Arabian Horse Stories

Cinderella & Prince Charming?

SLS Revelations and owner Ashley Young took championship title in all four hunter/jumper classes they competed in at Region 1 last year. Photo Credit: Locke Photography	SLS Revelation+/ (R A Maraz x Amnesty), or "Rever" to his friends, is an 11-year-old Arabian gelding. He and my daughter, Ashley, have been together since February of 1996. He was a 6-year-old unbroken horse when she fell in love with him. She would feed him carrots at the fence of his pasture, across the road from where she had begun taking riding lessons. She liked the way he would come to greet her, even though no one had really begun working with him yet. Six months later when his owner could no longer afford to keep feeding him, her aunt Trudy gave Ashley the money on her 10th birthday to purchase him (and possibly save him from the glue factory). It was a very tough road for the beginning rider and horse, but with perseverance and wonderful trainers, they went from novices to national champions.
From Green To Gifted Mark Schuerman gently broke Rever to the saddle and started the pair on their way. When he moved away, Rever and Ashley began training with Michelle Canfield. Ashley had a hard time improving her emerging riding skills on a green horse. He would get excited at the canter and buck her off. She would have to overcome her fears, dust off the dirt and get back on each time. Our family had never owned horses, and we often wondered if we'd had made a mistake. But Ashley loved Rever and just kept trying. She had watched jumping at a local show and yearned to do that with her green horse. Michelle told Ashley that she would have to canter Rever bareback before they would be ready to learn to jump (essentially, Ashley would have to master her fears and her horse first). At their very first Class A show in 1998, Rever crow-hopped and bucked down the entire long side of the arena in a hunter pleasure class. Ashley was so embarrassed and mad at him that she forgot to be afraid and just hung on, and then made him behave and finish the class nicely. They won no ribbons that day, but she had mastered her fears and now knew that she was the boss in the saddle. That was a major turning point. Ashley was no longer afraid and learned how to make him stop his bucking. Not long after, she was cantering bareback, and actually having fun. They began to jumping over cross bars and low fences. She still took her share of falls as they made mistakes, but that is to be expected when a horse and rider are learning together. Ashley was excited about her jumping and eager to learn more. In February 1999, Ashley and Rever began training with Denise Parker, who specializes in hunters and jumpers. Impressed with their beginning skills, Denise helped them improve. It became apparent that Rever loved jumping as much as Ashley. They competed in Arabian Class A shows, Region 1 and Region 3 and went to Youth Nationals that summer where Ashley, who was just 13 years old, took a reserve championship in Working Hunter JTR 17 & Under. It was an incredible time for all. Denise was an amazing coach throughout. Even though she was eight months pregnant (or so we thought!), she traveled to Oklahoma to coach Ashley and Rever at their first national competition. She came home with more than Ashley’s winnings and gratitude--she delivered her third child, Adam, the day after Ashley’s last ride. He was very healthy and thankfully not too early. We were doubly blessed at that show. Ashley and Rever continued to work on their hunter/jumper skills throughout the winter with Denise. Ashley juggled school homework and lessons, maintaining her straight A average. As an eight-grader, she volunteered at Project Ride--a local organization for giving disabled children the opportunity to ride horses.
Rever and Ashley enjoy a gallop on the beach. Photo Credit: Anne Young	Having a Ball In 2000, Ashley and Rever competed at Arabian and Sacramento Area Hunter/Jumper Association (SAHJA) shows. At Region 1 they won championships in all four jumping classes they rode. At Region 3 they had a reserve championship and three top fives. That summer they traveled to Canadian Nationals, because it offered the most jumping classes. Ashley (now 14) and Rever won their first national championship title in the Arabian Jumpers class and three top tens. It was a wonderful time, and they had their win picture taken with two of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At our celebration dinner that night, the waiters sang "For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow," and then got her with a cream pie in the face. She was so astonished--but a great sport. She laughed along with the rest of us as she toweled the whipped cream off her face.
The 2000 year was an amazing success for the pair--they accumulated awards and trophies that filled her room. She really enjoyed competing and winning at SAHJA shows, as it gave her the chance to show off her wonderful and talented Arabian horse. Many people had snickered behind her back when they first started competing at these open breed shows, as they had no idea just how versatile Arabian horses were. She heard quite a few rude comments, which only made her more determined to succeed. At the 2000 year-end banquet for SAHJA, Ashley and Rever took home the champion trophy for the Child/Amateur Adult Jumper division and reserve champion for the Kindergarten Jumper and Training Jumper divisions. We no longer hear comments about how "Arabians aren’t real horses," and have made quite a lot of new friends. Ashley and Rever are great ambassadors for Arabian sport horses. Ashley and Rever were recently awarded IAHA's highest youth honor--the Honor of Excellence trophy, earned by accumulating points for wins at IAHA recognized shows over the last three years. For the year 2000, they were top ten in the nation in the Youth Achievement Program in both the IAHA Recognized division and the Non-Recognized division. Rever has also earned his Legion of Supreme Honor. Down But Not Out In February the day after Ashley's 15th birthday, Rever was struck by a mysterious neurological illness. With the best veterinary care available, and massage therapy to help rebuild his atrophied muscles, he is now back to his normal, happy self. He was most depressed when Ashley could not ride him, and did not begin to perk up until he was allowed to jump a few low fences. It was as if he was not having any fun unless they were jumping. Denise and Ashley slowly rebuilt his strength, and the massage therapist worked diligently on his muscles. Rever is now back to 100 percent, and just as happy as he can be. Due to his illness, Rever only showed in two Arabian shows this year but did very well in both. They won Region 3 Champion Jumper and took a reserve in Working Hunter JTR 17 and Under. At Canadian Nationals, Ashley rode Rever to a championship in Hunt Seat Equitation Over Obstacles and took top tens in Working Hunters (open) and Hunt Seat Equitation Not to Jump, 14-17. Ashley has truly come a long way in five short years with Rever, from crying in the dirt after being bucked off to crying for joy after winning a national championship. It is truly a pleasure to watch them jump a difficult course together, splash in the ocean and compete in tandem bareback and native costume classes. Ashley even introduced him to working cattle, although he didn’t think much of that idea. Many people have commented that they ride as if they are one spirit. That comes from the many hours of dedicated practice throughout the years. It comes from having a loving, but tough trainer who makes you ride without stirrups when you get lazy. And it comes from that special bond of the heart that Arabian owners and riders have with their wonderful, versatile horses.
Rever and Ashley with their Canadian ribbons, trophies and rose garlands. Photo Credit: Anne Young	Jumping for Two Ashley just began her sophomore year at Elk Grove High School (two days late due to Canadian Nationals--but don’t tell her principal that!). She is very active in the Future Farmers of America, volunteers at Christmas Promise and still juggles her time to keep her grades up and take lessons. She likes to team pen with friends in her spare time in the summer and take trail rides whenever she can. She has helped friends on a cattle drive and worked cattle on ranches. Since Rever is not particularly fond of cattle, she borrows a different horse for those days.
Ashley is beginning to share Rever with her 12-year-old brother, Christopher. Chris will be jumping Rever in the JTR classes next year, and Ashley will ride him in the open classes. Ashley is proud of both her horse and her brother. She is also very grateful for her trainer, family and friends. Mom, Denise and friends drive her and her horse all over. Friends and family travel to her shows to cheer loudly from ringside, visit and help. She feels very fortunate to have such great support. She hopes to someday jump in the Olympics--perhaps even on a large Half-Arabian. It is a very lofty goal, but so was the Arabian Youth Nationals to a starry-eyed 10-year-old girl!