February 2020 Issue

Page 22 February 2020 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN By Alicia Stephens Martin My novel Spurred to Justice has presented me with many new opportunities. This past Novem- ber, I was privileged to attend Equine Affaire in Massachusetts after Jean McWilliams, the owner of Taborton Books, invited me to a book signing. I was elated because the Affaire ranks as one of North America’s top equine events, with education, enter- tainment, and some of the best shopping the horse world has to offer. If anyone addicted to horses needed a fix, the Affaire was the place to be. Equestrians and visitors could hone skills at the endless training clinics, savor seminars, or ogle demos presented by leading competitors, trainers, and industry experts on almost any discipline from around the world. In the midst of all the com- motion, the most exciting and intriguing event was the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition. This took place on Friday in the Coliseum, featuring 25 horse- and-rider teams who vied for the top prize of $2,500 and the respect of being named the 2019 Versatile Horse and Rider Cham- pion. The competition featured a tricky course designed to test the level of teamwork between horse and rider. Riders asked their horses to scale jumps (including one surrounded by balloons), carry a keg-sized barrel from one end of the arena to another, fly a parachute as they raced around to beat the clock, side pass across a wooden beam with front legs balanced atop, and perform a 360-degree turn while mounted on a small square platform, as well as many other challenging maneuvers. I instantly recognized one of the competitors as Jason Charles from Dillsburg, PA. Jason is a professional horse trainer who currently competes in AQHA and NRHA and has won several VHRC championships at Equine Affaires in both Massachusetts and Ohio. Jason started his mount, Ms. Whiz It, as a 2-year- old. An AQHA buckskin mare, Ms. Whiz It is now ten and has earned her Register of Merit in AQHA open and amateur, has won multiple champion and re- serve placings in trail events, and is an NRHA money earner. Jason is one of the top competitors in versatility and trail challenge disciplines and I was curious to see his ride. I had a chance to talk to Jason before the event. He ad- mitted his favorite discipline is reining but discovered Ms. Whiz It had other talents too. Jason says, “The title ‘versatile horse’ is fitting. The obstacles include walking on loose rein to speed, trail obstacles, lead changes, and leg yields. It is judged on being correct, pretty, and smooth. Good horsemanship will get high scores.” He relayed that the Ranch Riding on Steroids: Charles to Run HWE Trail Champions Challenge (Continued on page 26)