“Communication is not always soft and quiet between a horse and a rider, but that’s the goal we all strive for.”
For Jessica Leifson, it all started with a paint mare, “Shorty” Just Show N Off (1994-2014) who didn’t make the cut in the show arena but who taught her how to listen and communicate subtlety and was the inspiration for Show N Color Performance Horses.
Born and raised in Southern California, Jessica was riding before she was walking. With her mother showing paint horses in Western Pleasure and her father racing down the straight away as a Heeler in team roping, Jessica found herself immersed into two worlds of performance horses right from the start. Taught precision and poise, she started showing in the Western Pleasure but quickly found herself at her father’s side warming up and cooling off rope horses during competitions on her show days off.
By the time high school started, Jessica switched gears to play softball however her passion for horses still filled her spare time. She gave riding lessons and rode every chance she got strengthening her own horsemanship. Jessica soon headed to Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. Focused on her studies and playing softball as their utility player (literally everywhere) she couldn’t push her passion for horses aside. She started training horses around her schoolwork and softball practices and games. “Giving horses up just wasn’t in me. If I had a bad day in school or on the field, I was at the barn. Even if it was to just sit with them and be in their company.”
Thinking she had found the best of both worlds in Iowa – softball & horses, she met her husband, Brett. An Arizona native, Brett swept her off her feet and before long they were Arizona bound and married. Later to be blessed with two beautiful little girls, Paige & Paisley. Life was amazing. It was fantastic but there still was that ever gnawing passion for horses that hadn’t been full filled yet.
For Jessica the glass had to be filled and in 2016, Jessica enrolled in the Al Dunning Trainer Accreditation program. She was trying to get through the videos on what horsepower she had, but when you don’t have the expensive or well-bred horses, the work is harder. “Compared to most that go through my program, Jessica had a lesser stock which meant her technique and skills had to be way above average. She is just a natural with a horse. Every day she showed grit and determination, working harder than the day before. She never gave up. I am really proud of her and proud to have her on TEAM AD! – Al Dunning” (Aldunning.com) By 2019 she had to take time off for a knee reconstructive surgery, but she was back with even more drive to succeed and become a full-time trainer. By 2022, Jessica graduated from the Al Dunning Trainer Accreditation program and created her own training that can be considered a “start to finish” program. She loves working with young horses, building a solid foundation for their future performance possibilities. Additionally, she works with riders from everyday horsemanship to ranch trail and riding to cow horse.
While working through Al Dunning’s program, Jessica found team sorting and took lessons with someone closer to home in order to better those skills. She had always been fascinated with reined cow horse but figured team sorting and team penning would point her in the right direction. She loaded her mare bred to ranch and got started. Bred to ranch not bred as a quick footed cow horse, “JoJo” Pretty Jo Deuce (2011-2023) and Jessica would become CATPA Reserve Novice Champions in 2020. She purchased “Brother” Hugh Got Brakes (Thomas E Hughes X Snickerdual by Dual Pep), a 4-year-old gelding with no show experience who had only seen the property he was born on and the property she bought him from. Taking everything she knew, they became one. One week after purchase, they won the 6/4 class and the class incentive at Western States Production show in Buckeye. “He showed up and acted like a seasoned boss!” Hugh Got Brakes would take Jessica right to cow horse and today you will see them compete at both AQHA and NRCHA sanctioned events. He still competes in sorting from time to time and has started carrying her oldest daughter, Paige, to the sorting pay window!
Since 2020, the barn continues to expand including 2-year-old futurity prospect “Jolene” Highbrow Widowmaker (Thomas E Hughes X Short N Sassy Widow by Widows Freckles) and “Bing” Ichin Good Vibes (Cat Ichi x Reeds Instant Magic by Abracadabracre).
Show N Color offers performance horse training, rider program training, and boarding. Openings are available.
