ACTHA Monthly | February 2015 | 8
A Smooth Ride for the Business Woman
Back in early 2002 Jody’s life took another turn when she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. For those unfamiliar with this disease, it is characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia (a heightened and painful response to pressure). About this time Jody would test drive a breed of horse she normally didn’t ride, the Peruvian Paso Horse. She was searching for low priced hunter/jumper prospects when she happened upon a palomino Peruvian colt for sale for $1000 or trade for tack. She traded her friend’s saddle (must be a good friend) and $400 for what she thought would be a fun project. What she didn’t expect, was to fall in love with this breed. In a short time Jody realized this breed was the answer she was looking for. With this breed she could minimize movement in her neck and back and ride pain free. Jody, like many adult equestrians have turned to gaited breeds as a way to minimize stress on their joints and have a smoother ride.
Ever the business woman, and wishing to share her new discovery of the “smooth ride” Jody started another business, Del Dios Peruvians, that catered primarily to adults wanting to trail ride. For eight years she ran both her training businesses concurrently before deciding that she would concentrate her efforts on the breed she calls herself “crazy for”, the Peruvian Paso. In hindsight, it was a smart move for Jody as she ventures forward in her senior years. Now 58, she is still comfortable starting horses under saddle. The temperament and gait of Peruvians has given Jody a trusted mount for her clients aged 60 and older who may have never ridden. Not only has she taught many clients to ride, and ride safely, but many have gone on to purchase their first horse, a Peruvian.
In April 2010 Jody arrived at her first ACTHA ride in California with 2 students and 3 horses. Greeting them was a beautiful park that they had never ridden in, a leisurely ride between obstacles, safety riders to make sure no one got lost and a great lunch. Jody rode in the Open Division, placed second and was hooked. While Jody says her second and third rides were not nearly as successful as her first ride, they revealed all her horse’s weaknesses and made her realize where she needed work in her training. With ACTHA, she loved being able to ride while coaching her students and here was a venue she could safely take her students while refreshing her teaching program. In 2010 she would sometimes take as many as 9 students at a time to Competitive Trail Challenges throughout California where together they would work to establish a partnership, milestones and recognition with their horses.
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As Jody says “like everything else with horses you have to LEARN how to trail ride and that is how I found ACTHA, but I did it backwards. I started with ACTHA and then I trail rode. Once, I was out on a trail that stopped and there wasn’t room to turn around, then the light bulb went on…oh that’s why ACTHA has back up as an obstacle! Then I realized real trail riding was like ACTHA, you go down the trail and then there is something difficult to negotiate; rocks, a barking dog, a bicyclist, water, a log etc”.
2011 bought a life changing experience for Jody in “all things horse”. Tryouts were held in 22 venues throughout the country and Jody made the final cut of 100 horse and rider teams selected to go to Texas to compete in the finals of the ACTHA reality television series America’s Favorite Trail Horse. AFTH was filmed and produced by Dan Nyberg of Electric Picture Company, formerly of the History Channel’s Monster Quest series, and was aired by HRTV. It was there that Jody saw horses trained to rear, lay down, pick up hats, paint pictures and one being ridden with the rider in the saddle backwards. As Jody says “I was so impressed with the bond these riders had with their horses. I want to learn how to get that extra level of communication they displayed with their horses. In addition, Australian trainer Guy McLean was there demonstrating how he trained his horses and I was in awe.”
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