Teammates Megan Ryden and Must Be Sensational (Mikey) of Fort Worth, Texas are a perfect match–both are full of personality and love to show. The 2008 sorrel overo gelding by Zippos Sensation is definitely one of those “in your pocket” horses, Megan tells GoHorseShow. “He’s overloaded with personality and you can’t leave anything around him or he’ll try to eat it,” she says and laughs. “He’s such a funny guy though–he loves wine. He’ll practically knock you over to get some–probably not a great thing since I do show the showmanship!”
GoHorseShow sat down with Megan to find out more about her background and her goals this year with Mikey!
Q: Hi Megan! Thanks so much for sitting down with us!
A: You’re Welcome!
Q: So first off–tell us what your horse show goals are for 2013?
A: My goals for this year are pretty simple – I just want Mikey and I to continue to improve as a team. We’re showing in Amateur Western and English All-Around Events. Mikey is also showing in Junior Western events with World Champion trainer, Adam Wainscott. The all-around events are relatively new for us, so, I really want to start fine tuning each individual piece.
Q: Where did you find Mikey?
A: We bought Mikey as a three year-old from one of Dave Archer’s clients in May of 2011. He had only been shown once in the Reichert Color Class the year before so he was still pretty green. However, I knew the minute I got on him that there was something really special about him. I’m a pretty indecisive person about a lot of things, but with when it came to Mikey, I knew immediately that I wanted him. We sent Mikey to Adam’s in February to focus on the western pleasure. He got along with him so well that we decided to keep him there.
Q: What is it you enjoy about horses and showing?
A: My favorite thing about showing horses is the many lifelong friends I’ve made from all over the country that make up a fun, but crazy “extended family.”
Q: Who have been your mentors?
A: I feel so blessed to have had the chance to work with as many talented trainers as I have in the past–all of which I consider mentors, such as Adam Wainscott, John and Jill Briggs, Brad Jewett, Lisa Ligon, Chad and Shane Christensen, to name a few. I absolutely love to learn, so I try to soak up as much from each of them as possible. I also consider one of my very best friends, Brandi Scafe, sort of a mentor. She’s an amazing person and one of the most naturally talented riders I know. She’s brutally honest, whether I like what she going to say, or not! To this day, I still talk through every major decision and aspect of my horse life with her.
Q: What are some of your favorite horse show memories and stories?
A: I don’t know if I can name just one. One of the most memorable horse show moments was years ago as a youth at the World Show. Minutes before I went into my equitation prelims, my boot zipper busted in the makeup pen and my boot was completely open down the back. My trainers, John and Jill Briggs, ran back to the stalls, grabbed some duct tape and black hoof spray, and duct taped my boot on–then sprayed black hoof spray on top. Ironically, you couldn’t really tell my boot was taped on. I went on to make the finals, where, then, in the rail work, my rat catcher partially came undone and was flapping behind me every posting stride. Lastly, one of the judges dropped a clipboard as I was trotting by, and it completely spooked my normally calm horse and he jumped sideways and broke stride. Needless to say, it was an eventful class. I didn’t think it was very funny at the time, but I definitely laugh about it now.
Q: Can you tell me a bit about your background and how you got involved with horses?
A: I was a typical horse kid – my parents swear that “horse” was my first word. I got a pony for Christmas when I was six and it’s all been downhill from there. I got my start in the hunter world for my first six or seven years, but I had two cousins who showed quarter pleasure horses, and, I always wanted to ride their pleasure horses when I went to visit. My family actually fell into paints by total accident – we had gone to a horse sale in Lufkin, Texas when I was about 12, and my Mom and I fell in love with a bay tobiano yearling we saw there. Since we hadn’t planned on buying anything, we didn’t even take a trailer. My Dad loves to tell the story of how we had already bought the yearling, having no idea how we were going to get it home and he happened to look to his left and the sun was shining down on a friend he hadn’t seen in years who had brought a trailer. We hadn’t planned on buying a baby at the time, but I am so thankful we bought that first paint. We have been going strong ever since.
Q: What do you like about working with your trainer?
A: I can’t say enough good things about my trainer, Adam Wainscott. I love my horse to death but he’s ridiculously smart and is always trying to be one step ahead of you. Adam has done a great job helping to calm his mind down and keep him from over thinking everything. I’m a perfectionist and ridiculously detail oriented which probably drives Adam crazy, so one of my favorite things about working with a trainer is having a very picky eye watching every move I make. I love walking through every piece of a pattern or parts of a ride with him to find out areas where I can improve.
Q: What are some of your favorite wins so far in the show arena?
A: My favorite win would have to be the first time I placed at the World Show back when I was a youth. I’ll never forget that amazing feeling of hearing my name called out at the World Show for the first time and proving that hard work truly does pay off.
Q: What are your future plans in the show arena and career?
A: In the show arena, my biggest goal would definitely be to buckle at the World Show. As for my career, I’ve been insanely lucky to already be well on my way to my dream career. Since I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be a graphic designer–designing ads for the world’s top equine publications. I am so fortunate to have seen that dream become a reality. I started my own design firm, All Around Designs in 2010 and feel so fortunate to have had such wonderful clients that have helped me fulfill my dream.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced showing horses?
A: Learning patience– it’s so important to me to keep my horses happy and healthy, so I never want my horses pushed. I’m not the most patient person, so I’ve had to get used to things progressing on my horse’s schedule, not necessarily my own.
Q: Is there anything else you want to add?
A: Not that I can think of– I’ve probably already gone way over my limit! Haha!
CLICK HERE to check out her ad in the May issue of GoMag.
Photos © Larry Williams & Terri Cage Photography
