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U.S. Nationals
Top Story
October 29, 2009
Retirement Full of Adventure
About 10 years ago, Bob and Becky Nash were in transition and looking for a new way to spend their retired time together. The two had just moved to the Austin area from Huston and sold their Bed & Breakfast. The fairy-tale thought of retiring and owning a quaint B&B had lost its luster and the two were looking for a new adventure. The Nashes did some traveling. They played some tennis; they played some golf, but could not find an activity they truly enjoyed.
Just down the street from their new home, the Nashes watched big trucks pull into the drive of their new neighbor, Bob Battaglia, and one day Bob and Becky realized that they had always shared the same desire-they both wanted to own a horse. The only horse experience the Nashes had consisted of the occasional dude-ranch trail ride through the mountains, but they went ahead and bought their first Quarter Horse. Shortly after purchase Bob knew the horse was not all the sellers had bragged about and a friend suggested he talk to Russ Vento.
Vento and Nash's first conversation was all business and when Vento asked what Bob was looking to spend, Bob thought long and hard. "After some hesitation, I told him I would be willing to pay $1,500," says Nash with a grin, remembering a good friend. The look on Vento's face explained everything to Nash and their first conversation was soon over. Over the next couple of years, that first conversation became a running joke between Vento and Nash-a story that was repeated in front of friends and new clients with a laugh.
Shortly after that first conversation with Vento, the Nashes found Dana Weddle at Weddle Training Stables. Bob and Becky came across a solid, young horse that knew almost nothing and when Weddle was able to turn that horse into a U.S. Nationals contender in nine months, the Nashes knew they could have some fun with their new hobby. Weddle started looking for new horses with the Nashes and found, among others, a stallion named MC Picasso (Padrons Psyche x ABHA Insolita). With the blessing of their friend Weddle, the Nashes formed a friendship with trainer, Josh Quintus.
As with so many good relationships, timing seemed to be perfect for the Nashes and Quintus, as the friends soon found a farm in Pilot Point, Texas. Quintus' training business settled in at its home at Colonial Wood Training Center near the heart of Dallas/Fort Worth and the Nashes, as part owner of the new farm, found themselves deep in the throes of the new adventure for which they had been searching.
Bob now rides western pleasure, Becky rides western and hunter and the pair couldn't be more pleased with their arrangement. "We are like family with Josh. We do a lot of cooking and eating together," says Becky. The horses in their life have become… "It's our passion," describes Bob who gets a glint in his eye, especially when talking about his stallion, MC Picasso. Nash and MC Picasso earned a Top 10 in the purebred western pleasure AAOTR 55 & over earlier in the week, the topper to a win in Scottsdale earlier this year.
Becky credits Bob's gift for gab as the reason the couple has made so many friends among the Arabian show community and it is clear Bob has a knack for creating friendly and fun rivals in the show ring. "It's been really fun getting to know the trainers and the players in this business. I'm at the lower end of the players, but I have so much fun in the ring with all of them," says Bob.
The Nashes are adamant about sharing what they've learned. Becky travels to Youth Nationals every year to support the youth riders she knows and sometimes lends a horse. But she also wants more adult amateurs to know they have a chance at success with Arabians. "This has been so fun for us to do as husband and wife and while we want kids to have their chance, we also want to welcome more adults-they can do this too! They don't just have to sit back and watch their children ride," says Becky. "We need to open our doors. There is a fun, friendly atmosphere here that we need to share."
As Bob and Becky prepare for their next class, one in which they'll compete against one another, some of that fun rivalry rears its head. "We both agree that the horse I'm going to ride was the better buy," Bob says boldly. "We do not," says Becky emphatically with a look of shock on her face. And the adventure continues…
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