Pamela Stenmark

I’m a Colorado native who grew up playing horse ‘games’ on the front lawn with my sister and neighbors; we did everything but eat the grass.  After moving to Summit County in my 20’s I got my first horse and learned to ride by reading books then going out to practice what I read in the pasture or on mountain trails.  My horses and I were lucky to have made it through that phase without many mishaps.

After moving to Eagle County I had my first encounter with an Arabian gelding and I was enchanted.  Still ‘self-taught’ and riding mountain trails with friends.  Upon losing my first Arabian I was introduced to Ann Judge – who I still train with – and she introduced me to Carbon Kopy, aka Jet, son of her black stallion.   At the age of 45 I first set foot in an arena showing in Western Pleasure and Hunter Pleasure.  At 32 years of age Jet fully retired tor Minturn CO.  Currently Dettanader +/ is my Western Dressage and Arabian Sport Horse mount.  We did a year of classic Dressage and while capable, he just wasn’t happy so Dolly Hannon, my Dressage trainer at the time, suggested that we try Western Dressage.  It was an immediate success and we continue to show locally, regionally and have participated in WDAA World Show.   Looking back at being ‘self-taught’ I often wish I had started my life with horses learning Dressage as the foundation works for every discipline.

Outside my time with horses, I had a career in Public Relations and the hotel business where I served as General Manager for several different hotels that our partnership either owned or managed for others.   The broad experience of hotel management gave me an opportunity to work with a variety of people in many circles.