It’s one thing to receive an award at a horse show, but it’s another thing to be recognized by the Ohio Senate. Eleven year-old Alexa Black of Springfield, Ohio received an award from Ohio Senator, Chris Widener on November 17th. Alexa was acknowledged for her success at the 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress and her overall riding achievements. Widener (R-Springfield) presented a resolution to Alexa on the floor of the Ohio Senate for winning two championship titles last month at the Congress held in Columbus, Ohio.
The most amazing part of this recognition is that young Alexa had to change horses less than one week before the Congress! The 2012 Congress Small Fry Horsemanship Champion is currently ranked first in the nation in the Level 1 Youth Equitation with her horse, Deck Can Do A Star (Dexter). After being diagnosed with an injury one week before the Congress, Alexa learned that she would not be able to show him.
“The focus and discipline needed to train a horse in order to receive these titles is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Widener. “Alexa’s ability to show on a horse that wasn’t her own and be awarded the two separate titles shows just how dedicated she is as a rider.”
Luckily for Alexa, her father, Wade Black, who is a trainer from Boerne, Texas, was able to find her a replacement mount. Fellow trainer, Reid Thomas and his assistant, Brynne Bassler, lined up Alexa to show an eight-year-old gelding named Dontskip Thismachine (Drew). Drew was already headed to the Congress to be sold, and this gave him a great opportunity to be seen in the show pen at this prestigious event.
Though Alexa only had five days to prepare for her Congress classes, she still came out on top. Alexa won both of her classes: the Level 1 (Novice) Hunt Seat Equitation 13 & Under as well as the Youth 11& Under Equitation under the guidance of Dale Hamilton. Clearly, her wins showed that her equitation abilities were unbeatable, regardless of the horse she was riding.
“Even though this goal had been set with Dexter, it was still awesome to win with Drew,” Alexa told GoHorseShow. Black explained that the horses were completely different to ride and show. “Drew is younger and required a softer hand than Dexter, who is a lot lazier.”
Alexa and Dexter (pictured right) are qualified for the 2016 Youth World Show together and Alexa says she is looking forward to attending this event for her first time. If Dexter is not healed by next year, Alexa will be looking for a horse to lease in the meantime until he is better and can compete once again. As for Drew, he has since been sold after the Congress and is now living in Pennsylvania and will show with a youth exhibitor in 2016.
Not only does Alexa excel in the arena, but she is also a great sportsman as well. “During the results, my good friend Abby Hardy and I were the only two left and I didn’t care who won, I was just happy that we were together,” says Alexa. Also from Ohio, Alexa’s friend Abby Hardy won reserve in both of the classes as well. “They are very good friends,” says Alexa’s mother, Amy Black, “I thought it was very neat for two competitors to be such good friends.”
