Competitor misses family support
By ANISSA CAMP / Abilene Reporter-News
Michelle McIntire, 19, was emotionally spent when she finished
her last event at her last Texas State 4-H Horse Show. She didn't
win , and her disappointment was evident in her tired eyes.
But the defeat wasn't the heaviest burden on her mind.
The hardest part was that her mother couldn't be with her to
share in the pain of her loss or the joy of her earlier win. This
was McIntire's fourth and final trip to the state competition
- and the first time her family has not accompanied her.
"It was harder than I thought it would be. It really was,"
McIntire said. "Not only do they help you with getting the
horse prepared, they're there for mental support. They're there
to say congratulations even when you mess up."
McIntire made the trip from her hometown of Wimberley, near
Austin, to Abilene without her mother because her grandfather
has cancer and her family stayed home with him.
McIntire got her first horse when she was 12 years old and
immediately started participating in 4-H. She qualified for state
three years later and has been coming to Abilene for the annual
show ever since.
Of the eight horses she has owned, her current horse is by
far her favorite. She said his American Quarter Horse Association
registered name is "If You Play You Pay," but she likes
to call him Lester.
The bond between the two is evident. Just before she took the
arena to make the two jumps in the Hunter Hack event, she bent
down from the saddle and kissed the brown-eyed horse on the neck.
When her number was called, she and Lester rode into the arena
and took a wide turn to size up the first jump and gain speed.
But when they got to the fence, Lester pointed his black velvet
muzzle to the ground and skidded to a halt.
The refusal to jump sealed their fate, but instead of getting
frustrated and digging into the horse's sides with her heels -
like other contestants had done - McIntire reached down and lovingly
stroked Lester's neck.
"He and I can read each other pretty well," said
McIntire. "I knew he was going to refuse that first jump."
McIntire explained that when Lester refuses a jump it's usually
because he is looking out for her safety.
"He may not think that I am really in the saddle, so he
refuses the jump to keep me from busting and getting hurt,"
McIntire said.
They made the circle again and this time the horse cleared
both jumps. Unfortunately, the first mistake cost them a place
in the finals.
The age limit for 4-H competition is 19, so this is McIntire's
last competition. She is attending Austin Community College, and
with tears in her eyes, she said she will have to sell Lester
in August to pay for college.
"It's so hard to do," McIntire said, hugging Lester's
neck. "I love him. He's like a big overgrown pet.
"I think horses are good for people. They make people
happy," McIntire said as she brushed the red dust off Lester's
sleek, rich, brown coat.
Her final week in 4-H competition did yield one state championship
though. She won the Hunter Undersaddle event and was also a finalist
in the Hunter Horsemanship Tuesday. When she finally got a free
moment to call home with the news, she found out her mother had
already called the 4-H office and knew about her win.
"They were all real excited," McIntire said as a
smile spread across her face.
Today's Texas State 4-H Horse Show schedule for the Horse Barn
shows barrel racing prelims at 8 a.m. and stake racing prelims
at 1 p.m.
For the Coliseum, the schedule shows showmanship at halter
semifinals and finals at 8 a.m. and the western horsemanship prelims
at 2:30 p.m. followed by the western riding prelims.
Also on the schedule is a party with live music at 7 p.m. at
the Display Building.
Send a Letter to the Editor about This
Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address) of This Story
to A Friend:
Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
|
