MARCH 1995 BACK ISSUE

Part of Horse Previews Magazine website. Posted on 3/1/95; 10:00:00 AM.

Youth of the Month: Ashley McCary

This duo is hard to miss. She's a four year-old strawberry blonde who stands 3'6", and loves horses and gymnastics. He's a grey 15 year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding who stands 16.3, and has a weakness for peppermint candies. But for this unlikely pair, 1994 was their year.

Ashley McCary (who turned 5 in November) and Jolly Swagman (A.K.A. "Goose") have been buddies since Ashley was a baby. Ashley's parents, Dan and Jill McCary, bought Goose in 1987. Since that time, Goose has been shown in dressage, hunter/jumper, hunt seat, saddle seat, native costume, show hack, trail, and now leadline (although he still competes in regular show classes as well).

They made their debut at the Springtime Open Horse Show in May of 1993. Ashley, then age 3, placed seventh. The next show she competed in was the Tri-Cities All Arabian, where all leadline competitors won blues. She finished the year with a third at the FCSC Open Challenge.

The next year, at the ripe old age of four, Ashley again competed at the Springtime Open, this time taking fourth. Next it was on to Oregon and a third at Bill Harder. July brought Ashley and Goose to Summerfest. There she took her first blue. September found the pair at the Eddie MacMurdo Memorial Horse Show. Leadline had 14 entries. This was the largest class the pair had ever competed in. When the placings were announced, Ashley and Goose were at the top of the class.

The final show of the year was to be the Washington State Challange of Champions held in Spokane. While getting Goose ready the night before (at home), Goose's stablemate H.M. Terriadnia developed colic. It was uncertain whether the two would get the opportunity to go to the show. They were to leave at 6 a.m. the following morning, but with Terra sick, Ashley's mom hadn't decided whether or not they would go. The vet was called out and Terra recovered quickly. It was decided that they would attend the show.

Leadline took place in the morning when it was quite cold. With teeth chattering, Ashley entered the ring on Goose. But even the chattering teeth couldn't hide the smile of delight when Ashley and Goose became the winners of the Washington State Challenge of Champions in Leadline. Ashley went on to tie for Grand Champion in Leadline for the South Central Zone year-end awards.

What an exciting way to end the show season for this unusual twosome.

Congratulations to Ashley McCary, Horse Previews "Youth of the Month"
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