Her Background - A Brief Biography
Elizabeth Salmon started riding at age five. At sixteen, she began instructing after eleven years in the Pony Club. Having graduated from Agricultural College and completed her instructor training through the British Horse Society, she started judging at age twenty. She worked for a vet for three years and managed a large equestrian centre before marrying Ronald Salmon, the owner of Fairfield Arabian Farm. From 1963 - 1980 they successfully bred and showed several British National halter and performance champions in addition to training students from all over the world. Their Arabians were exported to many countries. Elizabeth trained and showed in dressage for many years under the instruction of Spanish Riding School trained instructors Charles Harris and John Lassiter.
She became a halter and ridden judge for the British Arab Horse Society in 1970 and continues to be on their panel of judges. She is a founding member of W.A.H.O.[World Arab Horse Organization].
1980 - 1986. She was invited to head and develop the Equine Science program at Texas A&M University (Kingsville) in south Texas. She brought the program up to a minor degree in the Animal Science Department, while also creating an outstanding Arabian show string with her students.
After six years at A&M Kingsville, she moved to Dallas to freelance as a consultant. In 1986 she was instrumental, along with Paul Adams of Adams Quest Arabians, in importing and managing the Arabian international champion stallion, *Ralvon Elijah, for the Elijah Enterprise partnership. In this highly successful venture, she even went so far as riding him herself to win his performance points in dressage qualifying him for the 1988 U.S. Nationals. She was responsible for breeding management, breeding sales and general promotion of the horse.
She left England holding four judges cards and continues to pursue her 40 year Arabian judging career. She held her A.H.S.A./IAHA Big ‘R’ Arabian judge’s card for 10 years. She has judged the British Nationals six times. In 2002 and 2006 she judged the U.K. Egyptian Event and judged the 2006 Gold Show as well.
In Australia she judged the National Stud show in 1990, the major show in Tasmania in 1995 and the 1997 Victoria Classic Show in Melbourne. She judged two shows in New Zealand in 1999. In 2003 she judged the South Coast Championships in Melbourne. She judged the Diamond Show Case in Melbourne in 2005 and the Pan Pacific show in Brisbane in 2006. She has judged Western, Driving, Show Hack and Costume in Australia.
She has judged in Canada as well as the U.S. where she judged all Halter and Performance classes, including Western and English Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure, Show Hack, Reining and Driving. In 2001 she judged the Venezuelan National Show. In 2004, she judged the Jordanian National Show in Amman. In January 2005 she judged the International Show in Uruguay, and in 2007 she judged the New Zealand Nationals.
She has given depositions and testified in court for legal disputes as an expert witness, mostly on evaluations.
She is currently writing for several Arabian periodicals. She wrote for the Arabian Horse Times for fourteen years. She writes periodically in Arabian Horse Magazine and the The Arabian Horse World magazine here in the U.S. She also writes for the Arabian Horse Express and The Australian Arabian Horse News in Australia and as well as the The Arabian Magazine and the British Arab Horse Society News in England.
From January of 1994 to 1996 she worked with the La Cabreah Farms management team as their international consultant to promote their U.S. Reserve National Champion Stallion, Padron’s Psyche, until they found a permanent farm manager.
She travels worldwide judging, writing and consulting. She also works with Arabian breeders in the U.S. by providing accurate evaluations of their horses and recommendation on breeding programs.