El Campeon Farms in the Santa Monica Mountains is bringing back one of the most endangered horse breeds in the world — the Santa Cruz Island (SCI) horse. The small herd, now up to 23 horses, may be the last of their kind, but a scientific breeding program to increase their numbers is underway.

"On a misty morning in Hidden Valley, a lone rider mounted a small horse and entered an arena nestled below an oak-studded hillside.

Calm, patient and sure-footed, Cochise, a 19-year-old gelding, followed commands with ease as his rider Hayley Pelton prompted him through a series of obstacles..."

"..A rare breed of horses is El Campeon’s current beneficiary since the Farm became a steward of the Santa Cruz Island Horses in 2014. These gentle, hearty horses can trace their genetics to the Iberian Peninsula, the origin point for the Colonial Spanish horses brought to North America by the Conquistadors and California’s Missionary Padres." 

"..Fifteen horses came off the island, leaving the breed with an incredibly small gene pool. Estimates have the breed at 60 horses now, but they’re spread across the country with herds in Florida, Northern California and at El Campeon Farms in Thousand Oaks, where 20 now live..."
 

"If you haven’t heard about Working Equitation yet, you will soon. 

Although relatively new to the United States, it is now the fastest growing equine sport in the nation, attracting riders from all disciplines including dressage, reining, jumping, working cow horse and trail riding.."

It’s hot at El Campeon Farms, even for early August. A hard wind accompanies the heat, blowing through the Conejo Valley, where this horse ranch sits in Southern California. Abby Followwill is saddled on a horse named Vince. His golden-brown coat and blond mane stand out against the saturated blue sky and dusty corral where Followwill is training with him...