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Tennessee Walking Horse OnLine Congratulates Adult Supreme Champion Mag Ranft, Ohio Coppertone C
By Mag Ranft By getting his owner interested in the Tennessee Walking Horse breed, Copper drafted a dedicated worker for its programs. Instrumental in the acceptance of Tennessee Walkers in the 4-H Program in Ohio in the late 1970's, Mag Ranft has continued to work actively as Club Secretary, Show Secretary, Point Co-Chairman and Newsletter Editor for the Mid-Ohio Walking Horse Association. She has been a member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association since 1978, is a member of the Walking Horse Owners' Association and of the Ohio Celebration Board of Directors. She and her husband, Steve, live in Pickerington, Ohio. Early History: Late in 1971 while I was a junior at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, I began riding Coppertone C. Copper had been shown and had done well as a two-year-old and had been purchased as a three-year-old to be shown by a youth rider. He had proven to be too high spirited for the young rider and was plain shod when I started riding him. He was quite a handful, and still can be. It took me a long time to gain his confidence. I had never heard of a Tennessee Walking Horse and had previously ridden hunt seat, so I know I made a lot of mistakes with him. In 1972, I began to show Copper and we did pretty well in the newly forming Plantation Pleasure Classes. However, he was still pretty much of a one-rider horse and, therefore, his owner was anxious to sell him. The price was very reasonable and I couldn't stand to think of losing him, so I went in over my head, used most of my meager savings and bought him in late 1972, while I was a senior in college. In 1974, I moved to Columbus, Ohio and met Cindy Suttle Malone at the stable where I boarded Copper. In 1975, 1976, and 1977, Cindy used Copper as her project horse in Franklin County 4-H. There were some problems with acceptance of a Walking Horse in 4-H and in judging him fairly but, all in all, they did very well. In 1977, she and Copper became the first Youth Superior Champion in the newly formed Versatility Program. They were awarded a black, nine-month-old colt, Eb's Mr. Versatility (aka Rex), and their story was covered in the January 1978 Voice and in the October/November, 1978, Classic. In 1978, I joined the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association and signed up for the Adult Versatility Program. Cindy and I continued to show Copper extensively in all breed and Walking Horse shows. We also continued to promote the Walking Horse in 4-H by exhibiting Copper in 4-H Judges' Clinics and by participating in the All American Youth Horse Show. Recent Accomplishments: Some of the divisions for the Adult Versatility Champion were not too difficult to earn points in, such as English Pleasure, Water Glass, Western Pleasure, and Trail. But those 15 Model points were tough! Copper is cute, but he is small and does not stand out in a model class. It was a real thrill just to get enough Model points to finish his Adult Versatility Championship in 1981. In late 1981, I purchased a plantation mare, Gypsie Reflection, and began to work with her in the Versatility Program. Copper became "semi-retired," a man of leisure. Although he was only 14 at the time, he had arthritis and it was beginning to be difficult to work him to the extent needed to stay proficient in performance and Versatility Classes. With the competition getting tougher, the classes getting larger, and Copper's legs getting worse, we were becoming less competitive in performance classes, particularly English Plantation Pleasure. He still excelled in many Versatility Classes, especially Water Glass and Trail. If possible, I still wanted to try for Adult Supreme Versatility Champion. I wanted Copper to win top honors in both the Youth and Adult Division of the Versatility Program. Reining was the class I chose on which we would concentrate to earn the final points needed. With his worsening arthritis, jumping was out of the question. Copper had never been broke to drive and showed no tolerance for things behind him and on his sides. So we worked in reining and became pretty competitive in reining classes at local shows. Even so, there aren't many reining classes and they are usually small, so it took almost three and a half show seasons to earn the eight points we needed. We finally got our eighth and final point on July 14, 1984! It was a thrill to me to go to a Plantation Pleasure Heyday and compete in as many classes as possible. It's even greater to do the same thing at an all-breed show because the other exhibitors, the spectators, and the judges are so amazed to see a Walker competing in anything but English or Plantation Pleasure. I think that the best promotion we can do is to participate in all-breed shows and to make the best presentation possible at those shows. You may not always place as well as you think you should have, and the judge may not know a good running walk from an average one, but it is a great opportunity to reach people who don't know about Walkers or those who only know bad things about Walkers. I always have people coming over to see and ask about my horses. I think we are making progress in improving our image and acceptability and that the Versatility Program has been a big part of the progress made. Having achieved the final goal set for him, Copper is now retired, although I wouldn't totally rule out his appearance at an occasional local or all-pleasure show. His stablemates consist of Gypsie Reflection, now an eight-year-old, who has just earned an Adult Versatility Championship and Youth Register of Merit with Nancy Downard riding and a three-year-old mare, Jet's Miss Ebony, who is being trained plantation pleasure in hopes that she will become a versatility horse. Eb's Mr. Versatility, the horse that was awarded when Copper and Cindy earned their Youth Superior Versatility Championship, is now eight and has become a good versatility horse and breed ambassador. He goes English and Western, does trail, game and contest classes, is used for Equitation and Showmanship, trail rides, is learning to jump, and is a standout in any Model Class! Coppertone C. has been a joy to me and an excellent ambassador for the breed. I know that others are working toward the same goals I have had and I wish them even more success and recognition than Copper and I have had. (Reprinted from Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse magazine, March, 1985.) |
