Region 2 Winner Mary Roes
Mary Roes, 49, of Hemingford, Neb., has been involved with horses almost all of her life. Mary grew up on a ranch and today she and her husband farm corn, wheat, sugar beets and dry edible beans. She started showing at AQHA shows in the mid-1980s, and currently shows two Quarter Horses at the local and regional levels. This year she attended the AQHA Regional Experience in Rapid City, S.D.
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- Mary Roes
- © Larry Larson
Tell us about your horse.
Justa Shady Guy, or "Bubba," is a 5-year-old, 16.1-hand brown gelding, and I've owned him about a year and a half. He profiles beautifully, looks good under saddle, and can hold his own in halter classes. He's not bulky, but nice and correct. He's just a character, like a big kid who hasn't grown up yet--a little bit mischievous, but a good boy. He seems to enjoy going to horse shows, and so far I've shown him in halter, showmanship and western pleasure. I'd like to try him in hunt seat flat classes and western riding in the future.
What has been your most memorable moment in the saddle?
Actually, this year's Regional Experience was the most fun and really stands out overall. It was just a great time, and the anticipation of having results called from tenth place toward first is really a thrill. I attend so many local and regional shows, and at the Regional Experience it was different and exciting to see people I usually don't get to see. Exhibitors came from out of state and from Canada. Rapid City is familiar territory for me, but the influx of new people was a thrill and provided excellent competition.
Do you ride with a trainer?
Both of my horses are in training with Keith and Stacy Thomas of Thomas Performance Horses in Mitchell, Neb. They're about an hour away, so I go at least twice a week. They do an awesome job with the horses.
Tell us about your Regional Experience win.
I showed Bubba in four classes--amateur aged geldings, open aged geldings, amateur showmanship and novice amateur western pleasure. We were reserve champions in both the open aged gelding class and the novice amateur western pleasure class. I think everybody was having a lot of fun, and enjoying the laid-back, relaxed atmosphere of the show. I heard a lot of comments about the high-quality awards and was tickled with my awards. I don't go with expectations of winning, so any prize is a bonus, and these were really nice ones. It was fun to compete against new people, and establish a new benchmark to learn what I need to improve upon.
Would you recommend the Regional Experience to other show riders? To newcomers? Will you be back next year?
Definitely. Show riders would enjoy the level of competition, the nice people and the World Show format. With the limited showing I can do, I'll never get to go to the World Show, so this was my shot at imitating that. Newcomers would really appreciate the atmosphere, and being able to compete without any real expectations. I know of newcomers who really did have so much fun with it. I'm planning on coming back and would love to experience more of the activities and clinics than I could fit in this year.
