A Da� in the Life� …
of a Super Amateur
William and Rebecca Shepherd WRS Farms , Belleville , Texas
It ’ s easy to think showing Miniature horses is glamorous and simple when viewing the smiling faces from a winshot photo . Unless you are the one putting in the hours of workouts , grooming , cleaning , bathing and exercising , you ’ ve really no idea what getting ready to show entails . To enlighten us we ’ ve asked amateur showman William Shepherd of Bellville , Texas what his schedule is like before hitting the trail to his favorite shows . William and his wife Rebecca share the barn duties and have multiple titles to show for it … the latest being the 2016 Central Championship Super Amateur win .
86 Miniature Horse World OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016
How did Miniature horses enter your life ?
In 2000 my wife , Rebecca , and I met our first Miniature horses through Anne and Richard UpDyke of A & R Miniatures . We started by using minis as pet therapy while visiting area nursing homes . Over the years our interest in Miniatures and the activities we could do with them grew and in 2010 we began showing . It ’ s been a journey we haven ’ t regretted a single day .
Take us through a typical day at your farm when preparing for a show .
My wife and I share the glory of the wins we ’ ve acquired , but Rebecca manages all aspects of the farm , the training , conditioning , and daily care is all done by her . This allows me to concentrate on the showing but I try to pickup the slack at the barn as much as possible and get in my practice sessions .