Virtual Brush Box

Saddle Seat Wednesday

Christopher Wamble won the Junior ASHAA Outstanding Youth Award with the following essay. Welcome Christopher.
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My mom put me on a horse when I was three years old and it was my sister’s little pony Pep. I always saw her ride him and I always knew I want to do that one day.

The first barn I started riding at was Blue Crest Riding Academy and I called my trainer Mrs. Ashley and Uncle Matt. I don’t know why I called him my uncle but I did. I did my first class, which was lead-line walk, at Old Milton. After Blue Crest closed, my family and I moved to Stepping Stone Farm.

I have ridden off and on since I was five. I stopped riding for awhile and played other sports including baseball, football, and basketball. I missed riding and everyone at the barn when I was away. I started back and I knew I wanted to be as good as my sister if not better.

I got my first horse Alvin who was my sister’s first show horse and then later he was my mom’s horse. He is the best horse anyone could ever have and he is a great teacher. Alvin and I showed in 9-10 walk and trot Academy for two years after I came off lead-line. The first year I went to National Academy I made it all the way to the finals. I was proud to get Top Ten and even got a first place vote with Alvin.

After my last season in Academy, I moved up to performance with a horse my mom leases for me. His show name is Rare Friends but we call him Roberto. I was so happy Reagan allowed my mom to lease Roberto so I could have a show horse to ride. Roberto and I show in 12 and under Walk and Trot Pleasure and we have won many blue ribbons together this year.

I have learned that nothing comes easy and nothing is just handed to you. I have learned you have to work hard and practice if you want to get better. I have learned that so many things and I see that so much goes into caring for a horse and also showing them.

I’m glad I get to spend time with my mom and sister at the barn and at the horse shows. I am very thankful and appreciate everything that my mom, Reagan, Ms. Courtney, Shannon, Rachel (my sister) ,and my barn family does for me. They are always cheering me on and I hope I get to continue to ride for a long time.

My next goal is to learn to ride and show a five gaited pony.

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In 2015, Stepping Stone Farm rider Katie Wood won the Senior Division [Why I Ride by Katie Wood]. Last year, Christopher’s sister Rachel won [Why I Ride by Rachel Wamble].

Requirements for the Outstanding Youth Award given by the American Saddlebred Horse Association of Alabama include academics, extra‐curricular activities, community service/volunteerism, and an essay about one of these topics: 1) What riding means to you OR 2) Ways in which you have promoted the American Saddlebred. Minimum of 250 words for Senior Applicants and 100 words for Junior Applicants. Prize for the Junior Award (12 & Under) is the choice of $250 or a show bridle.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

… It’s the sudden changes of direction, as my mother is fond of saying.

After a week of a punk, pouting mood [God Laughs], I ended up riding Milton more often than I would have otherwise.

 
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But first a veterinary update.

Milton will have his bumpectomy this Friday. It will be full-on surgery, not the local job we were hoping for. Consider my stress level maxed out for the week. Therefore, I have written and scheduled posts through the weekend. I plan to write a medical update post next Tuesday. For those who would like to stay current, I have set up Twitter at the top of the sidebar. —->

At least, this is how I plan to share progress, good news, and minor set-backs. I have no idea what I would do in the event of dire news. Along those lines, I have always wondered about flight trackers. You watch your loved one’s progress across a screen. What happens if the flight, um, fails to continue progressing? Do they put a big red X on the flight path? That’s not how one wants to receive such news. I guess there is really no way one wants to receive such news. But I digress. Everything will be fine. The surgery is as routine as surgery gets. Everything will be fine. Enjoy the posts. Keep up via Twitter if you are interested. Talk to you next week. Everything will be fine.
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Back to me.

My medical advisor decided that Milton was cleared for light work, i.e. pony rides for the old lady [I Ride Milton!], but not heavy work, i.e. hauling his ass around in a 400-pound carriage [First]. Win for me.

Over the two weekends, we took him to Stepping Stone Farm twice and I rode at home twice. Although trailering counts as work for a horse, SSF is so close and we have been so often that it barely counts as work for Milton. The ride at home was the first! ride! since! the! boom! [Did I Piss Off the Universe and Not Notice?].

During one of the SSF rides, Milton was awesome. Swinging forward walk. No corkscrewing at the trot. Coach Courtney called him joyous. He was on the tail end of his antibiotics [Laughs]. This leads us to think that his bump may have been bothering him lately. We all know how a low-grade infection can sour one’s outlook [Antibiotics as Mood Elevator]. This in turn makes the decision for surgery somewhat easier.

Riding at home is stressful for me because of our history. Riding at home is stressful for Milton because he is outside of a ring, having to handle the big, wide world of his home pasture.

Progress Made
Ride in the big ring.
Ride at home.
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Meaning no disrespect, but I have decided my Momma is wrong. Ups are great. Downs suck pond water. Sudden reversals downward carry their own special horror. Sudden pleasant surprises? Yes, please. One on Friday would be nice.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott