Editor’s Note
Finding a Friendly Focus
Courtesy of Kate Bradley Byars
those classes were unique to me, particularly trail. It was a fun, ranch-based obstacle course that required my horse to demonstrate practical skills such as pulling a heavy log and opening a gate. I walked away understanding more about stock horse classes and regained my enthusiasm for showing horses. The highly competitive classes that I had shown in as a youth required hard work and were not a lot of fun. The thought of riding to win a judge’s approval no longer appealed to me, so when I started high school I began competing in barrel racing. After several years of not riding competitively, my With a borrowed mare and an old barrel racing competitive drive kicked in at that saddle, I attended my first Stock Horse of Texas SHTX show. But more imporclinic and show. It changed my perspective on tantly, I discovered that I simply showing and brought me back to the competitive side of horse ownership. enjoyed participating. Surprisingly, people made a point to or an adult in today’s society, introduce themselves and offered their help. I having fun is not something that found that completing the class correctly was receives much weight when my goal; I didn’t need to take home the win just prioritizing bills, pressure from a because I was competing. job and other responsibilities. However, when I began showing SHTX in earnest, I interviewed the various 2016 year-end making friends at each show and striving to champions for the article “Crowning better myself and my horse, not just earn a Achievement” on page 8, each and every blue ribbon. I watched other riders share tips winner emphasized how much they enjoyed and give each other encouragement. This showing in the associations. They had fun seems to be the norm in the ever-growing list competing on their horses! of versatility ranch horse events held across It was clear to me that the associations the country. spotlighted in this issue made the enjoyment “What I like [about versatility ranch horse] of their members a high priority, as well as is if someone goes in the trail and has a problem placed emphasis on improved showmanship with an obstacle, they will come out and tell the and horsemanship skills. others where the hard spots are [in the In 2010, while working for Western course],” says Richard Cook, 2016 National Horseman magazine, I learned about the Versatility Ranch Horse Association Limited Stock Horse of Texas association. I didn’t own Amateur Champion. “They are wonderful a horse but was interested in trying out an people showing together and having fun!” event that didn’t require a $5,000 show Versatility ranch horse associations are out saddle. I borrowed a reining mare to attend a there for those of us who ride because we SHTX event in Rosenberg, Texas, which enjoy horses, enjoy the challenge and want to included a clinic on Friday and a show on have fun. Find one near you with the help of Saturday. The clinic allowed me to work a cow our event calendar on page 4. So keep shaking for the first time, which was an absolute thrill. hands with strangers and smiling even when With years of showing as a youth in Western you spin the wrong way in a reining class. pleasure and trail at breed shows, I did not Who knows, you may help usher in a new expect to need pointers on those classes. But I member. —Kate Bradley Byars, Editor was mistaken. The stock horse versions of
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Spring 2017
1/20/17 10:57:06 AM