COLBY POWELL PERFORMANCE HORSES
ALWAYS SEEKING TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS by CATHER INE COLE FER ANDELLI
Hard working, happy and loving all things involving “a good horse,” this description of trainer Colby Powell
continues. “They believed hard work and “stick-to-
itiveness” would teach us appreciation and dedication
takes on a simplistic tone. But make no mistake, this
to any career we decided to take on. I’ve always loved
excel alongside the Arabian horse industry’s greatest
the horses; none of it feels like a task. Spending time
just happen to be family.
realize early on that I wanted to have my own Arabian
talented up-and-coming trainer makes it look easy to horsemen (and women), and a couple of those greats
The son of highly respected horsewoman, LaRae
everything about being in the barn and being around getting to know many horses on my own made me
horse training operation.”
Fletcher Powell, and former trainer, Rod Powell, Colby
Colby’s beginnings in the show pen showed “his
with horses. “People are surprised when they hear my
start,” Colby chuckles. “The first one, Luv Affair,
and his siblings have spent their entire lives on and
parents actually encouraged and exposed us to other
careers paths,” Colby smiles. “I’ve always valued their
stuff ’ in walk/trot classes. “Two horses gave me my
packed me around the arena like a good western
walk/trot mount should, and I also had an older
open mindedness when it came to that.
English horse, Flashpoint LBA. He was really hot
“They both taught us horsemanship basics and then
the arena at whatever gait he chose! Truth is, we
pretty much left it up to us to learn on our own,” he
in the show pen, but I stayed on while f lying around
were terrible!”
Ar abian Horse Times | 2 | Colby Powell
Working western performances added to Colby’s
Colby remembers his youth years spent competing
reined cow horse his favorites. “I moved up early to
English horses, western pleasure, equitation, reining
“wanting to learn all the maneuvers that make a great
Colby doesn’t add, is that he earned roses in all
NRHA event on a Quarter Horse who really took
champion titles were achieved before he was a teenager!
early showing experiences, reining and working/
13 and under reining competitions,” Colby recollects, reining performance. My first reining show was an care of me. The crowd saw this and even counted
aloud the turns for me!”
Colby’s youth combined the school year and summers showing in the Northwest Arabian show circuit,
Canadian Nationals and Youth Nationals. The
Scottsdale All-Arabian Show in February and the
Region 7 Championships in April brought the family’s Silver Aspen Ranch clients down to sunny Arizona.
“My parents have a second home here, so Scottsdale always was a welcome winter break, showing in the
sun.” All the while Colby worked, earning the privilege
of keeping horses to show.
in a real “variety pack” of disciplines. “I showed
and even in reined/working cow horse classes.” What
these disciplines, and an incredible number of these
Graduating high school was a pivotal time for Colby.
Always pursuing opportunities to hone his craft, he
reached out to several outside trainers, making it known
he wanted to learn from other Arabian horse experts.
He was flattered to learn trainers were very open to his coming to work with them. “My big break was going
“
I’ve always loved everything about being in the barn and being around the horses; none of it feels like a task.”
Ar abian Horse Times | 3 | Colby Powell
down to The Brass Ring to work for Gordon Potts,”
Futurity, a huge accomplishment resulting in a “turn
show, especially in western pleasure. I took them all and
him forward on his own, the decision to sell Teddy
Colby shares. “Gordon gave me lots of opportunities to will always be grateful to Gordon for this.”
Graduating high school brought another piece of
progress in the form of a gift. “My parents gave me
gave him the funds to start his own training barn in
late 2015. “I took a big risk,” Colby states, “moving to
Scottsdale with one client, one horse.” That first client
was Julie Velasco. “When I first met Colby,” Julie says,
a Half-Arab reining futurity prospect named What
“he had just come to The Brass Ring as a trainer. I was
chestnut gelding possessed enormous athletic ability; it
in the Powell family.
pen.” Clearly a formidable team, Colby and Teddy
“Colby was just starting out with Gordon; I watched
A Doc Bar (aka Teddy),’ Colby explains. “My young
was up to me to see how he would perform in the show won the 2014 U.S. National Half-Arabian Reining
“
tide” decision. Feeling that his name would move
super excited because I knew of the tremendous talent
him work every discipline with the horses. I was so
impressed by his knowledge and skills. And he was so easy to ride with; as talented as he is with the horses,
My goal is to put out a great experience for our riders and equally so for their horses, all while having fun at the same time.”
he is equally so with the riders. Colby’s care of the
horses was amazing, and he always put the horses’ best
interests first. When he decided to go out on his own, I
never questioned that my horses would go with him. It
has been nothing but a success!”
Ar abian Horse Times | 4 | Colby Powell
More clients quickly followed Julie to Colby’s barn,
Half-Arabian pinto Out West to the Western Pleasure
who is succinct when she says, “What I love most about
gives enthusiastic testimony, “I have known Colby
such as Amateur Reining competitor Athena North,
Colby Powell Performance Horses is that Colby is
not just a trainer, but a wonderful friend. He is in this
industry for the right reasons and has a genuine love for
the Arabian horse. Colby is truly one of a kind!”
Trying to do what is best for the client is Colby’s quest.
Open Champion both years! Owner, Kathryn Quigg, since the day he was born, watching him show as a
youth rider, as we were long-time clients of his mother,
LaRae. Shortly after Colby’s move to Arizona, I put him to work finding me a new show horse to get us
back in the show ring. He found Out West (aka Wes),
a quality mount. He has done an outstanding job with
“My goal with our riders is to fulfill their goals and needs
Wes, earning two national championships and more.
horse,” he asserts. “Along with that, I love bringing up
ride, and I couldn’t be prouder of his work ethic and
by guiding them down the right path with the right
the young horses. They learn fast and it’s so rewarding to
Currently, Colby is training Wes for my daughter to
training abilities. I see myself with Colby for another
see them come into the discipline they favor.”
20+ years, as I was with his mother.”
Working with an assistant, Colby’s barn today averages
Colby Powell Performance Horses begins 2019 with
small, striving to regularly ride every horse in the barn.
experience for our riders,” Colby affirms, “and equally so
25-28 horses in training. He purposely keeps numbers
With over four dozen national titles to date, Colby is
no stranger to the winner’s circle. Still, U.S. Nationals
2017 and ‘18 were particularly gratifying, showing the
optimism and purpose. “My goal is to put out a great
for their horses, all while having fun at the same time.”
Proven words from one of the Arabian horse industry’s top-notch rising stars.
Ar abian Horse Times | 5 | Colby Powell
T S E W T OU
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2 0 17 & 2 0 18 U.S. N AT ION A L CH A MP ION HA L F -A R ABIAN W ES T ERN PL E ASURE OPEN
Colby Powell Performance Horses
ColbyPowellPH@gmail.com | (253) 508-7885
W W W.COLBYPOWELLPH.COM Ar abian Horse Times | 6 | Colby Powell
Owned by
Mary and Kathryn Quigg
A S E H Y B T R A me) (H es a Ze e+/ x Ar tymus
2 0 18 U. S N AT IO N A L R E S E R V E C H A M P IO N OPEN REINING W ITH COL BY POW EL L
2 0 17 & 2 0 18 U. S N AT ION A L C H A M P ION REINING A AOT R PRIME TIME
2 0 17 U. S N AT IO N A L R E S E R V E C H A M P IO N REINING A AOT R W ITH ROD POW EL L
F i r s t f o al s h o w i n g a t S co t t s dal e 2 0 19 . . . Owned by
Colby Powell
W W W.COLBYPOWELLPH.COM
SPINNIN ALL MY MONEY A R A BIA N REINING F U T URIT Y WITH COLBY POW ELL Ar abian Horse Times | 7 | Colby Powell
Thank you to all my amazing clients & horses!
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH AMATEURS OF ALL DISCIPLINES. Accepting outside training horses.
Colby Powell Performance Horses
Bella Vista Ranch 15027 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 ColbyPowellPH@gmail.com (253) 508-7885
WWW.COLBYPOWELLPH.COM