Best of Both Worlds- Eric Mendrysa- From Horsemanship to Saddleseat

By: Brittany Bevis

Many of you will know Eric Mendrysa as a man of many talents. He’s an amateur all-around competitor. He’s a photographer. He’s a graphic designer. He’s a lover of the American Quarter Horse.

Given his breed of choice, many were surprised to see photos of Eric competing in a Saddleseat class at an Arabian Horse Show in Del Mar, California over the weekend. While, at first glance, it might seem as if Eric has expanded his equestrian repertoire to include a new breed; it’s actually the opposite.

“I started riding Arabians when I was five years old at a Saddleseat barn in Michigan. I didn’t get into the Quarter Horses until I was 12 years old,” Eric says. “I’ve always really enjoyed Saddleseat. It’s a very different change of pace from all-around competition.”

When Eric learned that the Sun and Surf Quarter Horse Show would be held at the Del Mar Horse Park and the Arabian Horse Show was taking place right down the street at the Del Mar Horse Race Track Park, Eric couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take his Half-Arabian mare, Have You Ever, aka “Ellie.”

While Eric relies on Reid Thomas of Texas for guidance in all-around competition, he looks to Julie Daniel of Arizona for help in Saddleseat. They have a special connection that goes back nearly a decade.

“My best friend in high school, Brittany, was very involved with showing and training Arabians with her cousin, Julie, who is actually my trainer now. Brittany had a tragic horse accident when we were 19, on the first day of her new job. This had such an impact on me that I put my horse career on the back burner for a few years. I have a tattoo in memory of Brittany, and I can honestly say she continues to play a large part in what brought me back to the Arabian show pen. When I graduated college and moved to Scottsdale, there was an Arabian trainer that lived across the street, and I slowly began to miss riding. After a few weeks, I decided to start taking lessons, and it wasn’t after a few months I was back in the show pen. While I was living in Scottsdale, that’s when I met Reid, while he was there for the Arizona Sun Circuit.”

When Eric is at home in Texas, he tries to ride a couple of times a week at a local Saddlebred barn, just to keep himself in shape. He also rides at his Texas ranch at least four days a week ,where he practices Showmanship and Horsemanship. How does he balance riding in two very different disciplines?

“Reid asked me the other day how my brain transitions from the complete differences in position from Saddleseat posture to Horsemanship posture. We both joked that if people can speak two great languages, then I can learn two opposite disciplines. It’s possible, inside this degree of difficulty, where I find the ultimate challenge of striving to be great at both.”

 

In Del Mar, Eric decided to focus solely on showing his Half-Arabian, Ellie, in order to qualify her for the US Nationals this year. He’d already finished qualifying for the AQHA World Show at the Arizona Sun Circuit. With both the Quarter Horse Congress and US Nationals coming up in October, Eric is certain to have a very busy fall show season…

“My plan for both horses this year is to show my all-around gelding, Won Vital Code RV, at the summer majors and the Congress and World Show and for my trainer, John Briggs, to show him in Junior Trail and Western Riding. Levi has had a very successful last few years, and, since this is his last Junior year, I’m very excited to see what this year brings. My plan for my Half-Arabian was to qualify her for US Nationals, which we successfully did this past weekend, and hopefully to show at Nationals in October.”

While there are obvious similarities, Eric notices a few big differences when competing in two different breeds and two different disciplines.

“I would say that they’re very different in the way that they host their horse shows and with spectator participation. I’ve noticed that there’s always a bigger crowd at the Arabian venues versus the Quarter Horse venues. The crowd reminds me of what you might see at a collegiate equestrian meet where everyone is hollering and cheering during the entire class. It really keeps the adrenaline going for the riders, which I think transfers to the horses and makes for a very exciting and fun class.”

“The Arabian fans, for sure, know how to raise the roof on a place. It’s a very interactive and involved type of environment. I find equal respect within both breeds and disciplines for different reasons.”

“The Arabian industry also offers different categories of showing, such as ATR, which mean Amateur to Ride, where anyone can show anyone’s horse. There is no paperwork or leasing involved, which is very interesting. There is also AOTR, which stands for Amateur Owner to Ride, in which only the owners can show in that specific class.”

But which breed is his favorite? For Eric, it’s an impossible question to answer. “I can’t imagine life without my Quarter Horse, Levi, or my Arabian, Ellie! I’d venture to say that it’s kind of like when someone asks a parent if they have a favorite kid – you don’t – but you can pick out favorite attributes and qualities in each kid/horse.”

“I would say I’ve always had an equal passion for both breeds and disciplines. After college and starting my career, it’s honestly been a juggling match trying to balance both passions. About two years ago, I really sat down and decided I was a bit spread thin on project horses and sales. Over the next couple of years, I really wanted to have a master plan – with one great Arabian and one great Quarter Horse. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great problem to sell great horses and see others go win; but, at the end of the day, this started as my passion, and I’m really focused on seeing my goals through.”

So what does this master plan entail, exactly?

“My goal for the future would be to show at the Scottsdale show at Westworld, which is the equivalent to our Quarter Horse Congress, and the US Nationals, which is the equivalent to our AQHA World Show and is held in Tulsa, OK in 2019. The Scottsdale show is always so impressive to attend. It draws in a ton of spectators. Most of the time, there is only standing room available during the evening classes, and the stands are packed. 2012 was the last time I had an Arabian, under the guidance of Bob Bataglia, in Scottsdale. I won during my first year in the Open Costume and was Reserve in the Amateur Country.”

“As time goes on, I can see myself trying to raise a few great Arabians as well as Quarter Horses. I really enjoy all aspects of the industry from the mares, to the babies, to the studs, to the sale barn, to the victory laps!”