America's Horse, June 2012

For AMERICAN ≤UARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS

AMERICA’S

H≤RSE JUNE 2012 • www.aqha.com

READY FOR A CHALLENGE NAVIGATING THE INAUGURAL AQHA TRAIL CHALLENGE

june 2012

a m e r i c a s h o r s e d a i l y. c o m

HO L LY C L A N A HA N

Features 20 Blazing a Fun New Trail

Participants in the inaugural AQHA Trail Challenge were a diverse – and happy – group.

By Kelly Bruce Beard

26 Charge of the Bright Brigade The 1st Cavalry Horse Detachment carries on tradition at Fort Hood, Texas.

By Richard Chamberlain

36 Stampede!

Canada’s Calgary Stampede rodeo and western exhibition is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.

By Tom Moates

40 The Renaissance Cowgirl

Baru Spiller entered the AQHA spotlight by winning her division of the inaugural AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge. But there’s a lot more to her than that.

By Megan Brincks

44 “Hannah’s Law”

This Hallmark Channel Western features a Quarter Horse-riding bounty hunter.

By Tom Moates

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Horsemen's Reunion Lots of shared connections made this a good experience for the colt-starters, who in turn gave 40 colts a good experience under saddle.

Cover

Peggy Harowitz of Palm City, Florida, steers Anns Artful Dodger through the palmetto brush, an obstacle at the inaugural AQHA Trail Challenge.

Photo by Kelly Bruce Beard

departments

By Holly Clanahan

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Readers Write Letters and fun photos from AQHA members

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AQHA Business Work in Progress By Patti Carter-Pratt, AQHA executive director of shows

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Another Approach Horsemanship Is a Journey By AQHA Professional Horseman

Brent Graef

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The Gallop Report Epiphanies By Holly Clanahan

46 Bits & Spurs Learn about AQHA’s first Latin American Championships, make sure your copy

of the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations is current, and plan a trip that will teach you more about trails.

56 Horse People Special horse people from Kentucky, Massachusetts and Texas 62 Mane Events Meet our stable of great corporate partners and see what AQHA events are on deck.

64 Sage Remarks Quotes and quips about horses

≤ tra i l h o rs e

Blazing a FUN NEW

Participants in the inaugural AQHA Trail

Trail

Challenge were a diverse – and happy – group.

A

Story and photos by Kelly Bruce Beard

aqha competition stepped out of the arena and onto

the trail for the inaugural Trail Challenge – providing a shining example of horsemanship, teamwork and the versatility of the American Quarter Horse.

As one might expect, there were quite a few trail horses in attendance at the event, which took place on March 24 at Fox Trail Farm in Palm City, Florida, as a fundraiser for the Florida Quarter Horse Youth Association. But there were also hunters, jumpers, cutters, reiners, pleasure and dressage horses, and just about every other make and model in between.

The riders, who were just as diverse as the horses – all ages, levels of experience and disciplines – united to make AQHA history, competing in an event that celebrates the challenges found on the trail.

Setting the Course

fox trail farm, owned by jack peeples, is centrally located

on Florida’s East Coast and provides a combination of natural and man-made obstacles.

“We were noticing a lot of accidents on the trails here. The trail riders said the horses were spooking at different surfaces, unwilling to cross bridges or go through water,” Jack says.

“We started creating different obstacles so we could bring trail horses here and condition them safely. That way, when

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they got out on the trail, they would be able to handle it.”

The course features a variety of surfaces: grass, sand, wood, concrete, pavers and pebbles, even bridges and water crossings.

There are steps, hills and changes in elevation, allowing horse and rider to experience different degrees of incline – something that can be hard to find in the Sunshine State.

“For the most part, everything in this area is flat, so when horses encounter a change in elevation, they get scared because they’re not accustomed to it,” Jack explains. “They have very poor close-range depth perception; they don’t know if they’re stepping down a few inches or into the Grand Canyon.”

From the Ground Up jack, a lawyer by profession and horseman at heart,

needed someone to train the horses and riders who wanted to try his course, while he attended to his law practice. He approached AQHA Professional Horsewoman and judge Cindy Reddish about leasing the farm and the adjoining trail course.

Cindy specializes in Quarter Horse hunters and jumpers, but can also be found competing in working cow horse events in her spare time. When training, she calls upon the principles of various disciplines – from dressage to cow work – to keep her clients and their horses at the top of their class. After a private lesson with extreme trail expert Mark Bolender at

Stephanie Dow of Jensen Beach, Florida, rides JS Sweet Zipsation across a 22-foot-high bridge.

Jack’s farm, she was hooked.

“I thought it was a great opportunity – the course looked like a playground for horses,” says Cindy, who lives in Palm City and trains at Savannah Pines Equestrian Center. “I’m always looking for something different, new ideas and ways to make things interesting. A lot of people riding these days are older and may not want to jump. This is a neat thing for them to do, and it really shows a partnership with their horse.”

Before the Trail Challenge, Cindy led an extreme trail clinic, along with fellow trainers and instructors Thea Bullard of Fort Pierce and Donnie Boyd of Sarasota. All participants were required to lead their horse on foot through all the obstacles before attempting them mounted.

“I start all my clinics on the ground, because it eliminates rider interference,” Cindy says. “The horse gets the confidence going over different obstacles without the rider interfering. They learn to pick their way through, and it gives them confidence in all these individual challenges.”

The positive experience also builds respect and strengthens the horse and rider relationship, Thea explains.

“The rider benefits by building confidence and learning how to have a trusting relationship between herself and the horse. The horse gets the same benefit. He learns to trust his partner, and he becomes more relaxed. Cindy develops that

trust from the ground up in her clinics, so when the rider gets on, the horse has already learned to negotiate the obstacle and trust the person guiding him.”

Even advanced riders and seasoned performance horses can reap the benefits of cross training for the Trail Challenge.

“It’s great for show horses because they’re in an arena all the time and you’re constantly drilling, trying to get them to focus on the job at hand, but they need to do something different every once in a while. It refreshes their mind,” Cindy says.

Ready for a Challenge after the clinic, the teams put their skills to the test.

They were divided into levels based on the horse and rider partnership: Level 1 – a training level or new partnership; Level 2 – an intermediate or established partnership; Level 3 – master level with the ability to negotiate difficult obstacles; and Level 4 – an added “Extreme Trail Challenge” and jackpot division to up the ante. There were classes for adults, youth and equestrians with disabilities, with Quarter Horse and all-breed divisions.

The trail patterns consisted of 16 obstacles (26 for Level 4), with three judges stationed throughout the course. Patterns were distributed at registration, and colored flags marked the A M E R I C A’ S H O R S E J U N E 2 0 1 2

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course for each level. Each partnership began with a score of 70, with additions or subtractions based on the team’s performance.

Some of the challenges included passing through an area of thick brush; moving a slicker; crossing a ditch, either by bridge, walking through a dry area or a water crossing; a gate; logs and “junkyard” objects; various step-overs and uphill/ downhill elevations; stationary obstacles; even a miniature horse corralled near the trail. The highlight for many: crossing a 22-foot-tall bridge – even higher from the top of a horse.

Level 1 participants completed a basic course at the walk and jog. As each level progressed, the pace increased, and the challenges became more difficult in scope. Extra points were given for obstacles that were completed with advanced difficulty.

Whizzer Baker, AQHA judge and Professional Horseman, served as head judge and also helped develop the Trail Challenge rules, which will be used at similar events across the country.

He stressed that there is more to the challenge than simply completing the course without refusals or deviating from the pattern. A team that navigates calmly and willingly, without resistance or force, is ideal.

“In reality, it’s about how well you and your horse work together. It’s not about showing me the fanciest horse,” he explains. “There were some very good riders out here on horses that were not performing. They didn’t score well, and should not. This is about how well you ride your horse and

Bailey Martin, FQHYA member from Sarasota, Florida, and her 21-year-old gelding, Sports Coat, were the first youth partnership to earn AQHA Trail Challenge Merits.

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how well your horse responds to you in situations that are not like the arena.”

Happy Trails for many, the experience was a reward in and of itself.

“The Trail Challenge was great fun. It reaffirmed our mutual trust and respect for each other and challenged us to step out of our comfort zone and try new things,” says Stephanie Dow, of Jensen Beach, who participated in the clinic and competition with her AQHA mare, JS Sweet Zipsation. “For us, it has been a long process. ‘Zippy’ had some scary habits when I got her – rearing when she was nervous. We’ve worked slowly for several years together, and this event truly showed me how patience and perseverance have paid off.”

The top 10 riders in each class accepted ribbons with beaming smiles. In addition, Trail Challenge Merits were awarded to registered Quarter Horses and AQHA member partnerships that placed in the top five, an achievement noted on the horse’s permanent record.

“People that might not feel comfortable trying an equitation pattern or things of that nature can accomplish some great feats out here that they wouldn’t have imagined,” Thea says.

“It’s not the stereotypical horse show – and show horses can do this – but for riders who might not feel confident at a horse show, this is something they can do. It’s a very rewarding

experience to be able to negotiate these obstacles.”

Cindy adds, “You get a different type of horse and rider at the Trail Challenge, as opposed to the typical horse show. You do get show-horse people, but I noticed at this first event that trail riders won many of the classes.”

Bridget Hughen, who describes herself as a leisurely trail rider, was shocked when she won her division with her mare, GDA Roses Best.

“I still can’t believe we placed first. There are so many nice horses out here and so many great riders. But ‘Rosie’ did everything to the best of her ability, and I did it to the best of my ability. I feel great about it, and she knows she’s a nice horse. I love my Quarter Horse!” the Malabar resident says with a smile.

The event was a success for FQHYA, too. “All in all, this was the best fundraiser we’ve ever had, and enjoyable as well,” says Kathy Boyd, youth adviser and event organizer.

At the end of the day, competitors made AQHA history and left with a sense of accomplishment for the obstacles they tackled successfully. Relationships between horse and rider were strengthened, and new friendships were made as equestrians of all backgrounds shared a common goal.

Visit www.aqha.com/riding for a schedule of upcoming Trail Challenges.

What participants are saying about the first A≤HA Trail Challenge “Spend some time with your horse on the ground, safely getting him used to these types of obstacles, and then come out and play. Bring your horse and have some fun. We had a ball! We’ll be back for sure.”

– Jon Seefeld, trail rider, and Designated Bold, Fort Pierce, Florida “Just give it a try. Most people are scared of the obstacles at first – they don’t think their horse is going to do it. When I first brought my hunter out here, it took us a while with the groundwork, but in the end, we were crossing the high bridge, climbing up rocks and doing all the obstacles together. There’s so much to do, and it’s stimulating for you and your horse’s mind.

It’s a nice break from your normal training schedule, but it’s still really productive.”

– Lindsey Whitehead, AQHYA competitor, and XS Delux, Stuart, Florida “Get out there and give it a try. It’s fun, a little challenging at times, but it’s worth it. We’ll definitely do more obstacles and Trail Challenges. There’s no doubt.”

– Bridget Hughen, trail rider, and GDA Roses Best, Malabar, Florida

Lindsey Whitehead of Stuart, Florida, and XS Delux negotiate a water crossing.

“I’ve been riding since I was 4 or 5 years old, now I’m 63. Doing the same thing over and over gets boring. This event is more versatile and gives my horse something more to think about – and me, too. It bonds us even tighter, because he’s depending on me to be brave. My bravado takes him where he’s weak, and his bravado takes me where I’m weak. So it’s give and take. I hope AQHA has more Trail Challenges. I’ll travel for these events.”

– Suzzette Stroud, AQHA competitor, and Zippa Rona, Boynton Beach, Florida

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