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U.S. Nationals
Top Story
October 27, 2009
4 Amateur riders, 4 young horses, 4 Top 10s = Maturity Matchmaker Magic
For two years in a row, Tamar-bred Arabian horses have waged a 40-percent completion rate in the Arabian Western Pleasure AAOTR Maturity. Four Amateurs earned Top-10 honors on their true-moving, low-hocked, arched-neck, true-loping, Tamar-bred mounts.
Tamara Hanby, who owns Tamar Arabians, located in Weatherford, Texas, works to produce the perfect combinations from both a breeding perspective and in pairing Amateur riders with the right horses. Weaving her magic, so to speak, Hanby has matched the amateur riders with the perfect horse for them. "She's really in-tune with her horses and clients," says Erin Douglass, who went Top 10 in 2008 (on Tamar Esperanza) and 2009 (on Tamar Adagio) in the Arabian Western Pleasure AAOTR Maturity. "She breeds to produce great performance horses," says Tamar Trainer Troy Peterson.
"Last year was the first year, and I thought it was a great idea to support," Hanby says. "It supports our purpose. I always encourage amateurs who buy my horses to enter the class." She said it's fulfilling to see amateur riders succeed on the young horses she has bred.
Amateurs who get involved have the chance to buy a young horse, sell it and also make some money. They also gain more opportunities to compete. Then, someone else can do the same thing. "It gives them a new challenge," says Troy Peterson. "People get into this industry because they love riding and showing and this gives them the opportunity to do it."
Douglass said the Maturity class is a great opportunity for people like her, who have been showing for 20 years in English, to try something new. Adagio's first time showing was at the Texas State Fair, where Douglass rode him to a second-place finish in the Futurity. "And, he was twice the horse here than he was at the fair. I was not nervous at all."
Douglas has been showing since a young age with Peterson's wife, Amy, who also competed in the Maturity the past two years. She visited Tamar a couple winters ago and fell in love with Esperanza. "She was the perfect Western horse. She was more broke than any English horse, and I fell madly in love."
Then for her next challenge, she fell in love with Adagio, as well. "I had never owned a stallion, and always said I wouldn't," Douglass says. "The first time I rode Adagio I had no idea he was a stud."
Amy Peterson rode Tamar Black Label to Top 10s in the Maturity in both 2008 and 2009. Described by her husband and trainer, Troy Peterson described the bay stallion as a "true Cadillac" to ride. "He is by far the best horse I have ever ridden," Amy Peterson says. "He's built to do a job and he likes his job. Every time I ride him, he is great, consistent."
The other two riders in the perfect mix this year were Candy Conway, with Tamar Drama Queen, and Julia Laing Morey, with Tamar Amelia E.
While the four (as well as the other amateurs) compete against each other, they are also a strong support system for each other. Of course, they all like to joke around that they have the best horse. "Tammy breeds good-minded, young horses," Conway says. "For us, there are just some horses that grab our hearts, and we have all had that with our Maturity horses."
Drama Queen is actually her 17-year-old daughter's horse. "I have done very well on her, and my daughter has been kind enough to let me rider her." Troy Peterson described the mare as the "Little engine that could." Conway agrees, "She's the sweetest, most chill horse."
Conway is another example of a rider switching divisions for a new challenge. She has been showing hunter pleasure for years but didn't earn her first Top 10 at U.S. Nationals until this year's Maturity. In preparation for the 2010 Maturity, Conway recently bought Tamar Prestige. "What's great is being there at Tamar, we get to watch the young ones when they are starting out. We also see how they are trained and how they develop."
Douglass, who lives in Kansas City, Missouri, says, "The growth is exponential since I see them one time a month, and often times that is at a show."
Julia Laing Morey had historically shown in working cow and park. "This program is a neat way for riders to try another division," Hanby says. With Tamar Amelia E she has also found fun, new challenges as a rider.
The Tamar Maturity prospects are true representations of the strength of Hanby's breeding program. All but one were sired by Neposzar+ (Maryk x *Nanna), a stallion she has owned since 1991. The fourth was by a Neposzar son, Tamar Final Tribute.
"I'm always trying to breed better," Hanby says. "It's important to get the motion and athletic ability for these horses to do their job well. My personal challenge is to do better and better and breed horses with a good mind, who can do their job with a look of quality."
Hanby's next step with her breeding program will be breeding Neposzar daughters to Mais Shah (Bey Shah+ x Benevolence). "I think this will keep the motion, athletic ability, low hock and size, plus add a little more chrome."
The 2008 Maturity finalists were: Tamar Smirnoff, ridden by Leslie Doran Sommer; Tamar Black Label, ridden by Peterson; Tamar Esperanza, ridden by Douglass; and Tamarcarnivalofroses, ridden by Meghan Veitenheimer. Nearly $24,000 was paid out last year to the champion, reserve champion and Top 10s.
Peterson is already hard at work with three more 2010 Maturity prospects.
Natalie Hunt of Schomberg, Ontario, Canada, won the Maturity, riding JF Verrisk+ (Versace x FS Risque). Reserve champion honors went to Joe Frizzell of Ames, Iowa, on Sunsational Kid+/ (Sundance Kid V x Mane Street), who was the 2008 champion in the class.
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