What’s a Camas Prairie Stump Race Doing at an Elite Show Jumping Event?

By: Brittany Bevis

That’s a valid question, but first one would have to know what a Camas Prairie Stump Race is. As one of five games classes approved by the Appaloosa Horse Club, the Camas Prairie Stump Race is a version of Barrel Racing inspired by traditional games of the Nez Perce Native American tribe.

The format of the Stump Race involves two horses racing head-to-head on identical barrel patterns opposite the start/finish line. Each horse and rider pair start in opposite directions, and the first team back across the line wins the race. Typically, these classes are held in a bracket system that continues until the last horse is eliminated.

What’s a class for speedy, spotted Appaloosas doing at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, an event that attracts some of the top show jumpers in the country? We caught up with Appaloosa aficionado Dr. Ted Zajac to find out.

“This event was held at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show following one of the show jumper classes,” he says. “It was held to showcase different types of competition and was certainly a crowd pleaser. The event was made possible by the work of Ray Burchett, Mike Kraft, Skip Seifert, and the Keystone Appaloosa Club. There was also a little more competiton added because Appaloosa contestants competed against Quarter Horse contestants.” To increase the fun factor a $1,000 purse was added to the class.

Dr. Zajac was not only a supporter of this special event but also a participant aboard a 1994 Appaloosa mare appropriately named Mustang Sally II. Owned by Robin and Chloe Meirs, Sally is by Sonny’s Cowboy and out of Cindy Bars II, who is by the stallion Rock Star. She was bred and originally trained by Alida Farrington-Burkholder of Lititz, PA.

“Robin and Chloe were kind enough to let me use Sally for this competition,” Zajac says. “This mare has many points in everything: Hunter Under Saddle, Showmanship, Halter, Hunter in Hand, Hunter Hack, Pleasure Driving, and all the games classes. She is a great example of how athletic and versatile the Appaloosa Horse is.”

Although they didn’t win the class, (that title was claimed by World Champion Appaloosa Tiger Tari and Taylor Bennett) Zajac thoroughly enjoyed his foray into the fast-paced Stump Race and the opportunity to introduce the Appaloosa breed to a different audience.

“This type of competition requires some stamina and endurance since you must race multiple times,” he says. “There was a timer with lights and part of the strategy is getting your horse to the line without going over. The winner of the race keeps advancing up the winner’s side of the brackets. The loser still competes against other race losers to determine the bottom placings of the class.”

We certainly loved Zajac’s outfit of choice for the Stump Race, a black and gray Equine Chronicle shirt that perfectly matched his gray mount. “I always appreciate the support The Equine Chronicle provides for us and like to do the same in return! I thought this was a great way to get some exposure for the Chronicle to a large number of equestrians who might be unfamiliar with the magazine. I got the shirt from Gordon!”