Riding high, with ribbons to show for it

Reagan and Pearl have been good friends for a couple of years now.

They spend a few afternoons each week together, and they see each other on weekends, too.

Sometimes they go on trips — to North Carolina and Georgia.

Last month they went to the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville.

And they came home with some ribbons.

Reagan is Reagan Moore, a fourth-grader who lives in Lutz. She’s an A-Circuit equestrian competitor in her spare time.

Pearl is La Perla Merchant, Reagan’s 14-year-old American Saddlebred. Pearl lives at Avalon Stables in Lutz.

Reagan and Pearl went to Kentucky to compete at the World’s Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair.

They brought home a fourth-place finish in Saddle Seat Equitation in the eight-and-under group.

In that kind of competition, the rider is judged more than the horse — but Reagan is quick to credit her partner for their success.

“She’s a good listener, so she’s pretty easy,” Reagan said of Pearl.

Pearl might be an easy partner, but saddle seat equitation itself is quite difficult. With a couple of reins in each hand, riders are judged by how they guide their horse, and the form and poise they use during the evaluation.

And they’re not out there alone. A group of riders perform at once (a total of 10 in Reagan’s group), all attempting to maneuver into the best position in front of the judges, while also trying to relegate the competition into a lesser spot for viewing. Riders must defend their position and maintain a prominent place for evaluation, but also must stay focused on maintaining control of their horse while showing proper form.

“It’s just all about your legs, hands and how you sit,” Reagan said. Even the position of their chin makes a difference.

That type of form means a lot of practice, and Reagan and Pearl spend hours each week improving.

When they’re not working on their form, Reagan likes to come by and talk to Pearl and brush her hair, and spend time with her “barn friends” at Avalon.

“It’s just amazing out here. It’s so fun,” she said.

While it might be fun at the stables, performing in front of several thousand people in a different state can be a daunting task, especially to a child.

Pam Roush, owner of Avalon Stables, was there to cheer three of her students at the event, and was proud of how Reagan handled herself.

“This particular little athlete is so poised and so confident with her horse,” she said. “She has no fear, and no thoughts that are negative.”

Reagan has been with Avalon for several years. She started riding when she was 3.

And, Roush has enjoyed seeing her grow into such a competitive athlete even at her young age.

Roush wasn’t the only one rooting for Reagan at the event. Her parents, Allison and Kris, went to Kentucky, as did her grandmother. Her brother, Dylan, stayed home for the beginning of the school year, but was rooting for her at home.

Even though he didn’t grow up around horses, Kris Moore is impressed with his daughter’s success. Seeing her perform at such a large event in front of thousands of people was a special moment.

“It was breathtaking. It’s hard to explain. Just to see her out there and doing it, it was just amazing,” he said.

Getting to that point hasn’t been easy. Between Reagan’s riding and Dylan’s travel baseball, there’s a lot of scheduling and coordinating that keeps the Moore’s calendar full. But it’s worth it, Kris said, because the children are doing something they love and are focused on positive activities.

The trip to Kentucky was a big positive for Reagan and her family. In addition to competing, she had time to see a few sights. She visited a park dedicated to the American Saddlebred, as well as Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.

Of course, bringing home a ribbon for fourth place was pretty nice, too.

“It was such a great feeling,” Reagan said. “I’m just so proud of (Pearl). It’s just so cool.”

And for Roush, who has seen Reagan grow into a top competitor, watching her longtime student succeed was a great experience, too.

“That’s the ultimate feeling that you can have as an instructor. It’s the reason why we do it,” she said.

Published September 9, 2015