Some of us have been fortunate to know a wonderful older horse—a Golden Oldie—or two in our times as equestrians and exhibitors. Those graying faces and patient eyes represent a long career over the course of an aged horse’s life, and the many lessons learned throughout it. Some become lesson horses for kids or are retired to rolling pastures and extra treats and a few continue to show well into their twenties. In the case of 1985 AQHA gelding Storm Commander, some horses reenter the show pen after a long hiatus and find that they’ve still got it.
Wisconsin native Roy Schwab purchased Storm Commander over twenty years ago for his daughter Becki, who was seven years old at the time. To the Schwab family, Storm Commander is known affectionately as Ralph. Over the years, Becki trained and showed Ralph herself, with help from her father and trainers Shann Schwartz and Sandy Anderson. Schwab calls Ralph a “showmanship machine,” and rightly so; at just nine years old, Becki won fourth place in the Congress NYATT Showmanship with Ralph at her side. Ralph has accumulated over 600 AQHA points in his career, his top events being showmanship and western pleasure. The plethora of AQHA All-Around and Reserve All-Around prizes Ralph has won number fifty in total. Needless to say, Storm Commander was an extremely talented show horse in his younger years. If Schwab were to describe Ralph’s show career in one word, it would be “Amazing!”
In 2004, Ralph was retired from the show pen at age nineteen, but was kept for trail rides and lessons for kids. “Ralph is a true member of the family,” Roy Schwab says of the beloved horse. Ralph even made an appearance at Becki’s wedding. “He is as sweet as they come, but will also make the best harmless grumpy old man faces when he does not like something. He is also extremely attached to Becki and me. I think he would do almost anything for us.” Schwab calls Ralph “a true equine friend.”
In 2004, Ralph was retired from the show pen at age nineteen, but was kept for trail rides and lessons for kids. “Ralph is a true member of the family,” Roy Schwab says of the beloved horse. Ralph even made an appearance at Becki’s wedding. “He is as sweet as they come, but will also make the best harmless grumpy old man faces when he does not like something. He is also extremely attached to Becki and me. I think he would do almost anything for us.” Schwab calls Ralph “a true equine friend.”
Just like any horse, Ralph has his quirks. He favorite snack is baby carrots, and he sucks on his tongue when he’s bored. On trails, Schwab says Ralph “has slowed slightly as an elder statesman, but is still ready and willing to go.” In fact, Schwab remarks, “He was my wonderful partner on a trail ride through the Kettle Moraine Forest last weekend.” According to Schwab, Ralph still believes he’s only ten; he has to be reminded sometimes that he isn’t as young as he used to be.
In mid-August, Schwab took Ralph to the Badger Summer Classic AQHA show in Jefferson, Wisconsin. The pair showed in showmanship and horsemanship, and amazingly, despite his 29 years, Ralph still had what it took to win in the show pen. Schwab and Storm Commander brought home an astounding 22 AQHA points from the Classic, winning classes of over twenty entries. Schwab brought Ralph briefly out of retirement with encouragement from his daughter Becki, after a personally challenging year. After the show, Schwab received a call from AQHA asking if it was true that he amassed 22 points on a 29 year-old? You see, AQHA automatically considers all horses over 25 deceased. However, if they personally knew Ralph, they probably wouldn’t have made that assumption.
In mid-August, Schwab took Ralph to the Badger Summer Classic AQHA show in Jefferson, Wisconsin. The pair showed in showmanship and horsemanship, and amazingly, despite his 29 years, Ralph still had what it took to win in the show pen. Schwab and Storm Commander brought home an astounding 22 AQHA points from the Classic, winning classes of over twenty entries. Schwab brought Ralph briefly out of retirement with encouragement from his daughter Becki, after a personally challenging year. After the show, Schwab received a call from AQHA asking if it was true that he amassed 22 points on a 29 year-old? You see, AQHA automatically considers all horses over 25 deceased. However, if they personally knew Ralph, they probably wouldn’t have made that assumption.
“Last winter, I went through a painful divorce after 28 years of marriage,” Schwab says, “I think Ralph knew his ‘Dad’ needed a boost and came through for me in so many ways—I was just looking to go to the show and have a little fun. Ralph exceeded my expectations by more than I could have ever imagined!”
We’ve all shared Schwab’s feeling at some point in our careers as equestrians. A horse has this sixth sense, and knows when you need to be cheered up or when you need to cry into his mane, just as a horse knows when you’re proud of him. Many equestrians, Schwab included, notice how horses emulate their riders’ moods. Ralph is no exception; Schwab insists that if you stay calm, focused, and patient, it will help your horse do the same.
Ralph hasn’t only excelled in the show pen or on the trail. He’s taught many young riders over the course of his retirement, including relatives, friends, neighbors, and 4-H youth. Ralph has even been used as a mount for AQHA’s Equestrians with Disabilities and has helped riders there win multiple awards. Ralph has a traveling trophy named after him that is awarded at the Sheboygan County Fair; it’s called the Storm Commander Equine Service Award, and is given to a youth and his or her horse for outstanding work serving the community. Schwab recalls a time when Ralph worked as a therapy horse, particularly with two young inner-city kids who were traumatized after witnessing their mother’s murder.
Ralph hasn’t only excelled in the show pen or on the trail. He’s taught many young riders over the course of his retirement, including relatives, friends, neighbors, and 4-H youth. Ralph has even been used as a mount for AQHA’s Equestrians with Disabilities and has helped riders there win multiple awards. Ralph has a traveling trophy named after him that is awarded at the Sheboygan County Fair; it’s called the Storm Commander Equine Service Award, and is given to a youth and his or her horse for outstanding work serving the community. Schwab recalls a time when Ralph worked as a therapy horse, particularly with two young inner-city kids who were traumatized after witnessing their mother’s murder.While the boys rode double on Ralph one day, he taught them how to smile again. Storm Commander, or Ralph, may be an older horse, but that has not stopped him from continuing to make a difference in the lives of others. Whether it is through reentering the show pen when Roy Schwab needed a boost, or helping broken kids put themselves back together again, Ralph is an accomplished old horse, and a special one.
Ralph may continue his job as a therapy horse, and he may continue his retirement as a trail-riding mount. He may even be seen occasionally in the show pen. Ralph’s accomplishments teach us that a horse’s career doesn’t end when he retires from showing, and that those graying faces and patient eyes can still keep up with the rest of them.
About the Author: Meghan Smith is currently a junior at Susquehanna University located in Pennsylvania studying Creative Writing and Art. She is the co-founder and captain of Susquehanna’s western equestrian team, and she shows her AQHA gelding, Lopin Radical, in the all-around events.
