Junior Exhibitors Riding Roadsters Under Saddle In
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JUNIORS’ RING TRUSTED BY THE BEST RIDE ON, ROADSTER by Kayce M. Bell Roadster ponies and It started when Tammy Adams of Evans- very engaged Hackney pony. Danelle Howser, horses traditionally ville, Ind., was searching for a horse-related assistant trainer at Cedarwood, remembered, compete in driving gift from Santa for her 12-year-old daughter, “Jake taught me so much about horse training; classes, but they’re Remi. Cedarwood Farm’s owner and trainer he was a different pony every day. Every time Chuck Herbert, also of Evansville, stepped in I thought I had him figured out, he’d show me also fun for kids to to locate just the right-sized mount for tiny I was wrong.” show under saddle. Remi: a Hackney roadster pony, but to be ridden The soon-to-be star was Howser’s first under saddle rather than driven. The handsome pony to work professionally and her first Hackney pony, Drum Beat (and nicknamed world’s champion. Jake), was being used in a large stable’s lesson Remi found that she could count on Jake, program before he landed under the Adams typically the smallest pony in the class, to teach family’s Christmas tree. her lots of things. “Once we clicked, we could “I never felt pressured. I knew “It’s an adrenaline rush—one of the most go weeks without riding and still be ready to I was going in with my best exciting and best feelings!” said Remi, now go to a show,” she said. “And Jake helped me friend,” Remi Adams said of a teenager. Having ridden saddle seat before, become more sociable and make new friends her Hackney pony, Drum Beat, Remi found she had new things to learn about with other girls outside of our own barn that led to the ring at the World’s showing a pony, and she had to learn quickly. showed road ponies. I learned that size doesn’t Championship Horse Show by “You have to be ready and balanced and always matter; it’s how hard you try. I found out I could trainer Chuck Herbert. prepared and thinking ahead.” do the same things others could by working a Tammy added, “Chuck taught her how little harder at it.” to work the arena and do her job on the rail. With a couple of show seasons behind them, He said, ‘Have control. Don’t gallop around Remi and Jake were ready for their biggest chal- CHARLES ANCONA center ring.’” lenge: the 2016 World’s Championship Horse NEW YORK Actually, the desired gaits are jog trot, road Show in Louisville, Ky., where they claimed gait, and at speed – three distinct versions a blue ribbon on the fabled green shavings in of the trot – but to be shown with manners, Freedom Hall. “It was like a Cinderella story. performance, speed, presence, quality, and con- I never felt pressured. I knew I was going in CUSTOM FIT & DESIGN formation. Posting that trot can be a challenge with my best friend,” Remi recalled, smiling aboard an animated, ears-piercing-the-air, and at the memory of friends, other horse trainers, HORSEMAN BENNETT/NATIONAL SARAH PHOTO: 44 FALL ISSUE 2021 JUNIORS’ RING Bebe Rexha, About Those ridden by Alex Hackney Ponies … Rudder, went from pulling a Rich Campbell, owner and trainer family’s buggy to at Majestic Oaks Hackney Farm in winning a world’s Shelbyville, Ky., answers our questions championship about roadster ponies under saddle, a under saddle. popular show-ring discipline for young- sters. Campbell’s career includes more than 300 wins at the Hackney indus- try’s signature show, the World’s Cham- pionship Horse Show in Louisville, Ky. What makes a good one? “A little stout, averaging 52 inches tall. Strong enough to push off of his hocks. And he’s gotta be pretty, because he’s not wearing blinkers to cover his head [like a roadster to bike wears]. And, of course, a good attitude. Ponies are proud. They can sulk or get pouty if you go with anything uncomfortable for them. They can get a little chip on their shoulder if you try to force something on them. … They’re more charismatic than a horse.” and all of her barn buddies wearing lime Sourcing winning prospects means green “Jake from State Farm” attire to effectively working a network of road- Are they harder to ride than a horse? support her. ster horse breeders and enthusiasts, “Riding a pony is more like riding a cat. At Diamond View Farm in Versailles, often from the Amish, who use road- The thing with ponies is that whatever Ky., owner/trainer Kristen Bagdasarian sters for family transportation. “Alex they do, they do quicker. A horse does and trainer Shane Mullens have fielded a had ridden a roadster at a camp, and it in almost slow motion compared to couple of notable roadsters under saddle she fell in love with it,” Bagdasarian a pony. Once we’ve broken a pony to – but not the pony variety. Their riders said. “Bebe, at about 10 years old, had ride and we know it’s safe under saddle, step a few hands higher when they mount; never been on the track but had pulled we don’t ride them much between the they’re typically riding horses that were a buggy. When that mare got off the horse shows. We train and condition harness racing before beginning their trailer at our farm, she was the slickest, them by jogging to a bike or long-lining.” show careers. Think, oh, 16 hands or so. fattest, most well-cared for horse that What’s the training regimen like? And “we want a horse that can hold his ever came in the barn. We drove her “Roadsters and five-gaited horses own head up,” Bagdasarian said, pointing for awhile, then began riding her, and WE’VE have to be the most athletic horses out that riders need to be able to focus the Rudders bought her. It’s amazing … at a show, because their most physi- on things other than setting the horse’s it’s the first roadster that Alex has had, cally demanding gaits are at the end of head. “You’ve got to be able to take a hold and after just five or six riding sessions, their performance. Their headsets and of these horses and balance them. Bebe was ready for finishing school as motion – that’s muscle memory, just EXTENDED “We’re looking for a pretty horse that a roadster under saddle. I think that like athletes. It’s a sculpting process. He trots square and is smooth in the turns, one says a lot for the discipline and the way has to be in shape, but a pony’s heart that uses his ears,” she revealed. “Lately, these horses are brought up and used.” will carry him through a little fatigue.” we’ve had World’s Champion Thunder- Today, Remi Adams’s former mount bolt, ridden by Stevie Bagdasarian, and Jake has moved on to teach more kids What’s the most suitable age for a OUR 2020 World’s Champion of Champions how to post to a fast trot. Of her roadster- show pony? Roadster Under Saddle Bebe Rexha, rid- under-saddle days, Remi mused, “I wish “Ponies live long and last long. We’ve den by Alex Rudder. Both of those riders,” I could shrink my body and do it all over had three ponies that were 20 or older Bagdasarian said, “are fearless, strong, again. If I could wear silks and pigtails, when they won at the World’s Champi- and game. That’s important—you must I’d do it all the time!” onship Horse Show. I have no problem REACH be able to trust your horse going through To learn more about roadster horses with a teen-aged pony—take great care the turns. If you’re scared and slow down, and ponies, visit roadster.show for of them and they’ll give you several SHOP OUR NEW DRESSAGE LINE you’re asking for disaster.” more information. more years of enjoyment!” HUDGINS RT BY PHOTO MAGAZINE HORSE SHOW PHOTO: EQUIFIT.NET 46 FALL ISSUE 2021.