ABOUT LESLEY AND ELLA
I think the question I get asked the most when I meet people over here, and they recognise that I have an American accent is, "Why in the world did you move to Scotland from California!?" Good question. It was never even something on my radar, and yet, here I am. And...... I couldn't be happier about it!!
It all started with a two week trip here from California in 2016 with my sister, Becca, and her husband, John to photograph their eldest daughter's wedding. We all fell in love with Scotland, and the wheels started turning in our minds. John was retiring from a career in teaching and he and Becca had two of their five children already living here. It seemed like a great new adventure waiting to happen. At first I wasn't planning to go with them, but soon I realised that after 25 years of living at, and running the horse ranch I had built, Blue Fountain Farm, life wasn't as fulfilling as it had been. I, too, was ready for something new.
It was not an easy task for me to get the right to move here, but after many trials and tribulations, 5 days before our scheduled flight to move to Scotland, I finally received my visa giving me permission to do so, and off we went.
Before moving to Scotland I owned and ran the horse ranch I mentioned, Blue Fountain Farm, in the Gold Country Foothills of Northern California. I trained horses and their riders in disciplines from Show Jumping, to Dressage, to Cowboy Dressage. I started many colts and also bred purebred and crossbred Lipizzans with my rare, black Lipizzan stallion imported from Hungary..... Siglavy XI-6..... aka "Jozsef". At "BFF" we hosted clinics with famous horsemen and women, and also hosted many horse shows. It was always a busy and popular place.
Way back in the "olden days" when I was in my teens and early twenties, I toured the show circuit up and down the California coast showing my once in a lifetime, off the track (for $500!) thoroughbred gelding..... Lucky Moment..... aka "Moses". He took me to Mexico representing the U.S. in Grand Prix jumping competition, and we jumped a 7' puissance wall early in our career together. He won many championships and was popular for his very unique style of jumping....and boy, did he take good care of his young rider!
As well as my love for horses, my other passion in life has always been photography. The first camera I ever owned was a little "Brownie" camera that my dad bought for me when I was about 10 or 11 yrs old. That led to me eventually photographing weddings, being an official photographer at horse shows, and doing equine and human photo shoots. My photos were also on the cover and inside of magazines, as well as in published books. Now I enjoy taking photos of my everyday journeys out and about, with the occasional family or friend's photo shoot. I have a photo web site here.
When I first moved to Scotland I brought my lovely Yellow Lab, Dory. We had many incredible times together, but after only three short years here, when she was only 6 years old, I had to make the horrible decision to put her to sleep because of the increasing pain of an arthritic condition. Needless to say, it was devastating..........however, after only a few days without my Dory, I realised that I couldn't be without a dog in my life. Enter "Ella".
Ella is another "yellow" (she's actually more of a light red) Lab, and is my constant and much loved companion. Of course, she's perfect! I got her as an eight week old pup - she's now 6 yrs old - and I can't imagine life without her. She knows how to be a photographer's dog, patiently waiting while I'm shooting away, or else doing her signature "sit up" pose when she feels neglected. She's a very happy go lucky pooch, and is keeping me young at heart.........which is much needed when you are in your early 70s!!
I am now retired from the teaching I was doing for several. years after moving here, so there is ample time to take my dog..... and my camera..... and get out to enjoy the beauty that is Scotland.
