Jody says “it was a magical experience. Mory did everything I asked willingly and calmly. Not only was his canter great but I found myself doing the following things with him that I had never done.”
How did they do? Jody and Mory were Reserve Champion to Robin Bond who won the event! Hey everybody! An ACTHA foundation can take you and your horse to unexpected success! Obstacle training makes a wonderful horse! And the best part of this, you can watch ACTHA Ride Host Jody Childs and Mory in the Ultimate Super Horse Challenge as a two part special airing on the Charles Wilhelm show in February on HRTV. Check your local listings for details.
While in Sacramento Jody picked up another horse, a half Peruvian half Tennessee Walker, aka Tennuvian that grew up on a cattle ranch and has lineage to Roy Rogers’ horse Trigger. Originally he was going to be an investment to train and resell with a client. But that wasn’t to be. Jody fell in love with the unbroke horse that couldn’t be tied in the trailer because he had never been, and wouldn’t let her to touch him or catch him. After a day of approach and retreat and much to Jody’s surprise he came up to her and kissed her, just like Mory does. Well that kiss sealed the deal and Jody told her client he was no longer an investment horse. Jody named him Chrome after California Chrome and now this three year old is her biggest joy, doing tricks such as taking her hat off, signing his autograph, giving her more kisses and laying down.
As a ride host Jody tries to follow the example set by ACTHA’s President Robin Tilghman who personally tutored Jody as she held her rides. Besides hosting her own rides Jody is now part of the team of Ride Host Service Specialists where she works hard to develop and mentor ride hosts. Jody says “I am proud to be part of the team that will answer host calls and help coach them along the way.”
As a testament to Jody’s perseverance and success in ride host development, ACTHA rides in California have grown from just a few in 2012 to over 50 currently scheduled for 2015. To Jody hosting a multiple weekend ride can be viewed as being in the equine destination vacation business. An ACTHA weekend when viewed as a getaway is super inexpensive! Therefore, with new hosts I cast the vision of creating an experience that has their unique personal flavor. ACTHA provides you the business model and tools, but as Jody says “you put on the party.”
“Once I saw a shirt that said “Life without Horses, I don’t think so”, mine should say “Life without ACTHA, I don’t think so”. ACTHA has enriched my life in so many ways that I shudder to think where I would be now if I hadn’t gone to that first ride.”
Ride Host Spotlight
ACTHA Monthly | February 2015 |11
Photo by Lisa Walker Photography