, owners of Rancho Soñado.
These awards are among the highest achievements in equestrian sports. The National Horse of the Year award, “recognizes excellence across nearly all of the USEF Recognized breeds and disciplines, and is regarded as an ensign of achievement within the equestrian community.”
The two National Horse of the Year awards cap off a remarkable 2014 for Rancho Soñado. During the year, Rancho Soñado produced seven national champions and 23 National top-tens in shows in the US and Canada. The Horse of the Year award winners were both Triple Crown Winners in 2014 having won Trail Championships at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, and the US and Canadian National events. Agracie Girl V +++// won three Trail Championships in one afternoon at the prestigious Scottsdale Show, including two amateur titles and one open (professional level) title. Stars and Stripes SF +// won two Championships at Scottsdale in the Half-Arabian Trail, one amateur and one open.
Also, the Arabian Horse Association recognized Rancho Soñado’s Nan Stockholm Walden naming her Horseman of Supreme Merit Champion, AHA Handler of Honor Champion and Rider of Supreme Honor Champion. Nan rode both horses to their record breaking year.
Comments of Nan Stockholm Walden:
Every day, “Gracie” and “Deuce” show us how extraordinary they are, whether working cows, riding out on trails, showing in the ring, or packing our grandsons around. To have the USEF recognize them as National Horses of the Year is such an affirmation of our training program. The intelligence, kindness, and ‘try’ in these horses constantly inspires us.
I came to riding late in life, but Dick has been riding on a working cattle ranch since he was three. We both are huge fans of Arabs and Half-Arabs. We have to also credit these horses’ breeding and starting. Shelia Varian bred Agracie Girl V +++// (Sundance Kid V x Amazing Grace V). “Gracie” has been successful showing in Trail, Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Showmanship, Amateur Horsemanship, Sport Horse under Saddle and Sport Horse in Hand. Her sire Sundance Kid V is one of the top sires of Arabians performance winners. Gracie is a stunning jet black mare with a perfect white star on her forehead.
Gordon Potts started Stars and Stripes SF (Allionce’s Knight +/ x Starry Spumoni+//). Both sire and dam were multinational champions, and very kid and amateur friendly. “Deuce” has been shown to major wins in Half-Arabian Trail, Western Pleasure, English and Western Sidesaddle, Hunter Pleasure and Sport Horse in Hand. He is Half Paint Horse and Half Arab, which has made him a beautiful pinto, or Tobiano tri color gelding.
We are so proud of our horses’ versatility in the show ring, but even more importantly, they can be trusted with the tiniest tots in the lead line class or just riding around our ranch.
 |
|
(Credit Mike Ferrara) Nan Stockholm Walden riding Stars and Stripes SF +// at the 2014 US Nationals Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show in Tulsa, OK.
|
 |
|
(Credit Mike Ferrara) Nan Stockholm Walden riding Stars and Stripes SF +// at the 2014 US Nationals Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show in Tulsa, OK.
|
 |
|
(Credit Mike Ferrara) Nan Stockholm Walden riding Agracie Girl V +++// at the 2014 US Nationals Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show in Tulsa, OK.
|
 |
|
(Credit Mike Ferrara) Nan Stockholm Walden riding Stars and Stripes SF +// at the 2014 US Nationals Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show in Tulsa, OK.
|
 |
|
(Credit Jon McCarthy) Nan Stockholm Walden riding Agracie Girl V +++// .
|
 |
|
(Credit Rob Hess) Agracie Girl V +++//
|
 |
|
(Credit: Adam Brennan) Arabian Horse Association President Cynthia Richardson (r) presenting Dick and Nan Walden of Rancho Soñado with 2 National USEF Horse of the Year Awards in Lexington, KY on Jan 17. 2015.
|
 |
|
(Credit: Adam Brennan) Dick and Nan Walden of Rancho Soñado with 2 National USEF Horse of the Year Awards in Lexington, KY on Jan 17. 2015.
|
Nan Walden and Jill Mitchell made it to the semi-finals for the Arabian Professional and Amateur Horseman’s Association Awards (APAHA)!
Rancho Sonado had a wonderful show season last year! Nan and our trainer in California, Jill, have made it to the semi finals for Amateur and Professional Horsemen of the Year for 2014. Voting closes Saturday January 10th, 2015. You must be a member to vote. If you are interested in supporting our team to get the recognition that they have worked so hard towards, please vote and support Nan and Jill Mitchell all the way to the finals.
Click here to view Semi-Finalists and Ballot sheet in PDF format. Includes instructions for submitting.
Emailed or Faxed Forms will be accepted.
Go to www.apaha.com. for more information.
Nan Walden is up for Adult Amateur Working Western Horseman Award.
Nan finished two of her horses, Agracie Girl V+++// and Stars and Stripes SF +// to the “Triple Crown” in 2014, winning Scottsdale, Canadian and US National Championships in Trail. Stars and Stripes is USEF National Working Western HA Horse of the Year. Agracie Girl V+++// is USEF Reserve National Champion Working Western Horse of the Year.
Jill Mitchell is up for Professional Working Western Horseman Award and the only Lady on that list, may we point out. She has won championships in every show this year, including multiple Championships and Futurity/Jr. Championships at US and Canadian Nationals. All her amateurs and youth have done her proud, also.
Awards are presented at a dinner during the Scottsdale Arabian Show at Scottsdale.
Thank you for your consideration!
The Rancho Sonado Gang
New resident trainer at Arizona, Rancho Sonado
December 2014
We are happy to welcome Camren "Cami" Gerner as the new resident trainer at Arizona Rancho Sonado.
Camren Gerner with Nan Walden and Stars and Stripes SF
Cami comes to us with a wonderful background in equine training, care, showing and business. She is a graduate of the Al Marah equine program, and went on to finish her B.S. degree at U of AZ in Ag Economics and Business with a concentration in Animal Sciences. In addition to rising to a senior staffer at Al Marah, Cami worked for several well-known trainers, judges, and breeding programs, including Bill Melendez, North Arabians and Nelson Farms. She also worked in the UA Collegiate Cattle Growers Association program, so she knows her way around cattle as well as horses. She particularly enjoys starting young horses.
Given that we are expecting four foals this spring, we are grateful for her foaling out experience too. Cami is living in house #3 on the Ranch in Amado, AZ and her cell number is 520 647-4494. Email
She is available for training and lessons for boarders. We will be showing next at the Tucson Charity Show January 10-11 at Pima Fairgrounds, and the Scottsdale Arabian Show February 12-22 at Westworld. Please join “Deuce” and all of us in welcoming her as a special Christmas present to the Ranch!
Camren with Cheyenne and Stars and Stripes SF
Also, we welcome back Cheyenne Hudecek, our fabulous local 4-H high school student who interned with us last summer. Cheyenne will be helping out most days after school. In her spare time she is training her own horse and raising a show pig named Miranda Hambert!
2014 U.S National Show - Results
The Rancho Soñado team capped off a wonderful year by winning 3 National Championships and 14 National Top Tens at the U.S. Nationals in Tulsa!
Nan Walden and her two trail horses, Agracie Girl V+++// and Stars and Stripes SF+// distinguished themselves in 2014 by winning the "Triple Crown:" Championships at Scottsdale, Canadian Nationals, and U.S. Nationals!
Click here to view full results
Our 2014 U.S. National Contenders
Agracie Girl V and Stars And Stripes SF – 2014 AHW May issue
By Cindy Reich
Nan Walden of Rancho Sonado LLC had a very satisfying Scottsdale show in the trail horse division, taking the Half-Arabian Trail ATR Championship on Stars And Stripes SF (Allionces Knight x Starry Spumoni), both the ATR and AOTR purebred trail championships with Agracie Girl V (Sundance Kid V x Amazing Grace V), and capped off the show by winning the open trail championship on Agracie Girl!“Gracie is my dream horse — to me, the epitome of an Arabian mare,” Nan says.
Click here to view full article
Thank you to Sheila Varian from Rancho Sonado
Dear Sheila:
This small photo recalls a very happy day when we bought Agracie Girl V from you, now proudly Agracie Girl V +++// Multi National, Regional and Scottsdale Champion!
Most importantly, she is a treasured and beloved member of our family who has brought us amazing joy and wonder. She has also brought her love and beautiful spirit to the many visitors we have had at the ranch, and has been our ambassador at many events ranging from ranch tours for school kids to the annual Pecan Festival at our farm attracting 15, 000 visitors. The other photo is the day we bought Romance V, years younger than Gracie, but very much following in her hoof prints.
All our Varian horses have surpassed our expectations, and made a loyal Arabian fan of formerly loyal quarter horse man, Dick Walden. Dick loves to surprise his fellow ranchers by roping off of Gracie and other Arabs, winning ribbons in Ranch Trail Competition and Halter at the Rancheros Visitadores, and out-striding their quarter horses and polo ponies on long trail rides in the hills!
When late in life, I finally had the chance to select and buy my first horse, I was lucky to find you. You were probably the only breeder in the world that could have convinced Dick Walden to buy an Arabian for his greenhorn wife. When he came to that first Jubilee, and heard you talk about the steps to make a bridle horse, and your mentors like Tom Dorrance, he knew you had a common language, “horse.” I remember so well how amazed I was that Dick wanted to buy one of your horses at that very first sale---you had won him over. (Of course you had me from “hello.”)
I was in a dreamlike trance as I watched the most beautiful creature I had ever seen come prancing into your show arena, and I heard you say to the crowd, “Kay Pasa V has been sold to that weeping woman over there in the corner of the stands!”
Bringing Kay Pasa V home to Arizona was another education for us both. We were amazed at how quickly she learned and how eager she was to please. We eventually would learn that is the hallmark of Varian Arabians, in addition to their glorious conformation and athleticism.
And so followed SC Chipawa Chinks (x Desperado V); Roulette V, Agracie Girl V, Breeze V, Flower Girl V, Ravven’s Skylark, Renegade Mac V, Romance V, Picante Jullyen V, and our wonderful foals from those great mares, including our first owned and bred 2x National Champion, Chicago Chaps RS (Jullyen el Jamaal x SC Chipawa Chinks).
Early on, Dick, the Thacher + gymkhana star said, “You don’t really want to show and all that, do you, that gets very involved and costly.” And I replied innocently, “Oh no, just maybe some schooling shows, since I never got to show as a kid.”
Six National Champions later, and many Scottsdale and Regional titles to boot, we are having more fun than kids. Many of the wonderful owners and trainers we have met in this business have become dear friends. And how we enjoy just going out on the trail or for a ride and picnic by the sea on our beautiful mounts!
Dick and I have always been grateful that you welcomed us from the very start, given how little we knew about the breed and the business of breeding, training and showing. You staff like Angela, Jaime, Mike, Micki, Israel, have been so kind to us too. You are always there for us, whatever time of day or night.
We know you have worked consistently to better the training methods, spread the word about techniques that are kind to the horses, and teach people that horses need to be turned out and treated like the freely moving animals God made them to be. The trainers we employ like Courtney Spicer and Jill Mitchell honor your example and practice that approach. They appreciate the consistency that generations of your breeding has created---it makes their job a genuine pleasure.
You have followed the compass of your dreams and achieved true excellence. You have stayed the course through the good and tough times. The accolades you have achieved at the Cow Palace and in the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and from the Arabian Horse Association are well deserved. Remember most of all the delight you have given to us, the owners, and to those who share our horses with us.
Thank you Sheila, cowgirl extraordinaire. We believe the best is yet to come for you!
Love,
Nan and Dick
Nan and Dick Walden and the Rancho Sonado Herd
Pecan Festival - SAAHA Arabian Horse Demonstration Video
Each year we use our club, the Southern Arizona Arabian Horse Association (SAAHA), to organize Arabian and HA horse demos all day at our annual Pecan Festival, which is like a Harvestfest. We have draft horses pulling families thru the orchards to see our trees being shaken, tractor pulls, 4-H booth, petting zoo, pony rides and over 100 vendors of high quality crafts and local foods.
We show an Arabian in all the disciplines from hunt to sidesaddle to trail to working cow. We distribute AHA literature and have a place where kids can wear a turban and be photographed with an Arabian horse. We had over 15,000 folks attend last year and produced a video.
The 2014 Pecan Festival is Saturday, November 8th.