FOSH Member Meets Working Equitation
By Kris Blacklock
2018 holds special memories and new friendships. Embrace the unexpected. Things we never saw coming took us to places we never imagined; IA, IL, KS, MO, NE, OK, OR and TX all in one year! Who knew that after acquiring a first horse at age 45, then at age 57 starting a 15-month-old youngster, to now at age 61 earning national championship accolades on a 5-yr old blue roan Quarter Horse mare ‘Boon Ocean Blue’ and an 11-year old gaited Rocky Mountain Horse gelding ‘Gamblers’ Jackpot’!
We discovered Working Equitation includes ALL ages, ALL levels, ALL breeds, in classical-dressage based training with practical application through four trials; dressage, ease of handling obstacles, speed and team cow working, all wrapped up in one discipline. That’s why this sport appealed to me as a gaited horse owner/rider.
Yep…. after a year of Working Equitation training (really only 6 months due to the limited Midwest riding season), Boon Ocean Blue and Gambler’s Jackpot both earned qualifying scores and we accepted the Confederation for Working Equitation’s invitation to participate in their 1st National Working Equitation Show October 19-21, 2018 at the magnificent show facility Haras Hacienda in Magnolia TX. Our goal was to use this experience as an opportunity to evaluate our training and partnership. Travel logistics alone were a bit daunting. It was our longest journey ever. 21 days on the road in extreme weather conditions – heat, humidity, rain and turbulent wind. In one day alone, temps went from 60 degrees to 98 degrees and dropped to a low of 36 degrees! Hubby Dale hauled us over 3,500 miles from Wisconsin to Kansas to Nebraska to Oklahoma to Texas and back home thru Missouri with rest stop layovers along the way.
Yes, Working Equitation is serious but FUN training for ALL ages… ALL levels… ALL breeds (including gaited) regardless of one’s traditions, tack or attire. Boon Ocean Blue earned 1st place Dressage, 1st place Ease of Handling (obstacles) and Adult Amateur Overall L1 Introductory Champion. Gambler’s Jackpot continues to open ‘gaits’ for fellow gaited horses/riders/owners and dispels ‘just a trail horse’ gaited stereotypes by demonstrating gaited horses are excellent partners who excel in dressage-based disciplines. He earned 8th place Dressage, 3rd place Ease of Handling (obstacles) and Adult Amateur Overall 5th place plus 1st place in Team Cow Working.
What did we learn? Ride every stride! Bottom line...Continue to have FUN, learn, grow and enjoy lifelong partnership, horsemanship and sportsmanship! Thank YOU to all who host educational opportunities and encourage lifelong learning and partnerships along their journey. As always, special appreciation to hubby Dale and brother-in-law LeRoy for their support.
FOSH is very proud to support Kris' Working Equitation efforts. We are sharing her story to encourage gaited horse owners to try the sport.
Also notable, we learned that Working Equitation United changed their rules in November, 2018 to accommodate gaited horses!
Yep, after a year of Working Equitation training (really only 6 months due to the limited Midwest riding season), Boon Ocean Blue and Gambler’s Jackpot both earned qualifying scores and we accepted the Confederation for Working Equitation’s invitation to participate in their 1st National Working Equitation Show. This event took place on October 19-21, 2018 at the magnificent show facility the Haras Hacienda in Magnolia, TX. Our goal was to use this experience as an opportunity to evaluate our training and partnership. Travel logistics alone were a bit daunting. It was our longest journey ever. We spent twenty one days on the road in extreme weather conditions; heat, humidity, rain and turbulent wind. In one day alone, temperatures went from 60 degrees to 98 degrees and then dropped to a low of 36 degrees! My husband Dale hauled us over 3,500 miles to Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and back home through Missouri with rest stop layovers along the way.
Yes, Working Equitation is serious but FUN training for ALL ages, ALL levels, ALL breeds (including gaited) regardless of one’s traditions, tack or attire. My QH, Boon Ocean Blue, earned 1st place Dressage, 1st place Ease of Handling (obstacles) and Adult Amateur Overall L1 Introductory Champion. My RMH, Gambler’s Jackpot, continues to open ‘gaits’ for fellow gaited horses/riders/owners and dispels ‘just a trail horse’ gaited stereotypes by demonstrating gaited horses are excellent partners who excel in dressage-based disciplines. He earned 8th place Dressage, 3rd place Ease of Handling (obstacles) and Adult Amateur Overall 5th place plus 1st place in Team Cow Working.
What did we learn? Ride every stride! Bottom line; continue to have FUN, learn, grow and enjoy lifelong partnership, horsemanship and sportsmanship! Thank you to all who host educational opportunities and encourage lifelong learning and partnerships along their journey. As always, special appreciation to hubby Dale and brother-in-law LeRoy for their support.
42 / Sport and Trail Magazine
In the photos; Kris Blacklock of Wisconsin and her Rocky Mountain Horse "Gambler's Jackpot"