One Novice Youth’s Journey to the Big Leagues: Ashley Roach and Zip Skip and Strut
A fun moment celebrating at a successful horse show. Photo courtesy of Ashley Roach.
By: Brittany Bevis
As many of our readers know, the 2014 AQHA Level 1 (Novice) Championships are currently taking place on two different sides of the country: the SmartPak AQHA Level 1 (Novice) Championship West in Las Vegas, NV and the Nutrena AQHA Level 1 (Novice) Championship East in Murfreesboro, TN.
Both of these competitions give less seasoned horse and rider teams an opportunity to test their skills on a level playing field and to be rewarded for their achievements on a national scale. Whether you’re getting back into showing after a ten-year absence, trying out a new discipline, or just starting out at AQHA events, the Novice Championships offers classes for many different ability levels and skill sets.
We caught up with one novice youth competitor, Ashley Roach, who knows firsthand how much hard work and dedication is required to rise up the ranks from open horse shows and IEA competition to the AQHA Youth World Show, NSBA World Show, Novice Championships, and finally the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Ashley Roach and Patty Sweisberger representing Springwater Farm at a recent horse show. Photo courtesy of Gordon Downey.
Roach and her AQHA mare, Zip Skip and Strut, aka “Julie,” currently compete under the guidance of Mark Stevens at Springwater Farm in South Florida. Roach’s favorite classes are Trail and Western Riding, but she describes herself as a “fair-weather showmanshipper,” occasionally competing in the event when the mood feels right.
Image courtesy of Larry Williams Photography.
Roach is the first to admit that success didn’t come overnight. She explains the process it took to transform a horse, once lovingly referred to as “Spooky Julie,” into the competitive show horse she is today.
“My horse’s old nickname, ‘Spooky Julie,’ was given to her because there were several objects, movements, and especially noises that she was afraid of,” Roach says. “My trainer helped me through the whole process, always seeming to know how to help. Julie is still afraid of some of these things today, but she isn’t as overwhelmed and stressed out about them. She accepts them and ignores most of them. Now, she seems to understand her job and always strives to please me.”
By relying on the two big P’s, Patience and Persistence, Roach and Stevens have worked with Julie to allow her natural talent to shine through. 2014 is Roach’s first year competing on a national level and she has achieved great success thus far at the NSBA World Championship Show and qualified for the AQHA Youth World Show.
“At the NSBA World Championship Show this year, I had great rides in both the Novice and Youth Trail and Western Riding,” she says. “I ended up placing fifth in Youth Western Riding and 10th in Novice Youth Western Riding! Since it is my first year at any World Show, I was so surprised with the results!”
Image courtesy of Larry Williams Photography.
“I enjoy these classes because you need to have a connection with your horse and know when you need to trust them to help you. Sometimes, they can really save you when you get into trouble. When I first started riding with Mark, I never thought I would like Trail the way I do now or be able to compete in Western Riding at the level I do now.”
For Roach, learning how to become a successful team with her horse involved accepting their flaws, working to improve them, and focusing on their strengths. Always seeking to improve her horsemanship skills, Roach has some sage advice for other young riders looking to develop a stronger partnership with their horse.
“My advice to other young riders would be to look for the positives about your horse,” she says. “Once you realize the positives, the ways to improve the negatives become more obvious, and then you can ask your trainer for tips. Then, more positives will be revealed.”
“I love to ride my horse and work with her through the moments that she has, with Mark assisting me from the ground. The main aspects of accepting and improving a horse’s flaws are persistence, patience, and dedication.”
Image courtesy of Larry Williams Photography.
“Each show that I go to helps me remember how blessed I am to be doing what I’m doing. My final wish before stepping into the show pen is to have a good ride.”
We wish Ashley Roach and Zip Skip and Strut the very best in their future show career as a team.
