Hunt champion galloping in new directions - Livingston County News

VALLEY HORSES

Hunt champion galloping in new directions

June 29, 2013 by Sally Fox

For six years in the recent past, Cara Peters and Ace owned the Stock Horse Sprint at the Genesee Valley Hunt Race Meet on the second Saturday in October, even though the race is easily the most heavily entered of the day.

From sweet sixteen at Geneseo Central School, the youngest age allowed to compete in the event, through college at Cornell University, Cara grew to a statuesque young woman, while her mount maintained his diminutive size ? slightly more than 15.1 hands ? and his strong desire to be out in front of the pack.

Ace was originally purchased as a 3-year-old from an auction at Batavia Downs for Cara?s father Mike, with an expectation that he would continue to grow to fit his intended rider. When that didn?t happen, Mike passed him along to Cara.

Ace ended up going to college with Cara, not to compete, but as her ?stress reliever? on trail rides to balance out the demands of a double major in agribusiness and natural resources. Graduating in 2011, she had a job waiting with Farm Credit East, where she had interned the summer before her senior year.

Moving to southern New Hampshire with Ace in tow, she found the private farm where Ace is now boarded through word of mouth at work.

The owner in her 50s took her out for a ride and informed her, ?No nonsense, no drama. If you can keep up, you can stay!? as she headed off down the trail at a smart clip.

Passing muster in that regard, Cara was then introduced to a whole new world of horse sport ? Cowboy Mounted Shooting.

From what I have found online, Cowboy Mounted Shooting is one of the fastest growing equestrian sports in the nation.

In the spirit of the soldier and cowboy, a group called the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association was created in the 1990s so that horse people and cowboy action shooters can enjoy the competitive nature of shooting sports while riding horseback.

The object of the sport is to shoot 10 balloon targets while riding through a variety of challenging courses using specially-loaded blank cartridges fired from Old West-style single-action revolvers. It?s a high-speed, timed spectator sport in which the competitor who rides the fastest with the least amount of missed targets wins. So, this obviously demands both horsemanship and shooting skills.

The typical event requires two single-action revolvers loaded with five, black-powder cartridges. Ten targets are arranged in an arena. Targets are engaged with blank ammunition that is certified to break a target balloon within but not beyond 20 feet. (No bullets are used.)

When the competitor is given the signal to go, indicating the arena is clear of people and hazards, the rider crosses a timer line and engages the targets. Once all 10 targets have been engaged, the rider returns across the timer line and a score is determined based on the raw time and penalties added for missed targets, failure to follow the specified course or procedure, or knocking over barrels or target stands.

In the early years, mounted shooting competitors were required to wear costumes, clothing of the American west, Classic B-Western Movies, or military cavalry uniforms of any time period or country.

Today, all that is required is modern cowboy clothing with chinks or chaps, long-sleeved shirt and a cowboy hat. (You?ll see in the photo, however, that Cara is wisely wearing a helmet ? one of the few competitors to do so.)

There are four levels of competition.

Cara and Ace are just getting their feet wet at Level 1.

Still, I won?t be surprised to hear that they are moving up the ranks and doing well.

Perhaps we?ll see them one day competing around here.

Pony Club Western New York Region Games Rally

This kind of rally is the first one that most Pony Clubbers experience.

The Genesee Valley Pony Club once again hosted the rally at the Avon Driving Park.

There were four teams in the Walk-Trot division, with the GVPC team consisting of Nicholas and Catherine Staley, Brogan Henderson, Peytyn Geer and Piper Emo, calling themselves the ?Jazzy Jumpers.?

The Heart to Heart team from the Alexander area, Northern Exposure PC team Lullabye from the Canton area, and the Mendon Wild Things rounded out the division.

There were three Junior teams from East Aurora, Northern Exposure, and a mixed team of Carly Lloyd from GVPC, a Mendon girl, and two from Heart to Heart PC.

The Senior division had two teams, with GVPC represented by Joe Thorne, Marissa Rice, Kassandra Wohlschlegel, Logan Ellis and a Mendon girl, Jenna Newcomb.

The other team was from Canton.

Glenn Staley, who competed in games for many years with the club, was the coach for GVPC teams. Mary Donegan and Deanna Wohlschlegel were the rally organizers. Club member Paul Cripps served as C advisor with the WT teams.

Coming Up

June 30: Firecracker Derby, hosted by the GVRDC, at Hideaway Farm on Roots Tavern Road off Route 39 north of Geneseo.

Divisions range from Introductory to Training level. The derby format incorporates a mix of water, ditches, and solid, cross-country fences, along with show-jumping style fences that can be knocked down, on a course over varied terrain. Special prizes will be awarded to the individual in each division showing the most patriotic spirit in their attire. In the past there have been some wonderfully creative get-ups that add to the fun.

The schedule starts first thing in the morning with the Introductory division, and progresses upward throughout the day. Some bleacher seating is available, but it?s not a bad idea to bring your own chair to sit in the shade. Free admission and parking; food available.

July 4: Cavalry Games,the east lawn of The Homestead at the south end of Geneseo?s Main Street.

This unique Valley happening was first held in 1885 at the same location. The upcoming event starts at 2 p.m. No admission fee, no chairs, no concessions, (so bring your own amenities), just good fun as riders once again test their skills with saber, lance, jumps, rescuing a comrade, and those pesky musical chairs.

Source: http://thelcn.com/2013/06/29/galloping-in-new-directions/

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