That is exactly what Nancy Slater; the American Competitive Trail Horse Association 2013-2014 Open Champion, who along with her Quarter Horse mare, Shaman, earned $7,000 from Cavallo’s Year end awards pot, a new saddle from Tucker Saddles worth $2,500+ and the respect of all whom competed against her in ACTHA stated when she was told of her accomplishment. So serious was she about repaying her husband that she actually sent her check back to Cavallo to be reissued in her husband’s name.
But Nancy didn’t start off to become
ACHTA’s open champion; she had other
plans for her little mare. An experienced
horsewoman in her own right Nancy was
looking for a "clean slate" when she bought
Shaman as an untouched 2 year old. She
wanted a filly and a Quarter Horse,
"America's Favorite Breed", to join her family
of rescues; a mule, a Breeding Stock Paint,
and 2 young Florida Cracker horses. Color
didn’t matter; she’s a red bay with a star
and soft eye. As Nancy says “she was a
bargain because I bought her from a man
breeding duns, and she wasn't one! Shaman
was my first "don't have to fix a lot of issues"
kind of horse. She went forward quickly
with me starting and developing her using
the Parelli Natural Horsemanship Method.” Nancy originally planned on training Shaman for reining, but after a half day at her first and only reining clinic she pulled her saddle off and found a hole in her withers the size of a silver dollar. Unable to find a saddle which would fit her unusually round back and withers Nancy decided to pursue a different course, one that wouldn’t be so demanding on Shaman’s back. I, as many others applaud Nancy’s decision to put her horse’s needs and well fair over her own goals.
“Please Make My Check Out
To My Husband”
How many of us would love to repay our husband, our wife, our significant other, our parents or our friends for their undying love and support for our own personal journey.
A journey that not only encompasses many years of hard work and sacrifice, but many hours spent on the road to fulfill that dream.
Nancy Slater
and Shaman
ACTHA's 2013-2014
Open Champion Winnings
$7,000 from Cavallo & $2,500 saddle from Tucker Saddles
By Jen Wenzel
Photography by Smooch
ACTHA Monthly | November 2014 | 11
Nancy Slater and her QH Mare, Shaman
Continued on page 12 >