Bob and Karen Steffens live in the pristine San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado, near the town of Alamosa.  Dr. Bob, as he is known among the locals, has been in veterinary practice there for 36 years.  His clinic clientele is diverse, and he takes great pleasure in working on large and small animals alike.  Reminiscent of days gone by, there is no specialization in this pleasant, rural environment, and a veterinarian sees and does it all.

Recently retired from a career in Special Education, Karen helps run the behind-the-scenes operations of the vet clinic.   She still teaches part time in the Graduate Education Department at Adams State College, and devotes a great deal of time to Youth Track, a self-contained Correctional Detention facility for Boys.

Bob and Karen both have a long history with Arabian horses.  Karen began with endurance horses and competitive trail riding.  She consistently placed in the top ten and received numerous best condition awards.  She also loved competing in Arabian and Open Dressage classes and Arabian Hunter classes.

Bob's introduction to Arabians began with a 10 year career judging endurance horses.  He began to appreciate the breed's diversity, ability, and beauty.  Bob's first purebred Arabian horse was the grey stallion, Sililoquy, by Talagato out of Silhoulette, bred by Mike Nichol in 1976.  Trained and shown by Bob, Sililoquy was Region 8 Reserve Champion Amateur Western Pleasure, and went on to be shown successfully in Dressage and Hunter Classes by Karen.  This wonderful horse is still alive and well on the Steffens farm at 29 years old.

Over the past 27 years, Bob and Karen have bred, raised, trained and shown many horses to the Regional and National Championship Level.  Among their success stories are Takatta, NA Saalaar, Sangre Rico, Gallent Tari, Silent Serenade, and Sue Friday.

But the Steffens' greatest success came when they acquired a loud colored American Paint Horse stallion, Jasper Jigsaw, and bred him to their wonderful mare, SA Ginek.  To date, this cross has produced: 

1. Medicine Man – National Top Ten Hunter

2. First Light – National Top Ten Halter Mare, Colorado Western Futurity Mare

3. Thom Thom+// – Six-Time National and Canadian Champion Trail Horse

*All of the above horses were bred, trained, and first shown by Bob Steffens. 

Jasper Jigsaw is continuing to prove his siring ability in other promising youngsters at Steffens Arabians. 

See Jasper Jigsaw's page for breeding information.

Bob and Karen enjoy their Arabians to the fullest.  In addition to their competitive endeavors, they are avid trail riders and believe strongly in stretching their horses' boundaries beyond the show ring rails.  The mental and physical benefits to horse and rider are incomparable, and proof of Steffens' successful program is undeniable. 

Feel free to call Bob or Karen and discuss your next part or purebred prospect.  And don't worry - Bob and Karen's son, Matthew, went in another direction with horses!  But he lives in Wiley, CO!