FAMILY SHOWCASE
The Iverson Family A Life Long Passion for our Sport
by Kathy Hobstetter Photos Courtesy Iverson Family
equitation horses to have graced our show rings. And they are at it again with the spectacular Grand Prix horse Cantano, shown by Susie Hutchison. Where did they come from and how did they get to this point? Pat was born in Holland near the Hague, and grew
J
im and Pat Iverson have been long been one of the key owners of top horses on the west coast. Starting as far back as the mid seventies, they have owned, shown and sold some of the best hunters, jumpers and
her own. Only by chance did they meet at that party, instantly the sparks flew and in Jim's words, "Away we went!". Married in 1961, and living in White Plains, New
up on the European continent. Her father's job trans- ferred him back to the United States in 1954 and the family landed in Scarsdale, New York where Pat settled into life as a young single lady. Jim on the other hand, was born here in this country, Seattle, Washington to be exact, but moved around a bit as a youngster. Finally landing in New York in 1956, by way of Chicago, he started his adulthood working and doing what all young men then did....looking for a wife!
people would have friends, neighbors, and heaven for- bid their families, trying to get them set up with a suit- able date. So was the case with Jim. Heading to a party with a blind date, unbeknownst to him, he was on a collision course with the unmet love of his life who was on her way to the same party with a blind date of
Blind dates were very popular, and usually young
he decided he would rather be broke living in the Cali- fornia sun than freezing in the Chicago snow, and they headed west. First stop was Del Mar but Rancho Santa Fe was always in Jim's mind as the place he wanted to live someday. Pat decided the girls would do well in a summer camp
York, they had two children, both daughters. Sandy is the oldest and Jenny is right behind her. It was certainly a Fathers Knows Best type family and life went along pretty nicely, including a move back to Chicago. Then in 1970, when Jim found himself unemployed,
since they needed to stay busy and could meet new friends. Augie Handley, then at Bonita Valley Farm, filled the summer time for the girls and that is where they met horses. The entire family began a love affair with these animals that would last their lifetime. First it was one lesson a week each with Nancy Nor- dstrom (before she married Kenny) and then one pony for the girls to share. They starting showing at county shows (Sandy was 10 years old and Jenny was 8) with the parents being both supporters and grooms. Quite a family endeavor and an adventure they talk about with sincere affection. But, according to Jim, "We can't seem to just do
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