April 2022 Issue

Page 28 April 2022 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Animal Health Blanket Repair/Custom Tack Fencing Farrier Supply Barn Construction Boarding & Lessons Aged Equines Barn Construction Bedding The Directory By Lois Szymanski Dishing up hope for the future of rescued horses, the Rescued to Stardom equine com- petition took place on Friday and Saturday (March 4 and 5) at Horse World Expo. The multi-leveled competition featured horses from 501c3 horse rescues in and around the Mid-Atlantic region and their trainers, showcasing the beauty and ability of the rescue horse. When it was over, three year old Appalachian feral mare, Riata and her trainer Erin O'Neill from the Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue won the competition, with a top score of 202.5 points. Second place went to the 12 year old Ha- flinger mare Lottie and her trainer Shelby Piovoso from Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue with a score of 173 points, and third place with a very close score of 172.5 went to 12 year old APHA/Arab cross, Ava and her trainer Aaryanne Cloutier Rescued to Stardom: All Winners Here from Rocky’s Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc. Each competitor had 90-days to take their equine from unbro- ke to riding, documenting the progress along the way on social media, live feeds, open house clin- ics and other media. The first com- petition was held in 2018, started by Denise Parsons, president of Equestrian Promotions, Inc. “I actually established a 501 (c) 3 horse rescue in 2016 as a vol- unteer and saw a lot of prejudices against horses that were formerly owned by rescue organizations,” Parsons said. “Horse World Expo was looking to introduce some new features for the event, and I thought this would be an excellent opportu- nity for the public to see firsthand that a horse from a rescue [can] be trainable and a valuable asset to the equestrian community.” Trainer Erin O’Neill spoke about the personal connection she had with first place mare Riata. “The connection with her began when I caught her at a roundup at a strip mine in West Virginia last year,” O’Neill said, noting that she literally camped out, integrating herself into the herd to make catching them easi- er and less stressful. The in-hand portion of the competition was an ode to the day Riata was found. Students from Starry Night Stables in Frederick helped her, dressing as trees while the song, “Rescue Story” played. “A minute in, I took her halter off and just tied it around her neck. The rest was a liberty with a line attached to her. It was pretty incredible.” According to O’Neill, the first 30 days of training were difficult. “She had just turned three and I wasn’t sure she was ready,” she said of Riata. “She was very extro- verted and in-your-pocket but she had retained some wild instincts that had morphed into a severe bucking habit. She was in the top 5 percent of the rankest horses I’ve trained, and I’m a problem horse (Continued on page 29) Erin O’Neill, Riata and their “tree” helpers (from left) Cadence Gallagher, Jessica Bernier, Trinity Jack- son, and Olivia Bernier., all of whom ride for Starry Night Stables in Frederick MD, celebrate their victory. Photo credit: © Emily Ballenger of Twilight Photography