During the weekend of Feb. 8, 2008, the Oklahoma
Horse Fair, with representatives from both coasts and both
borders came to Duncan, Okla. Ranch horse and barrel racing
events as well as a new competition, a trail horse competition,
entertained the spectators and featured outstanding prizes.
Erica Halterman, a 14-year-old who lives in
Duncan, Okla. riding an 8-year-old chestnut Appaloosa mare
named Mama’s Design, negotiated the obstacles better than
20 other competitors and took home a new Titan 2 horse slant
trailer with tack room, lettered “The 2008 Champion Trail
Horse of Oklahoma”. The trailer was awarded by Gary Loman,
producer of the Oklahoma Horse Fair. Erica competed against
Paints, Arabians and Quarter Horses in a field of adults including
her father, Martin Halterman, who was aboard the only other
Appaloosa, Blazin Hot Sister, a 6-year-old chestnut mare.
The course involved leading the horse into
the arena, mounting up, loping a figure eight with flying
lead change, a gate, a ditch and a dirt hill that had to be
crossed, putting on/taking off a rain slicker, an elevated
bridge leading to a pen of goats that had to be passed, a
walk over logs, mailbox, and a back through “L”.
“We knew that the goats would probably be
there, so about a month ago we goat named Mickey, and out
horses just love him,” said Valerie Halterman, Erica’s mother.
The judges also gave one to five additional
points for the five fastest times, but Erica and Mama’s Design
didn’t worry about the clock—trail is not a speed event.
Friday night during a problem horse clinic,
clinician Kerry Kuhn, explained how he judged the mount of
each trail horse. He was looking for a quiet horse that stood
perfectly still until the rider was ready to go. Aboard Mama’s
Design, Erica adjusted the stirrup, tucked in her shirt, rocked
the saddles and then told Mama’s Design “Let’s go”, just by
picking up the reins. Out of a total 200 points, Erica and
Mama’s Design scored 186.
Erica, with Mama’s Design, is the current
12-14 State of Oklahoma 4-H Trail Champion; placed 15th in
the Senior Open Trail Class in the 2007 World Championship
Appaloosa Show in Fort Worth, Texas; and was awarded the 2006
and 2007 “Horse of the Year” from the Sooner Appaloosa Horse
Club.
