49 Sports Challenge: Dave's back in the saddle again
5:45 p.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Debbie Beam has been involved in equestrian sports since she was a little girl.
"I grew up with horses and when I moved here, I had to sell my horses to come to college," Debbie said. "But then after I had kids, I got back involved with horses and figured I needed to be jumping over things."
Debbie and her horse Nearco like to compete because it's like a family affair.
"It's not only just challenging for me, but it's challenging as a team. We get to work together and just all the people at the barns, it's a real community. That's what I like about it."
Debbie is involved in the hunter-jumper discipline of horseback riding, where she is timed on how fast she can fly over jumps on her stallion.
"And sometimes I sail and he doesn't so much...But it's fun," she said.
Despite the occasional fall, her coach Kylie says what sets Debbie apart from other riders is her drive to succeed.
"She is a competitor. She is the competitor, with herself, with anyone else. She will rise to any challenge and challenge herself if no one else will challenge her," coach Kylie Fowler said.
Enough talking, let's get to some horsing around.
Debbie, what's my sports challenge today?
"Dave, your Sports Challenge...Are you going to cowboy up for me?"
I am going to try.
"We're going to start down here. We are going to jump this jump, go around the pole, come back and jump it. And see who wins."
This thing is timed and do I stand any chance?
"Oh yeah, just close your eyes, dude, you'll be fine."
I asked the horse if I stand any chance against Debbie. He is silent so I take that as a no.
I haven't ridden a horse since I was about eight years-old, I think that was at the fair. So I have my work cut out for me.
Debbie was up first and obviously she did pretty well, coming in with a time of 25 seconds.
Now I am up and, of course, the jumps where a bit lower then what Debbie had to do. And I wouldn't let Nearco go faster then a walk, so I come in with a time of one minute and 25 seconds.
Debbie, my performance was pretty sad and pathetic, but how'd I do overall?
"I think you did great for not being on a horse since you were eight, you look great."
I had fun..Even though I had to do the extra circle I still had fun.
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