Trainer/ ranch manager enjoying dream job

Amanda Borduin, 25, has loved horses since she was a small child and now she has her dream job—as trainer and manager of Rancho Soñado in the Elephant Head area,  owned by Dick and Nan Walden of Farmers Investment Co., FICO.

Her duties there keep her on the run, to put it mildly.

They include running the recently launched pasture boarding operation, managing the herd of about 60 commercial cattle, training horses  and teaching people,  plus  overseeing improvements at the 160-acre ranch previously owned by Ray Underdown.

“We’re delighted to have her join the team,” the ranch owners said. Dick is CEO of the large, pecan- growing operation in Green Valley and Sahuarita, and Nan is vice president and counsel.

The Waldens moved to Rancho Soñado  (“Dreamed of Ranch”) in September 2006, from their home in  Sahuarita.

Borduin started in her new job about a year ago and noted the ranch has already seen major improvements, including remodeling the main  house.

 Borduin, who majored in Spanish and minored in psychology at Pima Community College,  has been “horse crazy ever since I can remember,” she said.

She   grew up with horses  at her family’s home in Tucson, worked with top trainers and competed and won points and awards in many prestigious equine events, showing Quarter horses.

Top 10 rider

She was ranked in the top 10 in Arizona for several years and her record includes multiple All-Around High Points.

Competitive, versatile and hard-working, Borduin qualified six different horses in Arizona—one of the most competitive states in the country for Quarter horse and other equestrian events.

She competed in the Quarter Horse Youth World Show in Halter, Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunter Hack and Trail.

Borduin is proud to  mention that she’s worked with several top trainers, including internationally know Mark Sheridan, Mary Ann Adamcin, Scott Scheyli and Ken Thompson.

Versatile background

She believes working with these trainers has given her an extremely well-rounded horsemanship background, one in which she learned many different approaches to training.

That’s important in teaching she says, because no two horses are alike.

“What works well on one horse, may not work on another. You need to work from different angles until you find the one that works well for your horse.”

Borduin, who describes herself as “a perfectionist,” specializes in teaching trail riding to horses and exhibitors.

Having placed highly as a youth in the very precise     Quarter Horse Showmanship classes, she delights in teaching those skills to youth who want to compete and amateurs of all ages who want to compete or just enjoy trail riding.

About trail horses, Borduin has some definite ideas.

Traits needed for the  trail

“A good trail horse is responsive, athletic, and willing—three of the most important qualities I look for in any horse,” she explained.

“Likewise, a rider has to be intelligent, balanced and patient—three of the qualities horses want from their riders.”

Working with horses and the people who want to get to know their horses and reach whatever goal they set isn’t  simply  a job with Borduin, it’s a true passion from both the heart and the head.

She believes that with dedication ad enthusiasm, the sky  is the limit, and she encourages riders to reach for the stars in their performance and relationship with their horses.

While Arabians and Quarter horses are her main focus, Borduin welcomes all breeds and has worked with many different types of horses.

Despite some who regard Arabians as very high-strung and prone to be “spooky” and nervous, she finds them  “athletic, willing and intelligent, in both performance and cattle work.”

Rancho Soñado began offering all-breed pasture boarding   to the public about two months ago, Borduin said.

There’s a flat fee of $200  per month for pasture boarding, and $250  monthly for pasture boarding with use of the facilities—arenas, trails and barns.

Lots of trails

The ranch provides access to 6,000 acres of trails in the Santa Rita Mountains on state-lease (State Trust  land) nearby, where you can really get a close-up view of Elephant Head butte, mountain streams, canyons, cattle herds, wildlife and high desert plants and wildflowers.

There’s a separate charge for training and lessons. Currently, the ranch boards about 16 horses and can accommodate up to 40, Borduin said.

The contract at Rancho Soñado includes a humane clause which stipulates that “all animals at Rancho Soñado are to be treated with respect. We will not tolerate abuse or neglect of any animal. Rancho Soñado reserves the right to evict any animal and/or person for neglect, abuse or  behavior.”

For more information about boarding, training or lessons, call Rancho Soñado, located at 3155 W. Elephant Head Rd. in Amado,  at 398-8328.

For news about the Waldens’ and Borduin’s recent wins at the Arabian Horse Association’s Region 7 Show in Scottsdale, see story above.

kengle@gvnews.com|547-9732.