Canadian Nationals

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August 21, 2009

One of Life's Great Competitors at 73

If living well is about setting a great example, Eleanor Hamilton has lived an exemplary Arabian horsewoman's life. She's been dedicated to the breed for most of her 73 years, beloved by her fellow horsemen for her loyalty, honesty and a work ethic that strongly reflects her sound Nebraska prairie-rancher upbringing. "I enjoy coming up to Canadian Nationals and showing horses," Hamilton says. "This is the sort of country where I was raised. I feel right at home up here." Hamilton has other reasons to like the Canadian National Show, among other great Arabian show ring moments, her Arabian stallion Hesa Zee+/ (Xenophonn x Something Special) was Reserve National Champion Reining in Canada. This year, Eleanor is showing in Western Pleasure AAOTR and AATR 40 & Over on the handsome TAF Pennant (Piechur x Enna). The horse-and-rider team was Region 10 champions in the AOTR in June. Hamilton had been planning to bring LA Katalina (Laddinns Fire x Katrina Bey), her four-time U.S. and Canadian National Top-10 reiner, but the mare died from colic and complications earlier this summer. It was a sad and unfortunate moment but Hamilton is rebounding.
"I bred a nice gelding named Millenium Eclipse and bought him back last month," she says. "He's by Hesa Zee+/ and has a modest reining record. I'm looking forward to getting him ready for the shows next year." Hamilton is a strong participant in the Arabian community. A voting member of four local Arabian clubs, longtime President of the Arabian Reining Horse Association and secretary of the Minnesota Arabian Horse Breeders for many years, she's particularly active in the new, vital resurgence of the Arabian reining horse and the Scottsdale Reining Futurities. "The market for reining horses has encouraged me to breed," Hamilton says. "We had nine foals this year, about half and half, purebreds and Half-Arabians. I own and stand six stallions, also 50-50, Quarter Horses and Arabians. I really have two separate breeding programs. I want a great athlete with a trainable, quiet disposition. I also want an Arabian-looking horse. I love Arabian horses. Anyone who loves these horses wants to ride a pretty one. Besides, if the reining doesn't work out, the pretty, talented horses I breed can do western and hunter pleasure too." Hamilton not only sets a great example for her peers, she also gets a big kick out of encouraging newcomers in the Arabian breed to get involved, ride and really enjoy themselves. Age doesn't matter, she frequently notes and then steps into the stirrup and proves it. "At 73 I am still an active breeder and exhibitor of Arabian reining and western pleasure horses," she says smiling with more than a hint of pride. "I take great delight in the fact that I can honestly say to people, 'Just look at the tremendous ability and disposition possessed by Arabian horses! I'm 73. If I can do this and enjoy every minute of it, anybody can!' "