Sister Act Part 2: Cameron and Peyton Crenwelge
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68 – August/September, 2015
Dedication and Passion
By Sue Winslow
Abbie Crenwelge is thoughtful as she’s cruising through the night in the family’s RV, eight hours into a twenty-hour trip from their ranch in Comfort, Texas to The Buckeye Classic in Ohio. “Yes, it’s a long drive, but this is what it’s all about,” she says. “We have our kids for eighteen years, and then they’re off to college and on to their own lives. It goes by so fast. Dale and I decided, early on, that we were going to make the most of these years with the kids, and horse showing is a big part of that.”
This dedicated horse show mom didn’t grow up with horses, and she doesn’t ride. Still, she is devoted to her daughters, and that means supporting their passions, whether it’s track and field, club volleyball, or working family vacations around a busy horse show schedule. Cameron, age 15, and Peyton, age 12, have set their sights on national competition. With the support of their parents and the guidance of trainer Reid Thomas, they are well on their way. In the past few years, the girls have won numerous accolades.
Cameron: 2014 NSBA Novice Youth Showmanship World Champion, 2014 Buckeye Classic Novice Youth High Point, 2015 Silver Dollar Circuit triple Circuit Champion, and 2015 Aggie Super Circuit Champion of Champions Hunter Under Saddle
Peyton: 2015 Aggie Super Circuit Champion of Champions Novice Youth Showmanship, 2015 Mid-Summer Fling Novice Youth High Point, and 2015 IKI Novice Youth High Point.
It all started a few years ago with a creative full-court press instigated by Cameron after a family trip to Colorado, which included a scenic trail ride. Abbie laughs as she recalls, “When we got home from the trip, pictures of horses started showing up everywhere. They were taped to the microwave, on the bathroom mirror, and all over the house. Cameron just fell in love with horses and wanted one of her own.” The family lives on a sprawling cattle ranch, so Abbie found a local trainer, Amy Lindner, who worked with the kids and took them to 4-H and local shows. “Amy was just wonderful with the girls, helping us get started and giving the kids a really solid foundation.”
The girls advanced to open shows, and, with their success, came a larger and more national vision. Abbie describes the turning point, “Both girls were starting to have some nice wins, and we realized that it might be possible to set our sights on national competition. We decided if we were going to commit to this, we were going to do it as a family. We found our trainer, Reid Thomas, and he has done a phenomenal job helping us find the right horses for the girls and developing a plan to help them reach their goals.” While the learning curve has been steep for both Cameron and Peyton, and there have been some bumps along the way, Abbie says the journey has been life changing for the entire family. “Reid helped us put together all the pieces so the girls could move forward into the next levels of the sport.” Reid found a Reining horse for Peyton and an all-around horse, Zip Back N Yak, aka “Vinnie,” for Cameron. While Peyton dabbled in horses while pursuing tumbling and volleyball, Cameron focused all her time and energy on riding.
Abbie says, “We’ve always done things as a family, but we’ve encouraged the girls to pursue their individual interests. Peyton has done tumbling and volleyball, but Cameron has always been all about the horses. Peyton was having fun with her Reiner, but Cameron had set her sights on a major youth title.” Each girl was headed in her own direction until an unusual series of events thrust Peyton onto the world stage with a challenge that would change the course of her young riding career.
Cameron explains, “Just before Congress, a friend of mine at school was doing a presentation about skateboarding, and he asked me to do a demonstration. This was the worst idea ever, because I’m an awkward teenager and not a skateboarder. I got on the skateboard and another girl gave me a push. I lost my balance and fell off. I heard a snap, but I tried to shake it off and pop my ankle back in, but to no avail. We went to the hospital. My ankle was broken and required surgery. We had worked so hard, but there was no way I could ride at the Congress.”
Peyton stepped up to the plate to compete with Vinnie at the Congress after only two weeks of practice. With Reid’s tutelage, she turned in stellar performances earning 9th in 11 & Under Horsemanship, 7th in the 13 & Under Novice Youth Showmanship, 5th in 13 & Under Novice Youth Trail, and coming in Top 15 in almost every class they entered.
Abbie says, “That was it for Peyton and Vinnie. Peyton fell in love with him at that show and told Cameron, ‘You have to find a new horse, because he’s mine now.’ We started looking for a horse for Cameron right there at the Congress. She was on a scooter because her cast had just come off and she couldn’t walk yet. We had to pry her boot on and lift her onto the horses she tried, but she was a great sport about it. It took us a long time to find the right horse for her, but we trusted Reid and he has been right all along.”
Cameron agrees, “We looked at so many horses. Some we just missed out on, and some didn’t pass the vet check. It got discouraging at times. Reid said he had a horse in the barn that was perfect for me.” She pauses and says with a giggle, “I wish I could say I loved him from the beginning. The truth is I hated that horse. He seemed kind of spooky and goofy, and I just wasn’t interested. Reid said he was just young, and I should give him a try. I trust Reid, so I tried him. I’m so glad I did. Too Hot To Frisk, aka “Tadpole,” has turned out to be the greatest horse I could ask for, and I love him. He is so talented, but he just needed to grow up a little bit.”
Abbie concurs, “Things worked out just as they were supposed to, I think. I put it in God’s hands, and things fell into place. Vinnie has turned out to be such a great teacher and match for Peyton, and Cameron and Too Hot To Frisk are perfect together. This horse has really grown up while Cameron’s confidence has increased, and they have had a great year. Dale and I have seen the girls flourish in so many ways while working with Reid and Brynne Bassler. Reid helped them define their goals and then develop a road map to reach them. Both the girls have learned a lot about responsibility, the importance of preparation, and the rewards that can come if you commit and give 110% effort.”
Reid Thomas has high praise for his students and their parents. He says, “Abbie and Dale have been wonderful to work with. They have supported Cameron and Peyton in every aspect of this endeavor, from making sure they each have the right horse and the correct show clothes, to giving them every opportunity to reach their dreams. Vinnie has earned his place in Heaven because he is such a solid horse, a patient teacher, and a partner for Peyton. Cameron has done a great job with Too Hot To Frisk, and it has been really rewarding to watch these kids come along. Both girls have qualified for the Youth World Show, and the family has made a full commitment to a busy show season.
“We love it,” Abbie says. “How many parents of teenagers get to spend this kind of time with their kids and really have fun like this? We share a love for the horses, and the girls are now competing with kids they have looked up to for so long. Going to the shows is family time, and that’s very important to us. Thanks to Reid and Brynne, the girls are having success, and that builds their confidence. They look forward to working hard in preparation for each event. Dale and I are very proud of their accomplishments.”
Reid describes this preparation, “This doesn’t just happen. Brynne and I work very hard to make sure our riders and their horses are fully prepared for peak performance at every show. I wear many hats, but this is my passion and I want the entire family to enjoy the process. Peyton and Cameron have committed to doing the preparation on improving both their weaknesses and strengths. Their learning curve over the past two years has been steep, but they are coming on strong.”
Abbie says, “The girls have learned a lot from this whole process. They have learned that with dedication and hard work come success, but on the days when it doesn’t go as we hoped, they have learned how to deal with disappointment; how to pick themselves up, figure out what went wrong and carry on. These are valuable life lessons that will benefit them in their experiences in college and beyond. The love they have for their horses is also a very positive aspect of this experience. Peyton has always had an abundance of confidence, and Cameron has always been very modest, so it has been rewarding to see her confidence grow. Each of them has their own learning style and approach to the sport, but they both share dedication, commitment, and respect for their trainers and horses.”
Both girls are excellent students and balance their horse time with other interests. Peyton loves Showmanship and is also into volleyball, tumbling, and track. She says, “Vinnie is so lovable. He’s funny because he doesn’t like apples, but he loves carrots and peppermints. On one ear, he only has half an ear, but he is the greatest horse. My goal is to win Showmanship at the Youth World, but even if I make it to Top Five or Top Ten I will be so proud of him. While working with Reid, I have become a different rider, and it’s really fun.” Her show preparation includes staying calm and focusing on Vinnie. “I tell myself that I am here for a reason at each show, and I am very fortunate to be doing this. I trust Vinnie, and I know he’ll take care of me. That helps me stay calm,” she says.
Cameron has her sights set on showing on a college team after graduating from the Texas Military Institute. She says, “I’m a civilian student there, and I love it. My college choices for a riding team are Texas A&M, Auburn, or Georgia. After that, I plan on going to law school. I plan on taking two honors and three AP classes in my upcoming junior year. Right now, I’m focusing on my goal of making it to the semi-finals at Youth World and winning a Novice event at the Congress. My horse loves Trail, and Showmanship is a work in progress, but I love this horse. The coolest thing about my progress is that a year ago, I was showing with Vinnie and I remember watching an incredibly tough 14-18 Horsemanship class. I remember thinking there was no way that I would ever be able to compete at that level. However, with the help of Reid and Brynne, I am now able to have success in such a challenging division as 14-18. For this, I am very grateful to Reid, Brynne, and to my parents for helping me make my dream come true.”
Abbie says, “Dale and I have always believed in giving 100% to living a full life, and giving the girls this opportunity is part of it. We also enjoy traveling, and we’ve taken the girls to Venice, the Greek Islands, and South Africa, where we have friends who own a game reserve. It’s been a blessing to be able to share these experiences with our kids, and their love of horses has opened up a whole new world to us. We’ve met some wonderful people through this experience. Seeing the girls come out of the ring, beaming with a smile after a win, no matter how big or small, is the greatest feeling in the world. I can honestly say I’ll look back, when the girls are off on their own, and know we didn’t miss a minute of opportunity to enjoy the time we’ve had with them.”
With two talented horses and a strong support team, Cameron and Peyton Crenwelge are on the road to success and having a great time along the way.
