Focusing On the Cause

The Second Heroes Horsemanship Challenge – it’s all about showing appreciation for our freedom

By Delores Kuhlwein

The army veteran stood anxiously at the Big A in Conyers, Georgia, too nervous to get on the horses.  He’d signed up through the website to volunteer at the Heroes Horsemanship Challenge, not completely aware of the entire program, so he showed up in shorts and sneakers; once he was there, he decided he wasn’t going to participate after all.

It’s hard to imagine such a thing – the bravest of the brave, one who’d had experiences in his lifetime many of us can’t even fathom, to be nervous about anything. But like many people in this world, he’d never sat on the back of a horse.

Before he knew it, though, a horse trainer, one of the countless volunteers for the event, had him comfortable enough and trusting enough to be walking and jogging horseback within just a few minutes, the veteran ended up showing in the Heroes Horsemanship Challenge event that night.

That’s the beauty of the horse industry and its people, explains program founder, North Carolina Trainer Jake Hartman, who says he wants to be clear about his message:

The idea is not about glorifying Jake, or the people in the industry, but rather to send a message and hopefully inspire others – those who ride horses as second nature – to give back for what we are most grateful for: our freedom to enjoy these amazing animals in our lives.

It’s a call for an opportunity to share with those in the military what we already know: the freedom you can only feel on the back of a horse.

 

The Heroes Horsemanship Challenge Program

Where that veteran had that experience was at the second annual Heroes Horsemanship Challenge at the 2023 Big A in Conyers, Georgia – many might remember the inaugural event in June 2022 at the NCQHA Tarheel Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The event was originally inspired when Jake Hartman met Ryan Bandy, a veteran who participated in Heroes on Horses at the All American Quarter Horse Congress and at the NSBA World Show. Now Hartman and countless others produce a challenge on horseback with a team concept: military personnel and their family members are assigned to teams led by professional horse trainers.

The participants start out with a group clinic on the afternoon of the event to learn the basics of horsemanship, and they spend the rest of the afternoon together with their team to practice and prepare for their horsemanship patterns.

Then on Saturday evening, the team competition begins with each rider presenting their horsemanship pattern to a professional judge. Each rider’s score gets contributed to the team total, and the team with the highest average score is crowned champion!

The first year, the program started out with one trainer for each group for the clinic and practice, but this year, explains Jake, they had so much more involvement, they were able to have five teams with three riders, and multiple trainers were with them.

Jake says he was excited to see the expansion really benefit the riders.  “Because people have so many different coaching styles, another trainer could step in to try another technique.  It helped build more camaraderie.”  Moving the event to The Big A, though initially for convenience, since Jake had judged the Redbud Spectacular this year so close to the start of the Tarheel Classic, also became permanent.

“NCQHA was fantastic to work with, but this will be the home for the Horsemanship Challenge,” says Jake.  “We’d like to give a huge thank you to Georgia Quarter Horse Association and An Equine Production for allowing us to be here.”

The Takeaway

Thinking back to seeing the veteran show up and be unsure of himself, says Jake, makes it all clear.  “For me, the thought serving on the expeditions – there’s no way, but for us, getting on a horse, which was scary to him at first, is second nature.  To watch him build that relationship with a horse with the help of a trainer within five minutes is a blessing. It’s a small way to give back, and it’s one of the gifts we can give that’s genuine.”

Jake says all the participants were incredible this year, and they’re all a constant inspiration for him, and the more he meets, the more the fire is fueled to want to give back. “Even though this was my concept, there are so many people involved, including my wife, who does all the computer work and planning, and it really is a team effort.”

“We’d also like to thank co-presenting sponsors for this years’ event – Special Fab & Machine and Karen McCuistion & AQHA Professional Horsemen in honor of Carl McCuistion,” he says, “and Heather Seward Glazer for capturing so many wonderful moments from the event and NSBA – National Snaffle Bit Association for some great bonus shots! We’d also like to thank horse sponsors for this event: Nick Joyner, Brad & Heather Glazer, and Mike Fried!”

Jake concludes, “We’re going to have it here again next year, and any support will be appreciated – you can check us out on social media.  We would like to extend the biggest thank you to all the amazing men and women who came out tonight to compete in the 2023 Heroes Horsemanship Challenge. It was an unforgettable night and we are grateful for each rider that joined us. We’re also so thankful for our coaches (who were absolutely amazing), volunteers, sponsors, and spectators that supported the event here at the GQHA Big A!”

The results for the Heroes Horsemanship Challenge:

Champions: Team White – Ryan Bandy, Kylee Petrine-Foran, Jaret Whitt

Reserve champions: Team Blue- Denise Futch, Kristin Lyn Watts, Thomas C. Richardson

Third: Team Silver – Bree Braddy, Kaylee McKee, Sean Darney

Fourth: Team Red – Michael Suzuki, Carolyn Molzer, Melissa Connell

Fifth: Team Gold – Jessica Chambless, Missy Suzuki, Prince Thomas