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 Gordon Potts
2006 has been a year of change at the Brass
Ring as staff move on to follow new careers and set new goals
for themselves and a new team comes together to work and study
under some of the most excellent trainers in the country and
ride and work with some of the greatest horses available.
During the end of last year at the Brass Ring there were some
major changes in personnel. The shuffle saw Carla Schiltz leave
and follow her career with her former mentor, Rick Gault and
her sister Kristen stayed on to work in Texas. Silvio Domingues
came on board to train in both English and western, and Clarice,
his wife assumed office and farm management duties. His brother
also came to help with the training and farm duties. So after
a short period of readjustment the farm is back into the busy
show schedule and blowing and going as they normally do. Life
is never dull at the Brass Ring!
After a busy and booming Scottsdale, it seems the standard has
been set for the year. It was the best show Gordon says he has
ever seen, as far as numbers and quality of horses, and there
was a lot of excitement and the stands were full. After watching
a rather lethargic show season in 2006, he believes this year
will turn around. "It seemed that last year no one cared
if they showed or not, and it's one of the worst years I've seen,
as far as people not wanting to show," he says "I think
there is more confidence in the sweepstakes program this year
and it will help. Sweepstakes certainly isn't what it used to
be, but I think people's attitudes have improved. I think the
small local shows will stay small, I don't see that the program
has helped any there, but the national level shows appear to
be growing, but again I think the program has done more harm
on the regional level."
The futurities were a big bonus at Scottsdale and they did pay
well, so it was worth going to, even if you came home with a
Top Ten, it paid for the trip. There has also been a lot of movement
with horses selling at the Brass Ring, so this is another barometer
of improving times ahead. There seems to be interest and demand
for quality show horses, even if they are not top show horses.
A quality horse that is well broke is hard to find and now that
breeding numbers are down it is even harder, but Gordon says
we have been in this boat for a while, but he thinks things will
start to pick up especially in the English divisions. He predicts
that English prospects will bring a lot and the futurity will
be stronger next year. The elevation of the English futurity
will have a big impact on breeding for those prospects.
The western market will always do well, but again it is hard
to find those really good horses even in the middle range of
$20,000 - $25,000 where people can go and do well on. The Brass
Ring breeds about twenty-five to thirty horses a year, in western
and English divisions both in purebred and Half-Arabians, as
well as their Half-Arabian reiners. Gordon, who has been horse
crazy since he was a youngster is very passionate about reining
and really enjoys the sport. He is breeding proven show ring
horses as sires for both Half-Arabian and purebred reiners, using
such talented purebred horses as Wolf Springs, "What It
Takes", and Trick R Treat from Wolf Point Ranch and Tamar
Visionary, owned by Tamar Hanby. New reining horse owners Dick
and Ermie Waddle and Katey Harvey will be shooting for the futurities
with their Half-Arabian horses, who both look like they will
be superstars.
As far as new stars on the horizon for the show season, Gordon
is pleased with his new junior country horse Entell owned by
Amy Saxon of Red Fern Arabians. He is by LJM Encoure and out
of A Love Note++, a beautiful mare, who sold for a lot of money
in her day and he had the opportunity to show her in 1982. It
was a big thrill for him then and it makes it even more special
now he is showing her son. Entell was champion in the open country
class at the January Jubilee, even though he was a junior. Then
they went to Scottsdale and he was Reserve Champion in the junior
country class. He is a beautiful horse, with Bask breeding on
the top and bottom; he has lots of charisma and quality.
Another country horse, the Half-Arabian mare Americanbeautie
won the Scottsdale open for me and for her amateur owner Carrie
Fritts, of Shamrock Farms. She was also National Champion Junior
horse last year.
Xtreme Tradition owned by Jimmy O'Neal is really doing well and
Gordon will continue to show him this year, and a new western
horse who is extremely gifted will be Tamara Hanby's Tamar Synergist.
There are many more horses that show promise for the future and
Gordon says he feels lucky and privileged to have so much talent
in the barn.
Gordon's moments of relaxation are few and far between during
this busy show season and he still has to wait until November
for hunting season to unwind. Now things are different with a
family and he moderates his hunting time with spending time with
the family and he is thoroughly enjoying watching his children
grow up and spending time with them. Even in a short time all
three have grown to be different personalities and their daughter
is the true horse lover. She is extremely passionate about them,
even though she is not quite two yet, she is just like Gordon
and Wendy were when they were young.
 Wendy Potts
When a child is born horse crazy, there is
just no solution but to give her a horse and at the age of six
her family introduced Wendy Potts to the Arabian. Now there was
no question there could be any other breed, but there was a day
when she was young, that any horse would have done as long as
it had four legs to go with, a back for a saddle and a face to
hang a bridle on. That was many years ago and with many miles
of road and show ring under her belt she has climbed to the top
of her profession with hard work and determination.
Now she sees that same look and passion for the horse reborn
in her eighteen month old daughter's eyes. With three children
and a full schedule of shows and training horses there is little
time to be bored at The Brass Ring. For the bigger shows, the
children still go with them so they don't have to spend so much
time apart, but that too is a juggling act since they are so
busy. Now they are getting older and into their own routines
and preschool for Wyatt, it becomes more difficult to readjust
their schedules to go to local shows, and it is hard on them,
so it simpler to let them stay at home. This chosen profession
has its own set of sacrifices.
Wendy couldn't be happier about her string of horses and she
says each day is exciting to be riding any one of them, to mention
just one would certainly take away from the rest. After many
years of riding every discipline, including having many western
horses in training when she was in California, she now rides
mostly hunter horses, but this year she is back in her western
attire and riding her own western Half-Arabian horse, Fancy Me
Lucky by Lucky Sol Moon and they have already been to the winners
circle.
One of her most treasured moments to remember came last year
when a client who had suffered from bone cancer decided to show
her own horse at US Nationals and came home with a championship
in hunter pleasure 55 & over. CA Hermano had won numerous
titles already and Julie his owner, felt it was time for her
to take the reins. That championship was sweet enough in itself,
and to add icing to the cake Kristen took him into the open hunter
class and won another championship on him. Moments like these
are precious with your valued clients and friends.
For the future of the Arabian breed Wendy thinks it is improving
at the very top, but worries about the average owner who doesn't
have lots of money and who really has to budget to make their
dreams come true with their horses. She thinks that the revised
sweepstakes program has undermined the ability of many of her
clients to show on a national level. The reduced payout at regionals
makes it more difficult and the fact that the payout isn't until
the next year make it hard for clients to commit to going to
nationals. In Texas there really are no other regionals to go
to without driving halfway across the country, so this also restricts
their ability to show. With the class A shows remaining the same
in size as before the sweepstakes changes, she sees no benefit
to the shows or the owners or the trainers and will end up hurting
the middle market. Another point that she feels hurts the industry
is that of the qualifications for regional champions, she feels
that they should be qualified for the next year and not have
to go collect points all over again.
Though she feels she is sitting on the outside pointing a finger,
she doesn't see when she would every have time to be involved
in rule making, between her family and her training and showing
commitments. Winning prize money is the best way to entice people
to show and it has to be enough money to motivate them to go
on and show at the next level. Likening our industry to that
of the airlines, she says we've become a no frills organization,
no free food, no added benefits.
There aren't many days off at the Brass Ring, we caught up with
Wendy on her day off as she hauled some horses back and forth
to the vet, before a show. There aren't too many moments of relaxation
in her life now, but her idea of a perfect afternoon off, is
to sit in a room with the kids playing around her and enjoy the
time together. She wouldn't have it any other way and loves every
moment of it all, the children and the horses and she wouldn't
change a thing.
 Kristen Schlitz
Never let a young pretty face fool you, especially
that of Kristen Schiltz. This young lady is one of the most capable
young trainers on the Arabian scene today. Having been crazy
and in the saddle since she was eight years old, now at twenty
three she is honing her craft and becoming the one to beat in
the hunter disciplines.
With a national championship in 2005 in the purebred hunter pleasure
junior horse, on I M Mystikal owned by Mike & Iona Ferrero,
as one of her biggest achievements in the ring, she will add
to this many more times in the years to come as she develops
her skills. The great thing about working at the Brass Ring she
says, is that there are so many great trainers to give advice,
not just the people working at the farm but also the trainers
who come to the barn and always have great recommendations to
help out. Wendy Potts is also her greatest mentor as she strives
to become the best she can be under her tutelage.
With three to four great open hunter horses to show this year,
Kristen feels honored to show any one of them, they are all such
great horses. There are many more to get started and bring along
as well. With a picture in her mind of her favorite hunter horse
that for her epitomizes the quintessential hunter horse, Rohara
Eura American+/, she works vigorously to perfect her dreams.
Life of a young trainer is not for the faint of heart; the long
days, busy show schedules, lengthy road trips and hours of physical
work on young horses has to have a reward in fulfilling their
passion and dedication. There is little time in the day to slow
down and with the busy show schedule from now until nationals
there will be little time for relaxation, but Kristen does take
a moment every so often to unwind listening to music or to read
a book, and occasionally can fit in having her hair done or the
luxury of having a pedicure.
Time away from her sister has also made this young lady grow
up stronger on her own. Carla moved to South Carolina to work
with Rick Gault, returning full circle in her journey as he was
their first mentor when the girls started riding. Kristen misses
her and their interaction and advice they gave each other over
the years and believes that sometime in the far future they will
once again work together when they open up their own independent
training facility. In the meantime there are challenges to be
learned and skills to be studied as this young lady becomes the
best that she can be in this complex world of training and showing
horses.
 Silvio Domingues
Silvio Domingues grew up loving horses and
twenty-two years ago he began a career with Arabian horses. In
his native Brazil he first became involved with Quarter Horses
at the age of fourteen and then he moved to a farm called Juru
Bota where he learned everything he could about Arabians and
they became his passion. John Neyer was the first person to teach
him all he knew about the breed.
Being a naturally talented horseman he learned all the disciplines,
from english, hunter, western, driving and halter as well. Then
his journey brought him the United States in 1998 where he went
to work for Judy Larson. This was quickly followed by honors
at Canadian Nationals when he won a Reserve National Championship
in the Purebred Country Driving in 1999.
He then moved to Turtle Rock where he worked for four years and
then on to Pegasus Arabians. In 2002 he won more nationals honors
in the Half-Arabian Pleasure Driving and along the way claimed
many regional wins and Class A championships. Over the years
one of his favorite horses has been Guided.
The move to Texas came in December 2006, and after only a few
short months, Silvio and his family have settled in at the Brass
Ring. Clarice, his wife, took over office duties and farm management
and his brother is helping out in the barn starting and training
horses and working around the farm. And so, the Brass Ring has
become home to their family. Silvio admits that he really likes
working for Gordon and Wendy and he stays very busy and it certainly
keeps him out of trouble!
The next horsewoman in the family is his six year old daughter,
who he speaks of with great affection. She has already competed
in leadline classes, but is now ready to move into walk trot.
He is thinking she may show this year, but admits to being a
little nervous about it, you can tell from his conversation he
is an indulgent, tender dad.
It is this side of him that thinks of the youth and amateurs
as the way for the future of the Arabian breed. He feels that
if more and more amateurs, young and older, become involved then
the breed will flourish.
As he heads into the busy show season, Silvio is ready to show
at several regionals and then on to US Nationals, so be sure
to watch for him in the arena as he follows his passion, training
the Arabian horse.
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