OCR Text |
Show -C- LASSIFIEDS FEATURES PAUL HARVEY WEEK'S TV GUIDE THURSDAY, NOV. 25, 1976 J 0 USU animal science major and parttime riding instructor makes a minor adjustment in BECKY BOYKIN, T Linda Hird's hand position to help her communicate better K I with "Utah General." BeekyRUIng-'Cjan- . i ) I Be All Bmimiess r vr 4s. BY JOHN FLANNERY Becky Boykin is an artist of an unusual sort. While she sometimes works in clay, her forte is in living material. Becky Boykin is a molder of humans and horseflesh. The senior in animal science at Utah State University pays her way through college and prepares for the future by training horses and teaching riding. According to Ms. Boykin, the ideal combination for the beginning rider is not too an advanced-bu- t advanced-hors- e. ing to Becky, but understanding the reaction of a horse to a movement and knowing why the horse reacts provides the starting point for training. Becky points to an exam- ple: whipping a horse. "Some young barrel racers in rodeos make their turn around the final barrel and routinely go to the whip all the way out of the arena. Well it may work a few times," she says, "but after a few repetitions of this the horse will begin to slow down. After all, he's being punished for exerting, isn't he?" ONE OF THE horses that shows up at private lessons frequently is Utah General, a registered Morgan, which is today a responsive, quiet,' d animal. He is owned by the Kenneth Hirds, 1185 North 800 East, Logan, and is ridden by Mrs. Nancy Hird, and her two daughters, Linda and Jennifer. "I trained Utah General before the Hirds got him," Becky said, "and he typified what can be done with a horse through proper trainwell-traine- ing." That proper training in- cludes understanding the psychology of a horse. There is no fixed pattern, accord- - BECKY CAME to Utah State University as a result of her parents' attending the Tupperware national meeting held on the Logan campus. They thought Logan was beautiful, and Becky learned that USU was less expensive than other schools which offer the sort of education she felt she needed to establish a top reputation. "I found out that I could not only get an education, but afford to buy and keep horses here for way less than the tuition at certain 'horse' schools, and I found out, too, that I could learn Western riding here as well as learn- - ing more about riding English or hunt seat." "So Utah State it was for me, and J haven't regretted it one bit," she says. The transplanted Georgian began riding at eight years of age, attended riding camps every summer and had her own three horses. Here in Logan, she studied horsemanship with instructor Ali Judy, "one of the best," who has since moved to Willard. "I'LL CONTINUE to go to her for lessons," Becky declares. "She is a great rider and instructor and she still takes occasional lessons. If she thinks that's necessary, then I certainly am going to continue learning all I can." Watching Becky Boykin instruct makes you wonder if she doesn't already know more than she realizes. As Linda Hird and the big Morgan circle the arena, Becky watches carefully and offers single sentence directions. Some, for correction of the horse's body position or gait, require simple adjustments by the rider. But the changes in the horse are so apparent that even a spectator who had never been on a horse would marvel at the result. Nancy Hird can't say enough about the young riding instructor. "When we first bought Utah General, Becky told us everything about his health problem. We hardly knew her then and thought, 'What old girl know does a about that?' " ALTOGETHER eight ribhave been gathered in a relatively short time. advantage." There are some drawbacks. Equipment is hard to get. You have to order rather than select, vhich is a disad- - classes." bons "It's mainly because Becky is all business during a lesson. No slipshod riding is allowed," Mrs. Hird says. "You do it and you do it right. No pulling on the horse's mouth. You ride properly and you are kind to the animal." .Becky is against overpo- "SO WE TOOK the horse to the vet, and he told us almost word for word what Becky had already pointed out. I could have saved some money if I'd listened to her." "We would have been a mess without Becky," Mrs. Hird continues. "My husband and I knew nothing about caring, feeding or leading a horse into a trailer. We didn't even know the wering any horse. The macho aspect of riding has been pushed too much, she thinks. Watching a training sion, you see actually exert in to a command rider, and when difference between grass hay and alfalfa." How have the horse and its 14 1 like Logan; there are hundreds of horses, and En- -' ghsh riding is catching on here," she drawls, "There aren't many of us who can teach it, so I feel I have an two ar principal rider, and might have picked up a ribbon in a Western class if there had been time to change outfits between the year-ol- d responding from the a break in the session comes about, the animal, actually seems to Linda Hird, done under Becky's tutelage? Nancy Hird is ecstatic. "A lot of people said the Morgan was too big for Linda. Becky didn't see a problem, and after four and a half months of lessons, they entered the Cache County Fair and took a third in 'English Riding' and a third in 'Geldings, Four Years Old and Older,' relax, stretch, almost slouch, like a human resting between exercises. The senior is taking business courses in her animal science program, and would like to stay in Utah, preferably operating her own riding stable, after she completes her work at USU. . V V 0 .1 1 BECKY BOYKIN, Georgia transplant finds Utah State University the Ideal combination for her education and freetime activities. The senior in animal science is a riding instructor, currently teaching in Logan, training both horses and riders. In the background is Linda Hird, riding "Utah General." Linda is one of Becky's students. 4X ses- the horse TOryf' i vantage. THERE IS an ; anti-Engli- attitude among some, who refer to flat saddles as "bandaids." And, unfortunately boys haven't yet been attracted to English riding, partly, Becky things, be-- . cause they shy away from the dress requirements. They aren't aware of the colorful history of such horse sports as polo, steeplechase, and riding to hounds, she notes. During the coming weeks the young male attitude may change, however. A list of prospective students for a riding program to be taught by Ms. Boykin is currently being developed in the Cache Valley area by and youth agent Keith Smith. Youngsters who want to find out what such riding is about should check with Mr. Smith's office in the County Courthouse. 4-- 4-- H |