It’s not often that the horse world hears a story like the one of Maggie McCrady and her horse, Image Assessment (Pete). Often horses are bought and sold several times throughout their
lives, and it’s rare that a competitor will keep an unproven horse after
it is injured and cannot show–then go on with that horse to be
competitive at the top levels for years after.
Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to watch the amateur exhibitor from Bellingham, Washington and Pete show together will tell you that they are a seamless team–more like one element then a horse and rider. But Maggie and Pete are more then just a phenomenal show presence; they are long time partners, and best friends.
Maggie bought Pete as a yearling from Paws Up Ranch in Purcell, Oklahoma 11 years ago, and the two have been together ever since. The pair began showing together in two year-old pleasure futurities, and started adding all around events shortly after his three year-old year. Shortly after, Pete suffered a few injuries that kept him out of the show pen for a couple years, but Maggie didn’t give up on her best friend.
In 2006, Maggie and Pete made their debut back in the show ring in the amateur all-around events and their show career has been a whirlwind ever since. Together, they’ve won several top five and top ten awards at the All American Quarter Horse Congress and the AQHA World Championship Show while also earning multiple superiors, high points, world and reserve world champion titles, and all around titles.
Maggie says her fondest memory in the show pen with Pete was when the team was named Amateur Horsemanship World Champion at the 2008 AQHA World Show. She also said that horsemanship is her favorite class to show because it’s always something different and keeps them both on their toes. Photo
© The American Quarter Horse Journal
Pete has been Maggie’s reliable partner for many years, however; its not Pete’s talent, but his personality that Maggie loves so much about him. Although Maggie says she loves pretty much everything about Pete, she says that his sweet personality and easy nature is her favorite thing about him. He is careful, kind, and easy to handle, never pushy and, between flapping his lips around and always sticking his tongue out, is always amusing and good for a laugh.
In the show pen, Maggie describes Pete as reliable saying “I’ve never known a horse I could trust so much. He is always trying to please, and a bit of an over-achiever!” Anyone who has met Maggie knows she’s a gracious competitor and a kind person and can see how much her and Pete love each other and what a great bond this team has. They are not only a beautiful team to watch in the show pen but also an inspirational story to show exhibitors.
Best of luck to this team at the World Show in Amateur All Around Events under the guidance of Dean and Kristy McCann.
Click here to view Maggie’s ad in the November 2011 issue of GoMag
