It was a series of firsts at the Dixie Nationals Quarter Horse Show recently held in Jackson, Mississippi. Fifty year-old Terri Van Slyke showed for the first time in Novice Amateur Trail with a veteran all-around mare, These Eyes Adore You. The mare, who is owned by Montgomery Lee Petty was recently leased by Van Slyke and brought out of retirement. Also at the show, Michelle Breeden Floyd, 80 pounds lighter and with a new last name, competed in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure after nearly five years away from showing. These two amateur ladies are an inspiration to many by getting back into the arena, and we wanted to share their stories.
Michelle Breeden Floyd of Cleveland, Mississippi has made an impressive transformation over the past few years. After going through a divorce, Floyd started running, lost an incredible 80 pounds and was recently remarried. Out of the blue, her new husband, Shane, asked her if she would like to show again.”Of course, I said yes!,” says Floyd, who was thrilled to be back in the show pen after a nearly five year hiatus.
“It was great to be back in the show arena,” said Floyd who placed sixth out of 27 in the Novice Amateur Western Pleasure in their debut ride. “It was the first time I have ever shown at the Dixies. I really didn’t know how it would go because I’ve only had Doc for a month. With the rain, I did not have much time to ride him at the house. So, I was very pleased with our first show back.”
Michelle’s four year-old daughter, Evelyn, who is a horse crazy little girl, is very excited that her mother is competing again. “Evelyn thinks it is great since she loves horses and wants to ride everyone’s horse by herself,” says Floyd, who stopped showing when she became pregnant with her daughter. “She is very popular at the shows, and this is all new to my step sons, Will and Duncean, but they are ready to learn.”
Floyd is looking forward into getting her family into showing horses. “My husband used to show cows in 4H, so now he wants to start showing Doc in Halter. The kids will also be able to show Doc in 4H too. My goal is to go to the world show one day, but if I don’t make it there, I would love to see my husband or my kids show there. I am just going to take one show at a time. I love my family very much, and I would not be able to do all of this without Shane and his support.”
Select Amateur Terri Van Slyke has ridden all her life. After college, her top priorities were to buy a barrel horse, trailer and truck. She even met her husband barrel racing, so it proved a good move for this horse show mom. However, the last few years have been dedicated to her daughter, Katie, and Katie’s show career. Katie shows in the youth all-around events and Terri has always happily taken the role as Horse Show Mom.
About five years ago, Montgomery Lee Petty began boarding her old show mare, These Eyes Adore You (“Dawn”) at Terri’s barn in Nolensville, Tennessee. Petty was newly married and too busy raising her beautiful daughter, Sullie Mae, to be able to show.
“I have watched the mare with Montgomery Lee riding her so many times I just kept saying to myself and my husband that she would be the perfect horse for me to show…never thinking that might actually happen,” Terri recalls about Dawn, who has over 800 AQHA points in the all around events. “She has such a soft jog and transitions. Plus, the mare is amazing–she is no fuss, just all business in the pen. I have never had a finished horse, much less one at her level. So, I greatly appreciate everything about Dawn.”
Dawn and Terri made their debut at the Dixie Nationals, but it didn’t go exactly the way they had expected. “I had originally planned on doing showmanship instead trail, but when we saw that both classes were going on in different arenas at possibly the same time– I didn’t want to rush doing both. After a few lessons, I knew I would be doing trail instead. She is so good at it, and, well let’s just say, I need a lot more showmanship practice.”
So how did the new team do?
“I knew my pattern–I had studied it for a couple of weeks. That made my daughter laugh!” says Van Slyke referring to her daughter, Katie, who shows Zippin On Top in the youth all-around events. “Katie looks at a pattern and has it down in seconds. It is not that easy for me–but whether things went good or bad, I was going to know the pattern!”
Terri continues, “This was my first trail class ever, but I wasn’t nervous at all. I just felt like I’ve got this…that’s because Dawn is that kind of horse you know she will be there when you ask.”
The duo ended up fifth overall in their first ever trail class. However, Terri says that sharing the experience with her daughter and making new friends is really what it is all about.
“I decided when I got this opportunity that it was going to be fun and as stress free as possible,” Van Slyke states. “So, I decided that every time I went into a line up in a class; I would meet all those next to me. You can never have too many friends. I just plan on enjoying this year to the fullest. My goals are to work hard all year and show at Congress. I would like to thank my husband for all his support and Montgomery for trusting me with her treasured mare and family member.”
Congratulations to both ladies and we wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Photos © Shane Rux Photography
