U.S. Nationals

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October 23, 2009

'Really Working'

Eddie Ralston left the Mustang arena countless times during Friday's working cow classes. He would then make the short jaunt into the warm-up ring, turn to his right along the fence, climb off his mount, take off the tack (with helpers), tack up the next horse and hop aboard. "We're really working," he commented Friday night as he climbed aboard Khemonadaseasterstar with beads of sweat rolling down his brow. As Ralston rode away, he checked his cheat sheet that outlined his order of go and which horse he should be competing on next. Then he worked some tight figure eights and did a counter-turn work out with a person to prepare the horse for her cow. As he wrapped up the warm-up run with Khemonadaseaterstar-the 2003 champion-Friday night, Ralston looked over to the owner Beth Lowrey and said, "I hope we get a good cow." During his go that hope was realized as the team proved solid, scoring a 217 to qualify for the second round of HA/AA Working Cow Horse. Small in stature but big at heart and in talent, Ralston has been around Arabians for about the last 30 years and has trained them professionally the past 10. "Growing up with my dad, we worked horses on the ranch and broke and trained them for ranch work," Ralston says. "Back then, we mostly had Quarter Horses and Arabians were my mom's thing." In high school, Eddie competed on the rodeo team in New Mexico-team-roping country. At the time, it was a far stretch for a young boy to have an interest in Arabians. In fact, his friends used to tease him that he was even feeding Arabians. "So, I did not want to mess with them much. But, my dad stayed after me to work with them." Not long after, Ralston went to work with Mike McDaniels, who quickly became his mentor. "I was amazed how soft they were and to see how well they could move."
In 1983, Ralston moved to Depew, Oklahoma, where he lives with his wife Mitzi, on 500 acres with a 39-stall facility and about 30 client horses in training. The core of his breeding program is the stallion Khemonada+// (Khemosabi++++// x Baskanada). "My dad bought him as a yearling, and sent him to me as a 2-year-old. He was too little, too ugly and too scrawny at the time, so I sort of hid him out behind the barns. Then, one day, I caught him chasing his tail like a dog, and he caught it and was chewing on it. I knew at that point that he was pretty smart." That horse has also carried multiple generations of Ralston boys/men through the years. At the 2006 U.S. Nationals, the third generation, his son Cody, hit the ring on Khemonada. "My hope next is to keep Khemonada sound and in shape so that my grandson can become the fourth generation to compete on him." Khemonadaseasterstar (out of the Quarter Horse mare Easter Val) is one of two champion working cow horses that Khemonada has sired. Two years following that championship, the Lowreys fell in love with and purchased the now 10-year-old bay mare. Beth Lowrey calls Khemonadaseasterstar her "margarita horse" because she became the proud owner following some margaritas and Mexican food.
Working cow was brand-new to Beth Lowrey at the time as her knowledge and expertise was in the hunter/jumper division-one she competed in growing up and only halted seven years ago to raise a family. Years ago, Lowry said she would never do western. Ralston convinced Beth Lowrey to ride a mare and compete though. "The thrill of going down the rail with the cow is on par with competing in a Grand Prix, going over 3.5-foot fences." Ralston's special touch and ability to work with ranch horses has been evident to people around the country. His gift is evident. There was definitely a reason that Ralston was up and down all day. He has a special touch with the horses and people he works with. Another client, Martha Wallisch, who owns Takeachanceonme RL, said Ralston treats his horses like candy. "They are never sour and always want to go work," she said.
Lowrey has been thankful she chose to work with Eddie, "You can ride his horses. They are always completely broke." Ralston will continue competing on multiple mounts throughout the weekend in the Mustang Arena. The finals will be held on Sunday.