Kids, horses and crystal lizards

Mira Clavecilla shows off her lizard-themed show outfit. Notice that it matches perfectly the blue ribbon hanging from her saddle horn.

Let’s be honest here: I’m a sucker for cute kids on big horses. And when they’re dressed up in lime-green chaps, or blingy orange, well, my camera just can’t stop clicking away.

So, I was having a grand time photographing the small-fry horsemanship class at the Region Four Experience in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday. There were outfits in hot pink, buttery yellow, even a couple of little boys who were decked out in proper little button-up shirts and ties. And then … then, I saw the lizard.

Actually, the lizard’s owner won the small-fry horsemanship class. It was 10-year-old Mira Clavecilla of Mogadore, Ohio, who very skillfully piloted Shez Gone Gold, or “Goldie,” to the win. Please note the belt buckle in the photo at right.

Mira giggled when I mentioned it. Her mom, Kelly, had googled “crystal lizard belt buckle” and found this prize for $20. So, yes indeed, you can find anything on Google.

This is Mira and Goldie’s first year as a team, but they’re doing well. Mira and her trainer are working to add horsemanship, showmanship, equitation and hunter under saddle to Goldie’s reportoire. She already is trained in western pleasure.

So what’s Goldie like? “She pins her ears back a lot,” Mira reports, “but it’s not because she’s mad.” (It’s a behavior she learned from her dam.) “She likes licking my hands, and she likes smelling everybody’s hair.”

Check out the slide show below for more small-fry horsemanship photos, and maybe a photo or two from the day’s other classes. Click on the photos to read the captions, and watch for more photo galleries in coming days.

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Related Posts:

• Region Four Experience – Day 4
• Region Five Experience, Day Two
• Region Four Experience – Day 2
• 2009 Region Three Experience
• Region Four Experience – Day 3