Elaine started being active at a young age. Her first backpack trip was up at Lake Tahoe: The Desolation Wilderness to Fallen Leaf Lake. From the Sierras to the Rockies back to the Cascades and Mt Ranier, she enjoyed hikes, cross-country treks, or any activity that involved God's backyards. Her individual athletic achievements included ballet, ice-skating and horseback showing. Her talent and grace developed in her years of ballet. In the fifth grade she outgrew the limits of the local dance studio and invited to join the San Francisco ballet school and advance to toe-shoe. A decision to move to ice-skating was made so her bones were not impacted. Her skating led to competition where her ballet combined with athleticism shone. While competing she had contact with many senior level folks, the most notable was Dorothy Hamill at the Colorado training arena. Inter-twined with the dancing related activities was her first love of riding Quarter Horses. She was a natural on Leslie's blood bay Trip's Copy Cat. Her first and own mare was Kim's Reward. Kim was born in Colorado, moved to California and came back to the Durango area to finish her years. Elaine got to share her girl with Don and Sean. Many First Prizes combined with hours of practice and grooming made the loving bond between horse and human. Elaine was always doing something outside on her days off... and her love of creatures lead to the several generations of dogs - her favorite being the American Water Spaniel.