Everything Horses and Livestock® Magazine February 2018 Vol 3 Issue 1

Everything Horses and Livestock Magazine ®

trained another Arabian mare by the name of Phoenix. In 2005, Whitney graduated from Johnson County Community College with an Associate of Fine Arts degree. She moved to Wisconsin with her mom and stepdad, Dennis Labus, owner of Labus Christmas trees and DD Arabians. After graduating with an Associate of Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant degree from Western Wisconsin Technical College in 2008, Whitney moved back to Kansas taking a job opportunity in occupational therapy. During a visit with her parents in Wisconsin, Whitney’s eyes met a young two-year-old gelding named DD Nizons Amigo but known only as "Slick". You see, Dennis has raised Arabians for over thirty years, but “Slick” didn’t fit the stereotypical image of a compact Arabian. He was long-legged, awkward, and a little goofy. He seemed to be seeking attention from Whitney. When she left the farm, “Slick's” image was forever etched in her mind. As Slick continued to move around in Whitney’s mind, it sparked a new dream, a dream of endurance – distance riding. She recalled a book she had read called "And Miles to Go". It’s a story of the survival of an Arabian Stallion, Witez ll, who was rescued during WWII and escaped Poland and the Nazis. As a matter of fact, all of Dennis’s horses went back to

Miles and Miles

You might think they are an unlikely match, considering it was a young girl's dream of owning a 16+ hand warmblood or thoroughbred. Whitney Lowe started her riding career taking lessons from Bev Chester when she was 5 years old. Her first lesson and riding horse was a leopard POA mare, Suzi that she received for her 4th birthday. Whitney dreamed of riding the cross-country courses, flying over the jumps on a big horse.

cross-country together through Pony Club and riding lessons. Fathom's nickname was "Iron Jaws". He was quite a strong horse for a small eight-year-old girl, but Whitney could handle him very well. As high school age came around, Whitney’s dream was side-tracked, but her dreaming continued in her mind. Lloyd Janssen raised Arabians and delighted in giving a passionate young person a horse to train. She was not sold on the Arabian breed, but under Mr. Janssen's supervision and assistance, Whitney learned to break and train her mare, Jasmine. Together she and Jasmine enjoyed trail riding and learning tricks. After Jasmine, Whitney

At the age of eight, Whitney moved up to Fathom. Fathom was a 15.3 hand buckskin Quarter Horse that loved to jump. They trained and showed in hunter/jumper classes and

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