When Allessandra McGinnis first started riding Gable, confidence was a missing component in their partnership. But double wins at the Great American/USDF Region 2 Championships in Batavia, Ohio, Sept. 14-17, capped off a summer full of accomplishments to prove that this relationship is headed in the right direction.

Their tricolors also honored the memory of Gayle Histed, Gable’s former owner, who died of ovarian cancer shortly after McGinnis purchased the horse.

McGinnis was riding in a clinic with Jules Nyssen two years ago when she mentioned that she was in the market for a new mount. He connected her with Histed, who was no longer able to ride her Prix St. Georges partner because of her illness.

“I took some lessons with Gayle,” said McGinnis. “She’d raised Gable from a baby, and you could see the connection between them. She gave us incredible lessons.”

Two months after McGinnis started riding the 13-year-old, Hanoverian-Thoroughbred (Gewalt–Pat Block), Histed asked if she’d be interested in buying him.

“He was much more advanced than I was,” said McGinnis, 16. “I’d shift my seat slightly and he’d start doing tempi changes. But for the first six months he was a teacher, not a partner. He had such a strong connection to Gayle. I was a temporary partner he was teaching. After six months we started to develop a partnership.”

McGinnis, Lake Forest, Ill., started riding as a 5-year-old in the short stirrup division, but when she graduated to a horse that didn’t like jumping, she fell in love with dressage. Finding a horse like Gable was the first step for her in advancing up the levels.

But his physical talent came with some insecurity and confidence issues. McGinnis spent many weekends taking him away from Silverwood Farm, where she boards, so the two could bond and work on trust. She also had to overcome her show nerves, as she found that any tenseness in her body was magnified in Gable’s.

“I owe a lot to the junior/ young rider program,” said McGinnis. “At [the CN North American Junior and Young Riders Championships] I learned that just by having fun and trying to do the best I can–that outlook really helps him. We do what we can do and that’s all we can do. He appreciates that.”

McGinnis rode on the junior team from Region 2, which placed fourth, and she placed sixth individually and in the freestyle. “The championships were so big,” said McGinnis. “I loved watching the other young riders and juniors and seeing how they rode. It was the first time I got to meet other people my age with the same love of the sport and commitment.”

Competitions like the NAJYRC helped prepare McGinnis for the regional championships. She arrived early in the week to do some warm-up classes.

“He still has a few Gable moments where he gets too hyper and we fly through the test,” admitted McGinnis. “In the first class we barely pulled a 60 percent because we were flying through it. He wasn’t listening to half-halts and just wanted to get it over.”

But as the week progressed, Gable settled in, and they went on to win championships in the junior/young rider third level class (71.11%) and in the FEI Junior Team test (71.25%). They also placed third at fourth level and enjoyed competing in the third level freestyle class.

“He was very nervous, but he was very good for the warm-up for my third level test on Saturday,” said McGinnis. “He can do the movements well athletically, but we have to find his calm mind and peace before going into the ring. I have to focus on keeping him relaxed. I just wanted to have fun. He was so good in the test, going from movement to movement with no anticipation.”

She also enjoyed their Junior test because her teammates from the NAJYRC were there to cheer her on. “We had a great ride,” said McGinnis. “He was really focused and gave us great consistency. He was really on top of his game and stayed steady. I’m proud of his attitude throughout the show.”

The Reward Is In The Journey
While McGinnis continues learning the ropes from her experienced partner, George Williams is using his expertise to bring three different horses along from first level to Grand Prix.

Williams, Delaware, Ohio, took home multiple championship ribbons including the Grand Prix and Grand Prix freestyle with Marnix (70.52%, 73.75%). Marnix isn’t new to Grand Prix, but the Dutch Warmblood (Hinault–Ecolien) has taken a long time to get comfortable at the level.

“With Marnix, I was happiest because he seemed to be settled into the test,” said Williams. “The passage was good in both tests, and the changes are always improving. In each test he had a line of changes that were good and one that was a problem. But in general he’s much more settled.”

As Marnix has grown confident in the Grand Prix movements, Williams has been able to ask more of him. “I’ve been working through the summer to make the passage more expressive,” he said. “We’ve reached the point where I can start to make certain parts better. I don’t have to go through everything every day. I can put more pressure on him, in a good way, and he’s accepting of the pressure.

“He’s a very young 12, both mentally and physically,” continued Williams. “With Marnix, I just keep working at it. He gets a little better every time. I don’t know what my expectations are. It’s a personal challenge to see how good he can be, how much better I can make him.”

And as Marnix improves at the highest levels, Williams is bringing along young horses. Two of those include Favore and Devon, who placed first (71.52%) and second (70.41%) in the first level championship.

Favore, owned by Jack and Janice Chrysler, is an 8-year-old Westphalian (Faveur–La Toya). Janice bought him for herself last fall but decided they’d be a better match after a year under Williams’ tutelage.

“He’s a wonderful horse with a wonderful sense of rhythm,” said Williams. “He has three good gaits, but his strength is his great sense of rhythm.”

Charles and Joann Smith decided to buy Williams’ other first level ride, Devon, because his breeder also bred their superstar Grand Prix mare Rocher, who is currently recovering from an injury. “We bought him for fun,” said Williams. “We didn’t have huge expectations.”

The 6-year-old Westphalian (Donnerbube I–Fitje) has been shown lightly for two years. “He’s well established at first level but not quite ready for second level,” said Williams. “Last year I showed him twice. This year he seems to be coming into his own. He has three very good gaits and is an all-around nice horse.”

He’s A Michael Jordan
Jane Bohren, 51, also enjoys developing horses, and she can’t wait to continue working with Donaufeuer, her 8-year-old American-bred Trakehner (Butow–Donauperle). The pair took home championships at second (65.49%) and third (68.88%) levels in the adult amateur division.

“I bought him as a 4-year-old as a resale project,” said Bohren. “But I knew a month after I purchased him that I’d never sell him. He’s got unbelievable talent and a great mind to go with it. He’s hot but really sensible.”

Bohren, Leo, Ind., credited her trainer, Lars Baekgaard, for upping her game with “Bart.”

“Lars pushed us beyond our comfort level,” said Bohren. “He fine-tuned how to get Bart more over his back, working better off his hind end and truly collected. He helped develop me as a rider. Bart is hard to sit, and he encouraged me to do work without stirrups. I was complacent before.”

With help from Baekgaard and other trainers, Bohren brought Bart up the levels. “Bart is easy because he’s so naturally talented,” said Bohren. “He’s so sound mentally that nothing is difficult for him. He’s a Michael Jordan of horses. It’s a privilege to own such a horse.”

She was most pleased with her second level test. “My championship ride was the best second level ride I’ve ever put together with him,” she said. “We felt like a team the whole test. I felt I had a magical second level test and a decent third level test.”

Bohren said her nerves affected their performance at third level. “There were movements that could’ve been more precise,” she said. “I’d only been beaten once at third level in his first time out. He’s done so well all year, and I really wanted it.”

If all goes according to plan, Bohren will be starting in her first FEI-level classes next year with Bart. “I have to go fourth level; we can’t go back,” said Bohren with a laugh. “It’s uncharted waters for me.”

Junior rider Katie Foster, 15, is also working her way up the levels with Sacramento. She went to Europe with J.J. Tate and Steve Wolgemuth looking for a schoolmaster and came back with a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Amsterdam–Lente Vrouwe) instead.

Foster started riding “George” last December, and the pair has quickly improved together. “It’s always hard to get to know a new horse, but he’s really forgiving,” said Foster. “He has an excellent temperament for a 7-year-old. It’s tough riding a horse that isn’t trained.”

Eventually, Foster, Minocqua, Wis., hopes to compete in the junior and young rider classes with George, but for now she was thrilled with her championship wins in the junior/young rider first (68.75%) and second (72.35%) level classes as well as the second level freestyle (70.52%).

“The first level test went well, but the second level test was even better,” said Foster. “I held him back too much in the first level test and let his neck out more in the second level test.”

But her favorite test was her freestyle, created by Terry Ciotto-Gallo. “I like the music and like riding to music,” said Foster.

Although a young horse and a young rider isn’t usually the best combination, it works well for Foster because she receives help and George has a kind personality.

“He loves people. He’d rather be with people than out eating grass in the paddock,” said Foster. “He’s very affectionate and a fun kid’s horse. He can switch easily from a professional ride to me. He doesn’t stay all jazzed up.”