Her horse’s name notwithstanding, an Oxford equestrian is very excited to be a world champion.
The dream came true for Michelle McLean, who, along with her quarter horse I Wish I Were Blue, captured the Hunt Seat Equitation world championship Nov. 9 at the Bank of America Amateur American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show in Oklahoma City.
The hunt seat preliminaries took place Nov. 8 while the finals were held the following day. McLean and I Wish I Were Blue (or ‘Sky?, for short) competed against more than 25 other horses and riders in the finals to win the championship.
For winning the world championship, McLean and her 10-year-old sorrel gelding captured a $10,666 prize (a prize amount awarded to the first through 10th-place finishers) along with a custom-designed gold-tone trophy, Montana silversmith’s buckle, Cripple Creek logo jacket,and Justin Boots smooth ostrich Techno Crepe boots along with other prizes.
According to the American Quarter Horse Association, in Hunt Seat Equitation, an amateur or youth rider are judged on their ability to ride. They work on ‘predetermined? patterns like changing gaits, traveling in a figure-8 pattern, backing up, posting on correct diagonal and counter-cantering.
AQHA adds: ‘Top riders return to be judged as they travel the perimeter of the arena performing gait changes at the judges discretion. Emphasis is placed on ability to sit correctly, hold the correct riding posture and control the horse on a precise pattern.?
In all categories of the two-week competition, more than 3,400 horses and riders from all over the world competed.
‘It was a very tough competition,? McLean recalled. ‘All the top competitors of world compete there.?
She and Sky also finished 12th in the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle Competition while another rider, Melissa Jones, finished 13th with the horse in the Senior Hunter Under Saddle competition.
In Hunter Under Saddle competition, judges examine hunter-type American Quarter Horses ‘on the flat at a walk, trot and canter.? When evaluating these horses, the judges place emphasis on gait smoothness, free-flowing stride and willingness to perform. Exhibitors (such as McLean) must wear traditional English attire.
For McLean, who’s been competing in equestrian events since 1998, countless hours of hard work and practice went into the competition. ‘You and the horse have to be in tune with each other,? she said, adding that her husband, Tim, also helps her out by serving as trainer at times and by coaching her with patterns.
She credits Tim, to whom she’s been married for five years, with getting her started competing in quarter horse shows. ‘He’s been a really big part of this,? she said.
The two bought Sky together in 1999.