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U.S. Nationals
Top Story
October 28, 2009
Perfect Fit
During a farm photo shoot a few years ago, photographer Jerry Sparagowski told Diane Athey, "This is your next horse," because he "framed-up" well. While Pshenandoah (Padrons Psyche x Sonora Love) jogged across the field that year, Sparagowski said the stallion framed well in the camera and normally that was hard to do with a Western horse. "He put down his camera for a second, and said, 'You need to buy this horse'," recalls Athey.
Less than two years later, Athey of Enid, Oklahoma, likes to tease her trustee trainer Liz Bentley by telling her that Sparagowski's commission keeps going up. And, it did once again on Tuesday night when Athey and "Boss" were named unanimous champions in the Arabian Western Pleasure AAOTR 36-54 Championship.
Following that photo-shoot day, Athey began to seriously think about buying Pshenandoah. Of course, a short time before that, Athey had taken a test ride on him. "The first time I rode him, we fit perfectly-from the first moment I sat on him." Athey had kept quiet and not yet shared her feelings with Bentley, who had been trying to convince her to buy him from early on.
While at home, Boss enjoys talking to his girls and watching everything going on at the farm from his stall that resides near the arena. Athey described Boss as "pretty, soft, quiet and laid back."
Even now, Athey admits she is still learning how to ride him the best she can. "He can put his parts anywhere," she says. "He is anywhere from high and tight or low and relaxed." At this year's Nationals, the stallion has been pretty calm, which played to their advantage on all judge cards.
A fan of variety, Athey's roots trace back to barrel racing and rodeo events with her cousins. She now also competes in Hunter Pleasure classes with American Idol+/ (Versace x Bey Fireeshah), a 10-year-old chestnut gelding who was started as a Western horse three years ago. At a time Athey was frustrated and debating selling him, she took him to Liz Bentley for evaluation. After working with him a short time, she recommended that Athey keep him. They, too, have become a winning hunter pleasure pair.
At Canadian Nationals, Athey and "Idol" were reserve champions in Arabian Hunter Pleasure AATR 40 & Over, as well as in Arabian Hunter Pleasure AAOTR 40 & Over. Bentley showed him to a national championship in the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Championship. Earlier this week, Athey and Idol were named reserve champions in Arabian Hunter Pleasure 36-54 AAOTR.
"I like the variety. Western is so precise and subtle. It's so much harder to ride with virtually no contact. It's a nice break to go hunter, ride two-handed and go faster. I'm glad I get to do both."
Athey fell in love with Arabians about 15 years ago when she went to work on Pam King's farm one summer. "They're beautiful of course," she says. "I also loved their sensitiveness, personalities and showing abilities. I liked the different feel in the way you ride them, and they are so trained."
Before stepping up to Idol and then Boss, Athey's other great Arabian love was Alada Naborr+/ (Alada Baskin x WN Madon). She competed on him in hunter, western and English side saddle.
Athey's recent successes, she attributes to her trainer, Bentley, and her two great horses. "Everything connected from the moment I met her. We got along great and have become good friends."
After Thursday, Athey hopes to say that Idol has been ridden to two national champion titles, as Bentley will ride him in the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Championship on Thursday evening.
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