This blog's mission is to share stories, fun facts, and general interest about American Saddlebreds that may not necessarily be "news," or items that would typically be featured in the magazine. If you have any blog ideas, please share them with us by emailing Michelle Krentz at michellek@asha.net. All submissions will be reviewed for approval by ASHA. Each time we have a new post, we will "share" this page on Facebook and tweet the link via Twitter, to keep you updated. Enjoy!
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-------------December 2011-------------
Saddle Seat Invitational, South Africa, 2011
Posted on December 21, 2011
The Five-Gaited Team After Being Announced as the Gold Medalists!
The following blog post was written by Murphy McSemek, a member of this year’s Five-Gaited United States Saddle Seat Invitational Gold Medal team. Murphy is a business marketing and Equestrian Science major at William Woods University. The United States Saddle Seat Invitational Team departed for Parys, South Africa on November 30 and arrived home with their gold medals on December 12. The Three-Gaited team consisted of Emily Chapman, Caitlin Donohue, Alexandra Lawson, Abby Mutrux, Kristen Smith, and Alyssa Wick. They were coached by Brooke Jacobs. The Five-Gaited team members included Morgan Brison, Drew Taylor Hewitt, Murphy McSemek, Megan McClure, Alexis Pearson, and Rachel Rafloski. They were coached by Bob Brison. The managers of both teams were Brent and Jane Jacobs. ASHA is proud of their accomplishment and their passion to the American Saddlebred that took them all the way to South Africa.
I had the pleasure of being part of the USA invitational team that travelled over to South Africa this December. It was a trip of a lifetime and such an amazing experience for all those that went. Thank you so much to the all the managers, coaches, team members, parents, and supporters that made the trip the huge success that it was.
The first leg of the trip definitely was the insanely long plane ride, totaling out about 15.5 hours from Atlanta to Johannesburg. After finally landing we travelled to our first hotel where we stayed one night. Here we all got our first taste of the beautiful African countryside, the warm hospitality, and the great weather! The group split in two the following day and some got massages at the spa while the others, myself included, went zip lining. It was such a neat and slightly nerve wracking experience to be zipping through a large and very deep gorge in Africa!
Team USA Looking Down Over the Gorge Before Zip Lining.
We then moved on to the Tau Game Lodge where we stayed in absolutely gorgeous rooms overlooking a watering hole on a 220,000 acre reserve! We had three days for lots of game drives where we saw absolutely incredible views and animals that we usually only get to see pictures of. We were able to spend three days in this tropical paradise and make great memories with great people and great animals. One of the most thrilling memories from Tau was when all the groups were stopped out during a game drive for drinks and snacks and a large herd of about 20 elephant came right up to us! It was unreal to be so close to such powerful, beautiful, and wild creatures. We were all very sad to leave Tau but after a few days of relaxation everyone was ready to ride and represent our country.
Over the Gorge Before Zip L ining. Team USA's Close Encounter with an Elephant During a Game Drive.
We then moved on to Parys, the location of the show, and got settling in to our new home for a week. For two days both the three-gaited and the five-gaited teams went to the show and were able to watch horses work, meet the South African horse community, and we then got to practice on the first horse we were going to show. The following day we rode the second horse in order to get a feel for them and make any necessary adjustments. It was so nice to hear all the support from the other US team as we racked and trotted by. All members rode so hard and impressed everyone at the show. Next was the start of the actual show, which began with the opening ceremony. Hearing the national anthem playing in the background while waving an American flag, lit a fire in all of us and had us all ready to ride our hardest. For two days, the American riders rode hard, navigated the ring, and showed off our horses to the best of our ability, all to the tremendous sound of the US supporters and parents. Tension was very high the last night of the show while we waited for the results for both teams. We all screamed in excitement when we heard that not only did one team win, but both the US teams won gold medals, something that has not happened for quite a few years! A big celebration occurred later that evening both in the reserved boxes for US team members and supporters and then continued on at the hotel until very late in the evening. We were much honored to even have some of the members of the South African team join us.
Team USA posing at the cheetah farm and rehabilitation center where they pet cheetahs.
We ran into a little bit of trouble trying to get home, with lots of delays, missed connecting flights, and even a cancelled flight. After an extra night in Johannesburg, a night in Atlanta, and 17.5 hours on a plane, we finally made it home! It was such a great experience for all that went, and a special thanks to all the coaches, team members, parents, and supporters for making the trip a trip of a life time!
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Sharp Cheddar’s Journey Part 1: From Beer Cheese to Queso
Posted on December 9, 2011
Foaled in 2008 in Kentucky, Sharp Cheddar is by Castle Bravo and out of a CHGreat Day’s Came the Son mare named Whatsername, that my mother and I owned together. As a foal, Sharp Cheddar had serious health issues and almost had to be put down twice when she was just a yearling. Thankfully, she received amazing care at the breeding farm and beat the odds by not only surviving, but growing into a healthy though fairly small horse.
Sharp Cheddar's sire, Castle Bravo (Avis photo)
Because of her health problems and small size, we waited until this spring to start her in training. At that time, she moved a few miles down the road to a show barn in Versailles. Though the trainers did a wonderful job starting her, we all knew pretty quickly that Sharp Cheddar was not going to be successful in the show ring. But we also knew she was kind, eager to please and really liked being around people. And just because she wasn’t going to be the next CHSky Watch, Mom and I still wanted to give her a chance to learn a new job.
I thought it might be worthwhile to give Sharp Cheddar some training as a hunter jumper. She prefers to carry her head “long and low” like a hunter, and has a well-balanced conformation and natural athletic ability. Most importantly, she has a desire to work and please her rider, and I thought she might enjoy the challenge of learning to jump.
So in September we brought her home to Houston and put her in training at a local hunter jumper barn where we have other horses in training. I knew this move would give Sharp Cheddar a solid foundation as a jumper, and we would quickly learn about her willingness and aptitude in the new sport.
And that is where we are today. Sharp Cheddar is learning the ropes of her new discipline and seems to be really enjoying herself. So far she is right where she should be and is keeping up with the other three-year-olds in the barn. She gets training rides from a professional during the week and I ride her on the weekends. It is so fun to watch her progress—she started by trotting over poles on the ground, then moved on to trotting over fences and after just a few short months she is already cantering around small courses.
She is sweet and personable, and has developed quite a fan club in her new barn. And her barn name has also changed with her location—in Kentucky she was known as Beer Cheese, but here in Texas she is Queso.
We are so proud of her, and so happy to have the opportunity to showcase the American Saddlebred outside of their traditional discipline. Their intelligence, athleticism and kind disposition really does make them suited for more than just the showring. And just because our little Queso will never hit the green shavings doesn’t mean that she won’t be a happy and useful horse who is a star in her own right.
To view a video of Sharp Cheddar going through one of her first jumping courses, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TilC8i1C1V4
Sharp Cheddar's blog is contributed by her owner and breeder, Rose Hochner and posted and approved by ASHA.
