November 2002

In October, trainer Maxine Grossman presented the Tinker Hill Challenge Award at the Washington International Horse Show. This is one of the premier horse shows in the country, permitting only the most elite riders to compete. Having won the award for three consecutive years in one of the Adult Amateur Divisions, Maxine will retain possession of the trophy until someone can match her accomplishment - something no one has managed to do for more than ten years. Maxine, and three of her students - Mikayla McCrory, Derek Finney, and Frances Lester - presented the award at the MCI Center on October 23rd.

On November 3rd at Hazelwild, Heather Clark was 6th in the Leadline Division, and Holly Clark won a 2nd and two 3rd place ribbons in the Pre-Short Stirrup Division. Derek Finney won 3rd, 4th and 5th place ribbons riding Aquia's Secret Rendezvous. Frances Lester, riding her pony Rose, was Reserve Champion in Student Equitation, and 6th in Pony Hunters. Maxine Grossman, riding Frances Lester's horse Aquia'a Secret Rendezvous, was Reserve Champion in the Maiden Hunter Division.

The following week at Amber Hill, Nate Phillips, riding Huffy, was 3rd and Mikayla McCrory, riding Rose, was 4th in the Leadline Division. Brittany Phelps, riding Huffy, won a 2nd and two 3rd place ribbons in the Pre-Short Stirrup Division. Stacy Nelson, riding Rose, won a 5th place ribbon in Short Stirrup, and Rose, owned and ridden by Frances Lester, was Reserve Champion in the Pony Pleasure Division.

Mallory Miller, Samantha Snow, and their trainer Kelli Reed Padgett are receiving year-end awards from the Prince William Horse Show Association. All three, and Kelli's horse Cowboy as well as Samantha's horse Dottie, had an outstanding season and their accomplishments will be highlighted in an upcoming article.

Kelli Reed's parents, John and Karen Reed are looking for an experienced rider to work with their horse, Flame, a registered American Quarter Horse who lives in stall #10. She is a 12-year-old sorrel (reddish-brown) mare, 15 hands, registered as ?Ima Lowe Rider.? Her grandfather was ?Sonny Dee Bar,? who sired many well known champions. John and Karen Reed bought Flame when she was just 3 years old, and had her trained for Western Pleasure Classes at Oakleaf Stables, and as a Hunter by Elena Perkos. In 2000, Flame competed in the Quantico Horse Shows, and was Maiden HunterYear-End Division Champion, and Year-End High Point Champion. John uses Flame for trail rides, and his daughter Kelli, rides her occasionally, but Karen has all the fun - you know - feeding, watering, and cleaning the stall! Anyone who is interested in working with, and possibly showing Flame can contact the Reeds at the Stables (540-659-5024), or at home (540-659-4353).

The American Quarter Horse was the first breed of horses native to the United States. Early horse stock in the 17th century colonies were of Spanish origin. Bred with English horses arriving in Virginia in the early 1600's, a compact horse was created with highly muscled hindquarters. These were the early American racing horses, faster than any other horse at that time, called Celebrated American Running Horses (later known as the American Quarter Horse). The first known horse races in America were held in Enrico, Virginia in 1674, where many grand plantations reportedly changed hands on the outcome of one-to-one races down village streets. The race distance was usually a quarter mile.

Quarter Horses continue to be used for sprint racing, but they are extremely versatile. Commonly used for ranching, they are reputed to be the greatest cattle roundup and trail driving horses in history. Without much guidance from a rider, Quarter Horses have a natural ability to separate a single cow from the herd. They are used in timed rodeo events, barrel racing, calf roping, trail riding, dressage, and jumping events. Known for having calm and gentle dispositions, they are ideal as family pleasure horses. In fact, the number one interest in Quarter Horses is riding for recreation.

Cisco, Gulliver, and Black Beauty are famous Quarter Horses. Cisco starred in "Dances with Wolves" in 1991. Black Beauty, in addition to his 1994 movie role, also starred in TV's "Black Stallion" and played the role of Gulliver in the "Horse Whisperer." You might have seen him in the Busch Beer commercials, or even in a rock video! These horses are recipients of the Silver Spur Award, which is the equine equivalent of an Academy Award, presented only when the horse's accomplishments command such an honor. We have several Quarter Horses in Aquia Harbour's Stables, although none have made it to the silver screen...yet!

I invite anyone in the Harbour and/or at the Stables to share horse show results and other items of interest with me, for publication in this article. Feel free to contact me at 720-1024, or leave me a note at the Barn on stalls 6 or 7.

Happy Trails!

It's a family affair! Remember Flame of last month's fame? Well the celebrity of the month this time is a Cowboy! He is an 18-year-old Quarter Horse registered as Buddy Bear's Deluxe, but Kelli Reed Padgett prefers his barn name - Cowboy. Cowboy is the grandson of the well-known sire, Sonny Dee Bar, (Flame is Sonny Dee Bar's great grandaughter). Both horses belong to the Reed family, and Kelli Reed Padgett, a trainer in the Harbour, has been riding Cowboy since he was just four years old. He's a gorgeous white horse who lives in stall number 11 in Aquia Harbour.

Cowboy has a long history of showing competitively. Most recently, he had a very successful show season with the Prince William Horse Association. He was ridden and shown by Mallory Miller, a senior at Brooke Point High School. Mallory also rode Samantha Snow's horse Dottie. She won the Year-End Division Championship award on Cowboy in the Children's Hunter Division. She and Cowboy also won the Year-End 1st Place Award in the Pleasure Division, and Mallory won the Novice Rider Year-End Reserve Champion Award on Dottie. Kelli Padgett won the Year-End 1st Place Award in the Adult Hunter Division on Cowboy. She also won the Year-End Reserve Champion Award in the Adult Pleasure Division riding Dottie. On November 23rd, Mallory, Samantha, and Kelli were honored at a PWHA Year-End Awards Banquet. They each received a specially embriodered jacket highlighting their accomplishments. Although Samantha's mom, Shiela Snow, did not complete this year, she too has been taking lessons with Kelli. Hopefully, she'll get her jacket next year!

Before Mallory started riding Cowboy 2 ? years ago, Kelli rode him competitively while growing up. She also rode him in numerous parades, including the popular Fredericksburg Christmas Parade, the Apple Blossom Parade in Winchester, and the George Washington Day Parade in Fairfax. Cowboy has given lots of pony rides at birthday parties, company picnics, and other events. According to Kelli, Cowboy was not fully trained when she first got him. It was a long process getting him to his current level, but worth every minute of it. Cowboy can be ridden both English and Western. He can jump 3 foot fences, and do timed speed events such as barrell racing. Kelli says she'd take five more just like him, but her mom, Karen, might not be ready for that!

Kelli Padgett can't say enough about Mallory Miller. According to the Reeds, she has done a wonderful job riding and caring for Cowboy and Flame, and the Reeds consider her an asset to thier family. Kelli thanks Mallory for all her hard work, and wants her to know that her dedication is deeply appreciared. Way to go, Mal!