ISLE PROFILE • HORSEBACK RIDING
Equestrians jumping at every chance
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Krista Whang, 14 — shown aboard Heaven's Blessing — will be part of a Team Hawaii Riders contingent that will compete in a July 19-21 event at Vancouver, Canada.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser Wanted: Subjects for Isle Profile On Tuesdays throughout the summer, The Honolulu Advertiser will feature accounts of those who have performed or contributed significantly in the Hawai'i sports world. We are looking for teams or individuals in a wide variety of sports. If you know of a deserving athlete or team, please contact us at one of the following: by e-mail: by phone: 535-8533 by fax: 525-5491 by letter: Honolulu Advertiser |
But Circle Z Ranch is tucked away in Waimanalo, nurtured at the feet of the Ko'olau Range for nearly two decades. A regular ranch, complete with horse stalls and equestrians dressed in hunt coats and riding pants, poised and confident atop their horses.
Not your typical image of Hawai'i.
But the riding community is more than 1,000 strong, with jumping and dressage (guiding a horse through a series of complex maneuvers) events held nearly every month from March through November at the half-dozen ranches on O'ahu.
"When people think of horses in Hawai'i, they automatically think of farming or cowboys," said Michelle Mizutani, president of Team Hawaii Riders and veteran equestrian. "But we are alive here."
More than 100 people gathered one Saturday for Circle Z's June jumping show, which doubled as a fund-raising opportunity for five members of Team Hawaii Riders, who will represent Hawai'i at the Southlands Summer Hunter/ Jumper Classic July 19-21 in Vancouver, Canada.
More than just competing for titles in different categories, the riders will bring home valuable experience. Hawai'i has a C-rating, meaning the fences are lower and the prize money is less than at higher-ranked Mainland competitions.
"There's a huge difference," said 26-year-old Alison Hunter, the oldest member of Team Hawaii Riders. "It's much more competitive there, the show scene is larger, people drive from all over to compete. We have a limited community."
Hunter, who lived and competed on the Mainland circuit before moving back to Hawai'i a year ago, said the exposure to higher-rated competition — and competitors — is good for local equestrians.
"It's great exposure for the younger kids who haven't been in that kind of riding environment," said Hunter, volunteer coordinator for Honolulu Habitat for Humanity. "They'll be astonished. It'll be an eye-opener."
Of the five members — Hunter, Laura Stirling (13 years old), Christina Barbata (17), Krista Whang (14) and Sophia Graves (14) — only Barbata has competed for Team Hawai'i Riders before; this is her third year.
In fact, Team Hawaii Riders, coached by Ann Michelsen, was created four years ago for the purpose of exposing young riders to various levels of competition.
"It was formed to teach them, to raise their level of knowledge," Mizutani said. "Kids who get involved (in Team Hawaii Riders) have an advantage."
The commitment to riding is enormous. Most, if not all, visit the ranch every day, riding for about an hour and spending the next two taking care of the horses.
"Seventy-five percent (of riding) is just taking care of your horse," said Mizutani, 31, who has been riding since she was 8. "It's cleaning, grooming, pampering. ... They're like big, expensive dogs, and you gotta take good care of them."
Not every rider has her own horse, which can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 in Hawai'i, where thoroughbreds and quarter horses are the most popular breeds. (Different breeds are more expensive.)
There's also the cost of caring for the animals.
Renting stalls can cost up to $400 a month, which includes food and stall cleaning at full-service barns like Circle Z. Owners must visit the ranch every day to feed, brush, clean and love their horses.
"You don't have to be wealthy to participate," Mizutani said. "People think it's a wealthy person's sport, but it's not. Anybody can do it. A lot of these kids work to help pay for the costs."
Hunter doesn't own a horse. Instead, she rides "any horse I can get my hands on" while at the ranch. In return, she cleans and cares for the animal.
Stirling is lucky enough to have her own horse. She got her thoroughbred Astro two months ago. He's only 5 years old and still needs a lot of training.
"But he's really intelligent," said Stirling, an eighth-grader at Punahou School. "And he's a bit of a dope sometimes. He's goofy. And he loves other horses."
Her compassion for Astro is undeniable; it's obvious in her eyes, in her voice. That bond between rider and horse is critical in jumping.
"You have to have that connection," said Stirling, who has been riding for eight years. "On a scale of 1 to 10, it's an 11."
The horse is as much an athlete as the rider in jumping, Mizutani said.
"The chemistry between rider and horse is really important," she said. "It's really a partnership."
Creating that unspoken connection in a short amount of time, which is what the riders will have to do in Vancouver because they will not be riding their own horses, is difficult but not impossible.
"It comes from experience on horses," Hunter said. "Being confident on the horse is really important. The horses can sense that confidence."
Riding with confidence is a big part of the sport, which also requires agility, stamina and strength.
"It's a very physical sport," Hunter said. "People don't realize it. We go home with sore muscles everyday. They have no idea."
But they love it, achy muscles and all. They commute in traffic, finish homework in school, forgo favorite TV shows to be at the ranch, with the horses, with other people who appreciate the sport.
"I just love the feel of it, riding the horse, to have that connection with the horse," Stirling said. "It's so much fun."
What usually starts as a child's curiosity with horses turns into a veritable way of life.
"They're just magical animals," Hunter said. "Once you start riding, you can't stop."
