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Pictured above: Samantha and Hot-Shot.
Samantha unlike her sister Tameron didn't start out wanting to show horses, she enjoyed them very much. Her first passions were gymnastics and ballet. But after a debilitating injury on the uneven parallel bars which required the placement of two pins in her left ankle and a year of rehab. At the age of 13 her dreams of continuing to compete in gymnastics and or dance had come to an end. With that, Samantha with her own money went out and bought Hot-Shot then a very young stud horse that had never been ridden. Within two years she and her friend were ready to compete with other horses twice his size.... For that matter, most everyone is twice the size of Samantha. Because of Hot-Shot's small size Samantha made her mind up to study Dressage Style Riding. This discipline requires very subtle commands from rider to horse, which show the horses ability to change gaits and leads. As well as help to bring out the horses balance. Unlike; Three Day Events which is the discipline Tameron and Abu competed in. Dressage for the most part involves no jumping. However, there is a test that requires crossing six rails called (cavaletti's)Samantha and Hot-Shot favored this test the most.
It's only fair to state that as you progress in levels of testing. What you did at first level will only become much more involved and complex. This way as a rider and horse team you never have a chance to dominate any one level. This Dressage test is called Prix Caprilli, and as a member of Paso del Norte Dressage Society, where upon while competing in an "A" rated show hosted by Old Mission Thoroughbred Farms, El Paso, Texas in 1995 Samantha and Hot-Shot won The Gladiator Memorial Silver Bowl for high score rider-horse combination at First Level. As well as many other ribbons and high-point year end awards with the Las Cruces Horseman's Association in Las Cruces, New Mexico. And Gila Horseman's Association in Silver City, New Mexico.
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Pictured above: Tameron and Abu.
Tameron didn't start out on Abu a Thoroughbred Mare, but as she climbed her why to the top of each class she would need a taller horse to compete with. Riding in Three Day Events which consist of Dressage, Cross Country and finishing up with Stadium Jumping. The higher in class you go the higher the jumps become, as well the dressage test become much more complex for the rider. As well for the horse. You already know her first horse "Charlie", well after charlie we found her a "Doc-Bar" horse named C.D. which stands for Canada Dry; He was a papered Quarter Hourse, with which Tameron competed on for a couple years. But as the jumps increased in hight it became to dangerous for him, so that's where Abu comes in. She stands 15.3 hands. Before Tameron purchased Abu, (Which means forward charge in Clatic) she was used as a Steeple Chase Horse. Deemed to old, she was to be sold for "Dog Food". As sad as it may be, it happens! Abu made the transition to a Three Day Events horse very well. Her and Tameron have won many ribbons as well as year-end high-piont awards from Las Cruces Horseman's Association And Gile Horseman's as well. Perhaps her greatest achievement came in 1995 while competing in the Grass Ridge Farm Horse Trials located Sonotia, Arizona where she and Abu won the 1st place blue ribbon for their Three Day Event class. This show brings in horse and riders from all over the nation.
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Pictured above: Tameron as the Southwestern New Mexico State Fair Queen for 1996-97
Well..... I guess, being crowned Queen. Might give winning the blue ribbon a run for the top achievemnt
Or for that matter, as the reining SWNMSF Queen; Tameron represented Luna county as it's candidate in the 1997 New Mexico State fair Queen contest, held at the State Fair in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tameron didn't win, but she did win the hearts of many of the onlookers. This is a letter which was written to the Editor of the local newspaper: Dear Sir: Yesterday, Sept. 18th at a luncheon at the Radisson here in Albauquerque for the State Fair Queen Candidates. I attended as part of a cheering section for one of those candidates. They were lovely girls, carefully made up and wearing elaborate outfits. After her introduction each girl gave a short presentation speech and most had been I'm sure, coached relentlessly on each inflection and gesture. Some of them forgot their lines but managed to rally. Many extolled the quality and bloodlines of their horses. However. one girl stood out for me and for a lot of other people and you should know about it, this young lady is from your area. She was first up, which is always unnerving. Possibly no one told her she ought to look like a "Showgirl Cowgirls" with all the pancake makeup and glitzy costumes. Her pretty face was washed and she was wore jeans. She spoke from the heart and was very proud of her horse which she had "rescued from the killers". One could tell she really loves that horse. Possibly crushed because she stumbled over her lines once or twice, she rushed from the room after her speech. If she'd had stayed she would have seen others forget too, and handle it much worse! I looked for her after the luncheon but didn't see her. I don't know her name, only that she represented your area and you people should be very proud of her. She'll be remembered fondly by me and many others for much finer reasons than she realizes, long after the others are forgotten. I would like you to see that she knows that. And tell her to take care of that horse! This letter was signed by the writter, but printed as "Anonymous".... Like the writer said, "I was supposed to root for someone else!!! Certainly an high achievement as well.
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