Lathrop Strang skied to his death Friday April 25th, on Mount Sopris. There are no words to describe the life you lived- you were amazing in every aspect of your life. We love you Lados.
Memorial Service May 3 at the Ranch
The Strang Ranch is a family owned and run business. It is a working cattle ranch and a sport horse breeding operation as well as a busy equestrian center, hosting many hunter/jumper and dressage shows, clinics and daily lessons.
The ranch lies on 460 Acres of irrigated and pasture land in Western Colorado with outstanding views of the Elk Mountain Range, 25 miles from the Aspen Airport.
There is extensive trail riding, a recognized fox hunt, and an extensive hunter/jumper training barn.
We are thrilled and excited to welcome Greg Eleil back to Strang Ranch for a horsemanship clinic June 26-28 2009. “Greg Eliel, a horseman of the highest degree.”
Words of wisdom from Greg…
When you work a horse, throw your watch away! “I’m on horse time. If it takes 5 minutes or 5 hours, it doesn’t matter. Have an idea what to do, but let the horse set the agenda.” THE IDEA IS TO CREATE WILLING PARTICIPATION, REGARDLESS OF RIDING STYLE.
“Your horse doesn’t care how you dress; all discipline’s start from the same foundation. Get the horse to enjoy working for you rather than against you. You want to reward the smallest change, the slightest try.”
Greg has been a tremendous help to a lot of people all over the country, helping them get their horses straighter, softer and more responsive. From advanced show jumpers, to PRCA barrel racers, trail riders and new horse owners Greg has helped clarify our aids and fixed our positions to help our horses preform at the top of their game. As well as giving colts a great start, Greg has helped sort out problems from loading and unloading a horse in a trailer, teaching a horse how to tie, and helping beginners understand how to form a relationship based on trust with their horses, from the ground as well as in the saddle.
Miles is our second embryo transfer foal. He is by Mezcalaro (KWPN Voltair) out or Librety’s Diamond (KWPN Procurer/Farn/Inshalla). Miles achieved his Premium foal status with the American Holsteiner Association. His Mother, Liberty’s Diamond was entered into the Main Mare book.
Bridget has been on the farm, and around horses her whole life. She achieved her “A” rating in Pony Club, evented at the Advanced level for several years on a home bred horse, has shown up threw fourth Level USDF, and shown cutting horses at the NCHA western states championships. She shows at numerous AA rated shows, and has qualified and taken several students and horses for the national championships at Harrisburg and Washington. Both the hunter and jumper business and the lesson program focus on healthy, happy horses and riders. She has continued to breed sport horses, and really enjoys developing the young horses.
She enjoys developing young horses and students, as well as teaching the amateurs.
News from Strang Ranch April 2009
It has been a very full winter for the Strang Gang in Thermal California. WE took ten horses down, on a 18 hr trip that took four days……. Fortunately we eventually did make it safe and sound to California with well rested horses and trucks in good working order with some new parts……
We arrived on a Thursday, and Friday morning found ourselves at the Desert Circuit horse show!!! I think there was a week where there was not a show, but we were so busy clipping and unpacking and riding the winter out of our horses we hardly took notice. Before we knew it we were back at the horse show. With over twenty horses alternating show weeks, we were really busy for a solid seven weeks of horse shows!! Thank you all, for trusting us with their care and having the faith to send them to the show ring with us. Green horses are not always easy, and progress does not come at a steady pace. The horses were wonderful!! All those shows at Thermal had us very well prepared for our two weeks at the Oaks. 
Wonderview farms’ Quiet Time finished second in her 1.20meter classic at the Oaks, after several really good ribbons at Thermal in the very competitive level 5 jumpers. 
Carolyn Devan joined us for one week of showing, and catch rode “Top of my List” AKA Cooper to a reserve championship in the schooling pony hunter, and then stepped up to the Large Pony hunters. She did a wonderful job, and I was so proud of her figuring out a different pony, over huge jumps, in gale force winds!!!! The Strang horses, Fiona, Philip and Halleluljah, also had their successes, earning good ribbons from the pre-green hunters to the 1.30m jumpers.
Kristy Gregg will be managing the barn this summer. We also welcome Tara Hill from California here to do some riding and teaching. Hugh Coleby is also in residence starting and training colts. There will be three CWHJA hunter jumper shows at the ranch this summer, May 3rd, June 5 & 6, and August 29 & 30th. There are several clinics scheduled for this summer. Maria Wasson will be here May 15-16 and will be returning every month for her dressage/flat work/ good position clinics. Greg Eliel will be returning the end of June for his Horsemanship clinc. For many years Greg was a protégé of Ray Hunts’ and Buck Brannamans’. He is a very good teacher, and has a wonderful simple approach to problem solving. If you desire a straighter, softer, easier horse on the ground and riding, don’t miss this clinic. Please contact Bridget or Kit if you are interested in either of these clinics. Both clinics are open to all levels of riders.
January 2009
First of all, I would like thank everyone for coming to our horse shows this summer and making them fun and wonderful!! To those of you who RAN our April Horse Show a special thank you!!! And to everyone who makes our shows happen all summer long, thank you to for helping in the office, announcing, running the gate, picking up rails, timing, moving jumps, collecting trash and all the extra things you do.
It has been almost a year since you have heard from the Strang Gang and a lot has happened!!! California for the winter is definitely still on the schedule. Riding in the sun and sand in tee shirts in January just seems like the right thing to do!! Last year we had a very successful horse show circuit in Thermal and at The Oaks in San Juan Capistrano and can’t wait to get out there for this year. After our adventures in Denver at the stock show with Max and Mikes’ Lowline cattle and Bridget’s Border Collies, we will head west with thirteen horses for the winter. They will live at Laurie and Scott’s Tahquitz Equestrian Center in huge stalls and green grass turnouts. The new and improved horse show in Thermal is only ten minutes from the farm and a great place to train young horses as well as compete against the best.
There are many new faces around the barn. We had a terrific group of young kids in the lesson program this summer, and we look forward to their return. And we have many new boarder and clients. Welcome to all. We are thrilled you have come to the ranch, and look forward to the future.
We are fortunate to have wonderful help from Octovio Marquez, Hugh Coleby, Cody Weverstadt, Sylvia Johnson, and our wonderful working students Emily Alverez and Lilly Thorson.. They all contribute to the smooth operation in the barn from keeping the horses fed and healthy to training and teaching.
We welcomed Greg Best here in June and had a wonderful clinic. 
We hope Greg will be back this summer as well. Maria Wasson returned to the ranch to work her flat work magic every month. We look forward to seeing her in California this winter and back at the ranch in the summer. We also are very excited to have Greg Eliel back on the clinic schedule. Greg, was a student of Buck Branaman’s and is a wonderful teacher of Natural Horsemanship, addressing both the riders position and the horses mind. The horses are all excited he will be returning to add some clarity in their lives. Please contact us if you are interested in attending any of these clinics.
The Strang Gang attended a few “A” horse shows at the Colorado Horse Park, Estes Park and in Tucson. 
Estes Park was was amazing! Notable: Freckles and Leah Scholl, Champion in the Short Stirrup, Sue Pietrzak’s “Quiet Time” Champion in the Level 4 jumpers and Betty Anne Shenk’s “Duncan” Champion in the Green Conformation Hunters with Bridget. “Don’t Tell Daddy” was Reserve Champion in the Medium Pony Hunters with Courtnay Edwards. And finally, Gail and Bridget rode in the rotating riders relay class dressed as “the winners” and WON! 
The whole gang was amazing, and we had a ball!
Congratulations to every one for their achievements all year whether recognized with ribbons and trophies or not.
In the fall we ventured to High Prairie for a windy horse trial where Courtnay and Bell picked up a great ribbon. Then on to Tucson in the late fall to hold off winter for another couple weeks. Congratulations to Carolyn Devan and “Molly” for their Reserve Championship in the Pony Hunters and to Laura Pietrzak for her fabulous round in the classic!!! Betty Anne’s horse, Duncan, was champion again in his division and had the highest score in the Hunter Derby. Congratulations to all. 
< In September, We welcomed "Treat" into our lives, to help Rosie keep the sheep in order. He is a wonderful addition, thankyou Norm and Vicky CLose of Handhills Border Collies, for this wonderful dog!
2008 brought some perspective to all our lives. We honored Michelle Marlow’s wonderful horse, “Guizmo” who suffered an untimely death. We thank and appreciate so many friends who have helped us through this year and Lathrop’s devastating accident as we strive to keep his legacy alive. The Strang Gang.
Hi all
It has been a tough spring. We are figuring out how to live life with out Lathrop, and it does not seem as nice a place as it was with him here.,. The out pouring of support from the community has been wonderful and amazing. We thank everyone that helped run our horse show in April.
The Ranch is beautiful with all the winter snow and the spring rain, everything is green and beautiful. There are baby lambs, baby calves and the beautiful new baby horse “Miles”.
This beautiful colt is the second embryo transfer foal by Mezcalaro (Voltair) out of Liberty’s Diamond.
The ranch is bursting with activity. We are so happy to have Cody Weverstad here as the assistant trainer. She is a wonderful rider, and a great asset to the ranch. The working students, Lilly and Emily are a welcome addition to the barn. The lesson program is in full swing, with welcome back Ashley Smith teaching all the beginners. WE have a wonderful group of school horses, and enough teachers to take care of any scheduling problems. Hugh Coleby is in residence breaking and training young horses. We have had two CWHJA Hunter shows already, and both were a tremendous success. We have several new horses for sale. Please check out our sales page for more information. Greg Best gave a wonderful clinic in June and Maria Wasson has been here twice, and will return in August for her third dressage clinic. The Stang Gang with 15 horses is heading to Estes Park in August to horse show with the ‘big’ boys.
We had a wonderful time in Thermal California.
It was occationally a bit breezy, but we survived.
The young horses all moved up and became “real” show horses. Phillip showed in the five year old young Jumpers, Hallelujah got ribbons in the Low and Pre-green Hunters, and Strang Ranches’ Fiona was reserve champion in the Level Five jumpers. WE are looking forward to this summer of clinics and local shows. WE will be attending a couple “A” rated shows in August and September 
