Two minds, one ring — it’s the philosophy that sets the equestrian world apart from most other sports and challenges both rider and horse to perform as one.
Jessica Heikes, 17, says it’s that guiding principle which motivates her to compete with her four-year-old Quarter Horse, Dylan, who’s registered name is Too Good for Words.
“Him and I connect, I can’t really explain the join that’s between us. We just know each other, and it’s kind of a weird feeling because he almost knows what I’m thinking, and I almost know what he’s thinking when we’re out there together,” she said. “I want to be the best, and I know he can do it. We just have to work together.”
Heikes has just returned to her home in Ladysmith after winning the National Champion title in hunt seat equitation, horsemanship, and youth western riding at the National Quarter Horse Show in Red Deer, Alberta. A regional champion the last four years, Heikes said she wanted to heighten the stakes.
“We wanted to head to that horse show because we thought he was good enough to go and we worked hard this year to get him there,” Heikes said. “We thought the nationals would be a step up for him.”
To keep Dylan in peak performing condition, Heikes’ family transports the two of them to Campbell River two times a week to train with her coach and trainer, Carrie Humphrey.
As she sets her sights on representing Ladysmith and B.C. at the American Quarter Horse Association world championships in Oklahoma next year, the family is planning to haul Dylan down to Texas for more training, and to participate in more shows. In March, Heikes and Dylan will show in Las Vegas.
Her ultimate goal is to be one of the top five riders in the world in showmanship or western riding.
“I really believe that nothing is impossible because the word itself says ‘I’m Possible’,” Heikes said. “I’m dedicated to Dylan, we’re dedicated to each other and he’s number one in my life. Nobody comes before him.”
Heikes’ father, Todd, says the young horse has truly lived up to his registered name over the last two years since they purchased him.
“She has a lot more ups and downs with a horse that age than a kid with a 10-15 year old horse that’s been to all these shows,” he said. “We kept expecting to have hurdles across the way, but we haven’t. The horse is just amazing.”
While at the nationals in Alberta, Heikes showed in western pleasure, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, hunt seat riding, horsemanship, showmanship, and performance halter.
All of the events are different and performed either in hand or under saddle to demonstrate that the horse is able to perform things like lead changes, slow to fast transitions, 360 degree turns, all in a set pattern memorized by the rider. In halter classes, the horses are judged on conformation.
“Nobody really talks to you, you don’t think about the stress of it, or any of the pressure. You’re a team, you and the horse,” Heikes said of the moments before entering the ring. “You’re only out there for five minutes, and the presentation of it is all that matters.”
To hear Heike’s story is to know how dedicated she is to her horse. While many of her friends at Cedar High School are out partying or sleeping in, on a typical show day, Heikes is up by 5:30 a.m. preparing for shows or taking care of Dylan.
“The time spent with him is just as important as the time spent on him,” she said. “He’s my best friend, I spend hours with him.”
Heikes’ first equine was a pony named Bunker, a Calgary Stampede barrel racing champion who taught her the importance of keeping the hoof side down.
“He definitely taught me how to stay on. I was dumped many times,” she laughed.
Heikes’ mother Alison said she would like to see more awareness and support of the sport on a local level. As Jessica prepares for the worlds next year, the family will be seeking sponsorships to make the trip down to Oklahoma.
“In Canada, we don’t have nearly the promotion that we need to have for these kids to become great,” she said. “The kids in the States get college educations paid for and are on equine teams there.”
