FAMILY IN FOCUS
W
atching the two of them is like watching
a mixture of Laura and Hardy, Cheech and
Chong, Spin and Marty, Sonny and Cher or Paul
Newman and Joanne Woodward. All of these
have a common denominator that is prevalent with
the Bond’s, they really like each other! Spending so
much time together, especially for a parent and child,
can tax the best of relationships but in this particular
case, it has made the strength between them stronger.
Steve Bond was born in Israel but time, so between that and my acting jumpers and I was doing it for fun.
raised in California by his mother. career I was rarely home.” Although she was doing really well
His mother was Hungarian and “At the same time Ashlee was with Flying Colors and another
after meeting his father in Italy they about 7 years old and had started one named Maverick, I bought her
settled in Israel before coming across jumping and doing the pony classes Lapaloup from the Oaks for her first
the Atlantic to the states. Locating at shows. She was taking lessons at Junior Jumper,” said Steve.
here 1965, Steve never got far from Far West, with the Karazissis family, Riding that horse, she ended up
the family roots of this grandfather. and had already had a huge success winning her first Grand Prix as a 15
“I guess I come by the horse bug in the pony ring. About that time years old. In that inaugural $50,000
through genetics,” said Steve with a Cindy, my wife, said ‘we need you to Grand Prix, she was first on Lapaloup
laugh. “My Grandfather had a huge spend more time with us.’ I thought and second on a horse, Pablo, that
horse farm in Hungary and I guess about it and decided to take the was another gift. Steve had shown it
that means I’m a Cossack at heart. summer off to spend time hanging in some Grand Prix before Ashlee
My passions have always been horses, out with them. Ashlee had already got that ride and then another when
then acting.” gone back east and won 5 National Fabius 45 came along.
Here in the states he gravitated to championships on the ponies and Ashlee went to Young Riders, won
horses and found himself at Pickwick was really successful for a young kid. 2 of the 3 non Championship classes
Stables helping Carlos. No one really She won the Pony Finals on Be MY with Fabius 45 and anchored the “A”
remembers what Carlos last name Guest, was Reserve Champion on Team on Pablo. This parlayed her
was; they just remember the stable Beaujolais and was on the California into the position of being Rookie
that sat where the LA Equestrian Team that was Champion in the Pony of the year in 2001 riding Pablo,
Center is now. Working for Johnny Jumpers. Ashee, on Beaujolais, was Lapaloup and Fabius 45.
Grant, mayor of Hollywood at the Chronicle Horse of the Year Rider Qualifying for an opportunity to
time, Steve got involved with acting that year and we knew she needed to do the Olympic Trials on Fabius (she
and rodeo, but found he loved the move up, so we bought Flying Colors was 18), her first effort ended her up
bull riding and bareback broncs. “I for her first shot at the jumpers.” in the middle of the pack and not
was still working for Johnny and “I could not be around the horses very happy. After all the years she was
when I turned 18, I decided to try to and not ride so I took one of the polo losing the intense drive and passion
make a name for myself as an actor. I ponies and made it a jumper and I for the sport, never the horses, just
didn’t ride for many years but I always could ride to. I was just learning about the sport. Right after that, while in
knew that when I could afford it I strides and details but I was never Mexico on a horse shopping trip, she
would come back to horses.” afraid to go fast. I did a course where took a bad fall, injuring her back and
“I made the mistake of picking up the two to a three stride became a she quit riding at 19.
a polo mallet and got addicted to the one to one and a half for me. Scared Working for her mom, Cindy,
game, began playing polo and did everyone so Will Simpson told Kost (Promenade Pictures) Ashlee
that as often as I could. It is really Karazissis that he had a horse for me worked under Frank Yablans, head
a blast and something riders can do that would tolerate that. Z Chloe was of Paramount, co founder of Buena
and still have another profession,” to become my first good one.” Vista. She was his Administration
Steve reflects. “It took up a lot of “At that time Ashlee was in the Assistant for those years and also
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