A Great Year Two

Jacob and Harley did it again. Harley was named the Horse of the Americas Registry's Pleasure Trail Horse of the Year for the second year running. Harley also received the Sun Dance Award. Jacob's sister, Jordan, received the Buckaroo Award from the same registry. Jordan's achievement was particularly impressive because she spends most of her time in the saddle on her horse, Mia, who is registered with the American Indian Horse Registry. Her Buckaroo Award is based on the saddle hours that she spent on Corollas only and does not include any miles in the woods on Mia.

Harley is a product of Tom Norush's breeding program, which is rooted in crossing western Colonial Spanish stock with horses that trace their lineage back to Corolla and Shackleford. Harley is owned, ridden, and (most importantly) trained by Jacob. The picture is a bit deceiving. Jacob is not old enough to drive and was much younger when he began Harley's training.

I despise horse shows and horse races because of the wall that they build between horses and their owners. They perpetuate a system in which the "relationship" that develops between horse and owner is based entirely on the horse's ability to win. Kids are taught that a horse's value is tied to the color of the strip of cloth that a judge deems appropriate for the horse and rider to have won.

I love the HOA and the AIHR system, which are based more on the concept of rewards than they are on the concept of awards. Rewards are based on the amount of time and effort that owners spend building a meaningful relationship with their horses. In these systems the only competition is with one's self. Riders and horses are recognized for their joint efforts.

Our blue ribbons are different from those of the show ring. When we have ridden so far and so long that our blue jeans become nothing more than thin, worn out cloth that is a blue ribbon. Our horses do not win ribbons, just rewards.