Working Equitation
GALLOPS Into Mid-America
By Julie Alonzo
www.weunited.us
28 / Sport and Trail Magazine
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Diversity was the name of the game at this event. Not only did riders come from many different places, an amazing variety of breeds were represented. As one might expect, there were Quarter Horses and Paints, but Mustangs were also incredibly well-represented, as were grade horses. Several part-bred Arabians participated, and a Rocky Mountain Horse Gambler’s Jackpot not only made an impression with his striking chocolate palomino color, he also came in 6th of 15.
Fifteen entries competed in the Introductory class, with Kris Blacklock and her four-year-old Quarter Horse mare Boon Ocean Blue traveling from Wisconsin to bring home top honors. Kansas member Jane O’Boyle rode her horse grade Rebel to finish 2nd overall. Marty Stewart, of Missouri, came in 3rd overall on Gunner, her Grade Lusitano, while Iowa resident Kara Mehaffy rode her Paint mare Diaman H de la Crème to finish 4th overall.
Rachel Zenger, who competed on two horses (one in Introductory and another in Novice A), explained how she got into the sport. “I had been doing cowboy and western dressage, and thought that the obstacles looked fun,” she reflected. “I was initially intimidated because my horse isn’t always confident over obstacles, but from the very first time attempting the obstacles in a clinic I found that instead of nervous he was focused and engaged. That’s probably my favorite part - the obstacles give you a chance to apply dressage principles in practice, and keep things changing and interesting for rider AND horse. I love that the course is different every time and thinking through the challenge from the walk through forward.”
The Novice A class saw less geographic diversity, with all top 4 competitors hailing from Kansas. Jane O’Boyle rode her Quarter Horse gelding Docs Buz N Leo to take home the overall win in the 11-entry Novice A class. Cindy Branham rode her black four-year-old Aztec the Mustang to finish 2nd overall. Dan Keil and his half-Arabian RCC Nottingham finished 3rd overall, while youth member Madison Branham rode Patriot the Mustang to the 4th place finish overall.
hirty-four horse/rider combinations gathered in Kansas from across six different states (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin) to compete in the Working Equitation competition at The Rockin RC Ranch in Topeka. This event was the largest WE show held to date in the central part of the country and bodes well for the future of the sport in the area.
and Wisconsin) to compete in the Working Equitation competition at The Rockin RC Ranch in Topeka. This event was the largest WE show held to date in the central part of the country and bodes well for the future of the sport in the area.
finished 3rd overall, while youth member Madison Branham rode Patriot the Mustang to the 4th place finish overall.
Top Novice A finisher Jane explained that the win came as quite a surprise to her, “Buzz is a foundation Quarter Horse and 23, a husband horse and a substitute last year because everyone else was off. He had never been shown, was used as a lesson horse, and we battled our way through an ulcer and his inability to want to drink or eat last year. The first clinic and show I took him to he literally couldn’t canter because he was so tied up. Good thing it was Intro! I have no idea if I will be able to teach him changes, but I’m one of those people who never gives up unless the horse says so.” If the scores they earned at this competition (78.64% in Dressage and 85.25% in Ease of Handling) are any indication, “old Buzz” may have found new career.
Marty Stewart, Gunner, Missouri