Appointments • April 2011 • p. 48
Steeplechase participants: Susan Kocher, Amanda Bilharz and others
A monthly publication of The Tryon Daily Bulletin
View a map of the Steeplechase course and check out the schedule of events
Spotlight on local equestrians: Sophie Clifton, Michelle Williams and Jeanne Ahrenholz
"Saddle-up" is the title of the artwork created by artist Danielle Lloyd for the 65th running of the Block House Steeplechase. The 65th Block House Steeplechase will take place Saturday, April 23 at FENCE. The event is hosted each year by the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club. See page 3 for more Steeplechase history.
65th Block House Steeplechase The Hoofbeats of the Carolina Foothills
Appointments
April 2011
F R E E Volume 5 Issue 7
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A13
A b o v e : Fo r m e r S t e e p l e c h a s e chair man Chuck Ross died in December 2010. Right: Ross as an out-rider at the Old Block House races before the FENCE course was built and the races moved there. (photo submitted)
Ross' legacy lives on through Steeplechase by Barbara Childs
Chuck Ross rode horses all his life, learning to ride as a child on his father’s polo ponies. During his Army career he rode whenever possible. He competed avidly in horse shows, and became interested in combined training when it was first introduced to the United States. Ross was also an avid fox hunter. Chuck and Betty Ross arrived in Tryon in fall of 1974 because the fox hunting and eventing opportunities here were vast. They both began volunteering at the TR&HC events. Chuck attended the first steeplechase in Tryon in 1975, and he never missed a race thereafter. Ross became co-chairman of the steeplechase with Jarrett Schmid when the races were still held at the old Block
House. The move from Block House to Fence was a big event. The course was completed at Fence when Ross was president of TR&HC, and the move to the new course was anxiously awaited. Would the spectators come and more importantly, would the trainers bring their horses to an unknown new course? These were considerations that were on Ross’ mind at that time, according to his wife Betty. Ross and Jarrett attended the races in Camden, SC and knew most of the trainers and owners. This was a PR thing for the Block House, and it afforded the opportunity to assure that many trainers would support the new course here. And of course, the spectators did come! Ross loved the courage, capabilities and beauty of the
“In 2010, the final race he attended, he was out the day before the race checking jumps and walking the course to be sure all was perfect for the horses and jockeys.” horses, his wife said. He admired the skill and appreciated the knowledge of the jockeys and the men who trained them. Ross was most concerned about providing a safe and rideable course at the steeplechase. He spent hours checking the condition of the course with
mud, reseeding of grass and was the ground dry, soft, high, deep. The high grass would provide good cushioning on a dry day, but if wet it would be slippery and cause some safety issues. The height of the grass was always important to him on race day. After the first race day at FENCE, Ross felt the course was too fast. He received approval from the National Steeplechase Association (of which he was a senior member) to lengthen the races. This would slow the pace of each race because the jockeys would want to conserve the horses for longer distances. Ross knew he accomplished his purpose for safer racing. Ross was chairman of the race for at least one year after Jarrett Schmid. Then he asked
she enjoys trail riding and hunter force to restore the mobility and pacing with her Quarter Horse, agility of the segment, Reynolds and she hopes to foxhunt him added. next year. Reynolds was born and raised “I have owned the 3–year–old in the Unionville, Penn. – the gelding since he was 4–months– only horsey person in the family. old,” she said. “I have enjoyed “I found a lesson barn to work raising a youngster. We competed at, and went there in all my free in the Future Event Horse Series time to work in exchange for ridwhen he was 2 to expose him to ing time. I tried unsuccessfully to traveling and showing. I would convince my parents to get me like to event him in the future.” one of the many “free” horses Reynolds initially attended that came available,” she said. the animal chiropractic course “They never consented-smart to help horses with lameness folks! Instead, I learned a ton problems, chronic pain and train- by riding all types of horses and ing issues. being exposed to many different She was seektrainers and ideas, ing to add a difwhich included Spotlight ferent perspective dressage, eventing for her diagnosis and fox hunting. I on Local and treatment of was also a memsoundness and per- Equestrians ber of the Brandyformance issues. wine Hounds Pony “While this Club,” she said. is a huge part of chiropractic, “My favorite horse growing there are benefits for horses with up was Melvin. He was a bay chronic medical conditions, thoroughbred that I rode and especially after surgery, during cared for. The owner allowed hospitalization, and lay-up,” she me to ride and treat him as my said. “This course was a wonder- own horse. We went galloping ful and intense study of anatomy, and leaping and jumping all over neurology, biomechanics, as well the Chester County countryside, as chiropractic technique and and he was the first horse that I philosophy. There are so many experienced a deep bond with in applications for chiropractic to my partnering.” improve the lives of my patients. Reynolds played rugby at the I have also enjoyed adjusting UC Santa Cruz and rode on the dogs, cats, camelids and even equestrian team at Penn State goats!” where she went to the nationals. Chiropractic care, Reynolds She graduated from vet school said, focuses on the central ner- at Texas A&M and wrote a grant vous system, which is the control to complete a project on goats center for the body. The firing of and human health in Malawi, nerves control muscle and organ Africa. She spent six weeks there function and even behavior. and then traveled to Brazil and Chiropractic philosophy is Mexico on veterinary trips. based on the belief that if a segHer post-graduate year was ment of the spine or joint is not spent at an equine hospital in moving through its normal range New Jersey – the BW Furlong of motion, then the nerves do nor and Associates. There she worked fire properly, and the body cannot on FEI level 3-day events and function to its full potential. then spent part of the winter in Diminished joint function Ocala and Wellington, Fla. where happens to all living beings she began working on alpacas. through repetitive stress injuAway from the hospital and ries, activities of daily living or horses Dr. Reynolds enjoys hikthrough acute trauma, she said. ing with her dogs, live music, A chiropractic exam finds brewing beer and exploring. All these areas of reduced motion and are shared with her best friend adjusts them with a very specific and husband James.
Reynolds uses chiropractic methods to help ease discomfort in animals. She believes these applications can improve their lives. Reynolds received a grant during vetinary school that allowed her to study and complete a project on goats in Malawi, Africa. (photo submitted).
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