ACTHA Monthly | May 2015 | 8
Continued from Page 7
Ride Host Spotlight
Fast forward to the last fifteen years of horses and the lessons they have learned along the way. Carole’s horse Tux is a loud black and white 12 year old overo paint that she will occasionally loan out for ACTHA competitions. In February Carole loaned Tux out to their ride photographer, Jennifer LaBelle, who rode him to a blue ribbon in the Scout division. Quite the accomplishment since Jen’s only other opportunity to ride Tux was the day before the ride when she helped Gary mark trails.
Rio, Gary’s horse is a 14 year old buckskin paint with no spots. The two competed in ACTHA seven years ago when they didn’t even know what ACTHA was. As Gary says, “we scored well – well, just out of the ribbons.” Cutie Pie is the grandkids’ riding pony and Gary’s driving pony, a high stepping hackney/quarter horse perfect for grandchildren or pulling a cart or wagonette.
While Carole and Gary both ride, Gary gets more saddle time. Their history with horses is in three segments; fifteen years with horses, fifteen years without horses, and now fifteen years with horses again. The start of their first fifteen years of horses began with a work mate of Carole’s who had horses. She knew a guy that had a nice two year old quarter horse mare in training that he was getting ready to sell. They bought her, despite the fact that Carole had no horse experience and Gary’s was limited to a couple of Welsh pony rides as a kid. As Gary said, “does anyone see red flags or hear ambulance sirens? We didn’t even know that you shouldn’t let a two year old green broke sit in a pasture for a month before you get on her!”