Evolution Of An Arabian Horsewoman not surprisingly, FF summer storm attracted offers; she soon was sold to betty and bill Zekan and transferred to Gene LaCroix. Humphrey has a better understanding of the situation now than she did then: “i probably would have jump-started my career by 10 years if i’d gotten to continue showing her,” she observes dryly. in the late 1970s, Humphrey found that her career and personal goals suddenly meshed. she had begun a relationship with Arabian breeder Jim Clinton, whose farm was three hours away in Dayton, so to pursue the relationship, she moved south—and leaped not only into what would become a marriage, but also into a new venture called the national show Horse. With three *bask sons, a saddlebred stallion, and a band of Arabian and saddlebred mares, they turned out national
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The lure of Georgia proved enduring as well. A year later, when it was time to open her own operation, Humphrey had no inclination to go anywhere else. “i knew i loved it,” she says. When she found the property in Canton that would become Vicki Humphrey Training Center, she was home.
Making A Name
ver the years, the steady rise of Vicki Humphrey’s career has been fueled by good clients who brought her good horses. Among the earliest were the Dorstewitz family and misty Dawn neeley, who established her profile as not only a trainer, but also an instructor. At the U.s. nationals in 1989, shannon Dorstewitz won Half-Arabian english Pleasure JoTr 17 & Under on the black gelding Jazz Festival, while neeley accounted for the tri-color in Half-Arabian english Pleasure AoTr 18 & over on CA Pipe Dreams. And for a sweep of the Half-Arabian english division, The socialite took the Park Championship with Ashley Dorstewitz. The parade of champion horses continued over the years, too many names to list—contenders such as Ultra Afire, maximumm overdrive, bey berry Love, oA star struck
show Horses and Half-Arabians like clockwork, and Humphrey’s name as a trainer began assuming national recognition. but as successful as the business was, the marriage didn’t last. in 1989, Humphrey and her two daughters, Lea and Jessica, moved to Georgia, where she signed on at Jean blackstone’s onyx Arabians. onyx did not remain in the business, but it yielded something more lasting. Humphrey lists Jean’s daughter, Lisa blackstone, one of her closest friends.
Humphrey and her daughter Jessica.
and more. more recently, the headliners have been the national champions Hucks Connection V, mandalay bay