My “First” ___ in the Horse Industry

By: Brittany Bevis

More often than not, competition in the world of horse showing focuses on a singular goal, achieving a first. However, in this case, we’re not necessarily talking about a blue, first place ribbon or shiny, first place trophy.

Every equestrian has fond memories of his or her first time in the show pen. While the experience might have included a first place finish for some, for many others, it did not. However, there’s merit in celebrating firsts of another kind.

Do you remember your first horse show, your first time competing in a new discipline, your first time in a new age division, or even the first time you were bucked off? Whether the experience was memorable because it was exciting, humorous, or frightening, those early experiences on horseback have shaped us into the riders we have become today.

For Jan Ames of M Bar J Ranch in Washington, her first horse show began a lifelong love affair with horses that she has continued to this day and passed along to her children.

“My first horse show was located at the Spokane Fairgrounds,” Jan says. “1956 was the year. I was hooked after that day. 58 years later, I still feel the excitement of the day.”

Although Jan and her Paint pony, “El Patches,” were ready and rearing to go to their first horse show, it took a little convincing for her father to get on board with the idea.

“It took some convincing my dad, but he finally agreed to let me go to this one show with my little pony El Patches,” Jan says. “I was so excited. We washed my pony until her pink skin showed through her white hair. Dad clipped her with the cattle clippers, and she was ready to go.”

“Checking the items off the list we made, we loaded up and drove 45 miles to Spokane so I could show my pony. That was a pretty good trip for those days. Mom, Dad, and I had a wonderful time that day. I don’t remember getting very nervous, just anxious. The fact that I won my little 10 and under pony class was just the icing. We were all hooked from that day forward. Dad became my coach and mom was in charge of wardrobe.”

As it turned out, that first horse show was only the beginning. Over the years, Jan’s interests grew and she picked up other disciplines including saddle seat, side saddle, and driving roadster ponies.

“My main interest involved a saddlebred mare named Ace’s Diana,” she says. “I rode her in Saddle Seat Equitation and Side Saddle. We were very successful in both of those events winning her medal classes as well as many year-end state titles.”

“My father, being a farmer and horse person himself, thought that driving ponies would be a super, fun thing. He started them and then would pass them on to me to show. I drove two stallion roadster ponies, Sir Chocolate Drop and Friendlyacresgreyhoundgeneral. They both proved themselves to be champion ponies for several years in youth and open classes. They were a hoot.”

Later on in life, Jan met her husband, a rancher and fellow horse enthusiast, who actively participated in calf roping and bulldogging events at rodeos in their early married years. When the two Ames children were born, they followed in their father’s footsteps by competing in junior rodeos and shared their mother’s love of ponies by showing at local POA events.

Today, Jan’s daughter, Melissa Sexton, is an AQHA and NSBA judge, Professional Horseman, and multiple World Champion earning horse trainer who operates Melissa Sexton Show Horses out of M Bar J Ranch in Washington. Coming full circle, Jan now shows American Quarter Horses as well.

“I have the horse gene–I guess,” she says. “Over the past 58 years, I have always had horses around.”

And it all started with that trip to her first horse show.

When did your addiction with horses begin? We’d love to hear about your “First ___ in the Horse Industry.” E-mail b.bevis@equinechronicle.com to share your story.