Lisa recently competed in two aerobatics competitions and placed fifth out of 12, beating two instructors the first time up.
both great athletes, and they’re used to taking instruction. When you have all those things put together, you can say something, they understand it, and they can do it. It makes my job a lot easier,” says Tom, who describes Patrick and Lisa as astute students. “They have a great thirst of this kind of knowledge; they’re just like sponges.” The couple is taking what they’ve learned and training some of the young horses they have at home in southern California. “Lisa and I are training her horse by telephone,” laughs Tom. Because of the tremendous commitment involved in training a horse, Lisa finds herself strategically scheduling her training sessions between her travels, not unlike trying to schedule her show season. Despite the determination and seriousness with which they approach all aspects of the horses, both Patrick and Lisa are quick to point out that they’re in it for the enjoyment. “We want to have a great time,” says Patrick, who credits Tom for keeping them focused on what’s important. “And if we win in the process, that would be great,” adds Lisa with a smile. 126 CALIFORNIA
Tammen Talk Both have competed in the show ring. While Lisa has brought home ribbons in the Western and Hunter divisions, including a U.S. National Top Ten in Western Pleasure AAOTR with the couple’s first Arabian, BR Ferouk Robert, most of Patrick’s time in the ring has been at the end of a lead. In fact, long before he became the proud owner of the straightEgyptianstallionTammen(Abenhetep x Talgana), Patrick had been showing the horse in AOTH for the McNairs, racking up championships right and left. It was in 1991, when Lisa surprised Patrick with Tammen for his birthday, that the two “friends” became inseparable. “Patrick got the best birthday present he will probably ever get in his entire life!” laughs Lisa. “That really solidified a dream for me,” shares Patrick. “When you look at Tammen, he’s like the picture of my childhood dreams — that presence and that power, but such a loving, gentle nature. You can surround this horse with 300 kids and he just ‘hangs out,’ unlike any other stallion I have ever seen.”
“The Tammen babies have done extremely well,” adds Tom, referring in part to the 150plus championships that Hidden Springs Arabians of Newton, Miss., has garnered with Tammen get. His babies are winning in everything from Halter to English Pleasure to Working Cow Horse. Tammen, himself, has not only won on a regional level in Halter, but in Native Costume and Country English Pleasure as well. And while they will always keep their straight Egyptian lines, the Swayzes arebranchingoutandexploringthepossibilities of Polish/Tammen crosses. The couple’s goal is to breed a horse that is “physically breathtaking, has excellent temperament and mind, and is physically able.” Thus far, it’s working. Today, Tammen stands at Thistlewood Farm, where he breeds approximately30 mares a year and enjoys wellearned popularity. Lisa and Patrick are particularly excited about their Tammen daughter Bint Bint Subhaya (x Bint Subhaya), a beautiful, typey chestnut who Lisa is riding Hunt Seat. Patrick has also gotten the itch to show performance. “I would love to have a ‘big-gun’ English horse,” says Patrick, who is disappointed with the ARABIAN HORSE TIMES • JULY 1997