Iron Eagles Legacy and Samantha Boyce

TWHBEA 2002 Versatility Youth Superior Champions

(Click on the pictures to enlarge.)

Sam and Brick at the farm on one of their first rides together in late September, 2001

Their first horse show, their first class -- shortly after the 9-ll tragedy, at Rockwall, 10/01

On the rail at Rockwall, 10/01

Sam and Brick on their way to a 2nd in their first trail class together at Rockwall.  The class was huge!

Sam and Brick in action in the Western Riding class at Athens, 4/02

Sam and Brick looking faster than they were at that time, in Athens, 4/02

Sam and Brick doing the gate in Tulsa, May 02

Sam and Brick on the bridge in Tulsa

Sam and Brick with the Judge, Susan Jung, and Bonnie Smith, owner of Brick.  They won the Tennessee Walking Horse Organization of Oklahoma (TWHAO) 2002 overall high point trophy (the tall trophy), plus the youth high point trophy from TWHAO, plus numerous trophies generously supplied by the TWHBEA.

Sam and Brick in a back-thru around the barrels in a recent trail class in Athens, 9/02.

Sam and Brick on the "water hazard" tarp in the trail class in Athens, 9/02.  This is the picture that will be featured in the TWHBEA Hall of Fame that has pictures of all the Youth Superior Champions, as well as the Adult SVCs.

I have ridden all my life.  Some of my first memories are of sitting on gigantic Thoroughbred horses, proudly striding across the pasture while being led by my grandmother.  But I had never ridden a Tennessee Walker, or even seen one, until I met Bonnie Smith.  Bonnie and my grandmother, Tommie Kirksmith, have been friends for a long time.  They share several interests.  Especially horses.

I guess my involvement with Walkers all started with Bonnie's filly Rosebud.  Bonnie's newest addition to the family was about to make her debut at the State Fair of Texas.  Bonnie had entered Rosebud, her real name Splendid Triple Threat, in both a youth and an adult halter class and, since Bonnie didn't feel like she would pass for both a youth and an adult, she set out to find a youth.

Now . . . being Tommie's granddaughter, a youth, plus having dealt with horses all my life, "I" was the perfect candidate.  Even though I had never attended a horse show, let alone taken part in one, I readily accepted the generous offer from Bonnie to allow me to show one of her horses at the State Fair.  After all, it was "only" a halter class.  Nothing too strenuous or difficult.  Right?  (Ho, ho!)

So, after a few practices at Bonnie's farm, Rosebud and I were ready for the State Fair.  We placed third in a six-horse class, advancing us to the championship where Bonnie showed Rosebud.

Apparently I met Bonnie's approval because, after the show, she offered me her horse Brick.  (She didn't really give him to me, she just made him available to me.)  On the drive back from the State Fair, Bonnie told me stories about what her son Bo had accomplished by showing his mare, Delight.  She used word like Youth Superior Champion and Adult Supreme Versatility Champion - it was all Greek to me at that stage, but it sounded exciting - and she said I could do the same thing on Brick if I worked at it. 

Not being sure of what I was getting into, I eagerly accepted her offer.  Golly, I surely am glad I did!

Brick, his real name Iron Eagles Legacy, is a big nine-year-old gelding that knows he is gorgeous.  He and Bonnie had won their Adult Supreme Versatility Championship the year before, so Brick was looking for a new rider.

Brick is a beautifully trained horse that will do anything you ask, as long as you ask in terms he understands.  Hmmm.  We got along fine, though.  As Bonnie will verify, I was the only one who needed the training.  

Two events stand out as my favorites.  First being my first water glass class.  I was entered in this class and understood the objective but really had no idea what I was doing.  Right before I entered the ring I gave Bonnie one of those "Can you give me any advice because I don't know what I am doing" looks and Bonnie yelled out, "Don't get my saddle wet!"  I took her advice and did not get a drop of water on that saddle or anything else.  Brick and I won the class.

My other favorite was "The Challenge."  Brick and I had a problem with going fast in our pole bending classes.  So Bonnie decided to fix this little problem with a bet.  The deal was that we were each to ride Brick in the same pole bending class but whoever had the slower time had to give something to the other person.  I bet a nice pen set that I had won at a previous show and Bonnie bet a pair of boots she owned.  Well, spurred by a hardy competition, Brick and I are running poles a lot faster now.  And I have a new pair of boots.

After about twenty hours of practice and six shows in one year, evidently I got the hang of it.  Because guess what?  Brick and I had won our Youth Superior Championship!

Brick and I are still a team.  Our careers are not over yet.  I'll continue showing him in Trail (That's Brick's favorite.  Thanks to him, we won high point for '02!) and some other classes.  Besides, I need to stay competitive with my younger sister Timmie until she gets her Superior Championship.  She functions best when competing against me!  

.........Story by Samantha Boyce.