North Allegheny Horsemen's Association promotes passion for riding, competitions
Uppity wranglers need not apply to join the North Allegheny Horsemen's Association.
Down to earth might better describe the saddle slingers of all ages who compete almost monthly each summer in laid-back, NAHA horse shows in North Park.
“If you don't have the ‘right' horse, or the top-of-the-line tack, they don't judge you on it,' said Shelley Larcom, 44, of Fawn.
Larcom rode her 13-year-old trail horse, Autumn, a Paint mare, in several timed events during the NAHA's most recent show on July 10 in the North Park Show Ring.
“It's a great experience to come out here and be able to show, and you've got a chance to get a ribbon,” she said.
More NAHA horse shows, all free and open to the public, are scheduled July 30, Aug. 14, Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 in North Park Show Ring on Kummer Road, opposite North Park Golf Course.
“I love this place,” said Mendi Cypher of Running Crazy Farms in New Sewickley, Beaver County. Cypher brought two horses that she rescued last year to the July 10 show to acquaint them with barrel racing.
“You can bring them here to practice,” Cypher said. “That's pretty much what you need when you're schooling a horse, and this is a very good place to do it.”
Equine contestants at the show included Tennessee Walking horses, miniature horses, Quarter horses, Paints, one part-Morgan horse and one Welsh cob.
“They're very accommodating to all different types of horses,” Katelynn Greenawald of Burgettstown said about NAHA-sponsored horse shows.
Greenawald, 20, competes for Slippery Rock University in intercollegiate riding competitions and brought her bay Quarter horse gelding No Dress Code — Cody — to the show for Jessica Clinton, 15, of the Manely Horses 4-H Club to ride and gain show ring experience.
Classes offered at the show included Pee Wee Showmanship, Open Driving, Challenged Rider Obstacle Course and Open Men & Ladies Pleasure.
“They have a lot of variety that gives these kids an opportunity to do what they're comfortable with,” Greenawald said. “They have walk and trot classes.”
Shows sponsored by the NAHA also offer riding students and horse owners an affordable introduction to equine competitions, with cash prizes offered in some events. It costs $4 to enter a class that awards ribbons, and $10 for a class with cash prizes.
“It's a good place to get started,” said Lynne Ford of Shaler, president of the NAHA. “We do horse events for the family and for the young children that are coming up and hopefully are our next generation of riders.”
Ford, a research technician at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, offers beginner riding lessons to children without their own ponies or horses at her L'Fordable Stables in Indiana Township.
L'Fordable Stables, located near the intersection of Harts Run Road and Saxonburg Boulevard, also is home to the North Ridge Riders 4-H Club, whose members regularly compete in NAHA horse shows.
NAHA horse shows also welcome contestants of all ages with disabilities.
“This is one of the first clubs that put in a challenged rider division,” said Toots Abbott, program director of Riding for the Handicapped of Western Pennsylvania.
Nearly 50 years ago, horse boarders at Parkview Riding Academy on Grubbs Road in McCandless launched the NAHA to make use of North Park's horse show ring and to connect area horse people, said Abbott.
Abbott's late parents once owned and leased out the Grubbs Road stable now operated by Abbott's sister, Wanda Haney, also vice president of the NAHA, which claims about 35 members.
In addition to competing at horse shows, NAHA members meet monthly for dinner at an area restaurant and hold an annual awards banquet.
“They are a wonderful group and they've been around for decades,” said Janis Blobner of Franklin Park, a grandmother who competed in the July 10 show in North Park. “Everybody can come here and have fun, and no one is going to judge or make fun of you.”
Deborah Deasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-772-6369 or ddeasy@tribweb.com.
