October 2008 Member Spotlight - Chase

Name: Oscar Dillon aka Chase

Current Location: Fredericksburg, VA

You obviously know a thing or two about horses. Where'd you get your start?
In the beginning: Sorry, that's the jokester coming out. **Down boy! Back I say! ** Randolph Scott **holds hat over heart in salute**, and Ben Johnson were my first heroes to introduce me to the wonderful world of horses from the silver screen, way back in the late fifties.

My mom's folks have had a farm in Germany since the late 1700's. When I arrived there in 1957 they were still using draft horses in the fields. I remember vividly my dad riding one bareback and the thing looked like a mountain to me. Then came the movies, followed by a move to Klamath Falls, Oregon. Dad was in the Air Force at the time. A brand new school I went to backed up to a 20 acre ranch with horses and cattle grazing the clover there. Always took the horses an apple I'd quartered for lunch either in the morning or at recess. Between my love for Westerns and this, I was hooked solid on horses.

Started out young in the barns at age 8. Rode my first ever horse solo when we visited the grandparents living in Squaw Valley, Bucky was his name. A beautiful line back dun that took me on the most wonderful tour of the scenic valley, and I handled him like a pro. Well according to the barn hand and my dad I did. Have an old picture of me on Bucky, around somewhere that I should scan in some day. Now with the smell of the horse, barn and great outdoors, I was really hooked. Then came the junior rodeos locally and the horse world just reeled me in with a gaff. Have a couple small bronze statues from that.

Next move was to Virginia, where I live today. Found a horse lease farm out near Manassas and spent every chance I could get to go out there and help out just to work off my riding fee. A whopping $4 bucks an hour!

In 1970 I bought my first horse, a quarter horse chestnut with flaxen main and tail, just like Randolph Scott's! Four of the smoothest gaits I ever rode. Trail, Hunt, Cutting, Roping, etc. She did it all without a flinch or stumble. Had to sell her when I got married in 78. Pert near broke my heart too.

1995 Was a record year, as my sister-in-law bought a Quarter/Arab to satisfy her equine needs. Then going to the auction to find some tack, she stumbled on Tango, the wonder Tennessee Walker. I rode him around for about a half hour, testing his soundness and willingness to ride. Checked the letting and history documents, then shrugged at my sis, who whipped out her checkbook and for $500 bucks we had an eleven-year-old trail horse:that we came to find out she couldn't ride, because she felt intimidated by him. Tango became mine at that point by default. We've had plenty of fun times and a few anxious ones ever since.

I don't think your day job includes sitting on the back of a horse. How do you work horses into your daily duties?
Day job: What's a job? Commuting to and from DC is a 100 mile round trip each day, and "yes", it can get frustrating at the best of times. I would spend every other weekend with the horses, rain or shine, but money was getting tight at that time in my life and I found myself resenting the fact that real life was trying to buck me from the horse fever. Took a second job, which left me with about 8 hours free time out of 24 in the day. So now there's the rub of it all; work 2 jobs and have the money, but neglect the horses, or get by on one salary and enjoy life as we could. Fortunately, the wife decided the latter was best for my sanity and our well fare.

The big turnaround came last June, when I was placed on administrative leave with pay. Long story best left for another time. Now I'm still being paid, but get to stay home until I can retire, which is fine by me because I can devote more time to my passion and hobbies. Yay me!

What's the best piece of horse advice you ever heard? Or, what's the best piece of horse advice you can give us?
Best piece of advice? "Relax and come to an accommodation with your horse. It is a partnership much like a marriage that you're going into and you both have to make it work." Scary, huh?

Best advice I can give? That's a tough one, because not everybody's skill levels are the same. I would have to say for the beginners, find yourself a good certified instructor. They aren't that expensive at the start. Novices? Keep at it. Join a group or even the 4H and participate however you can. Hit up the events in your area whenever you can, and don't get frustrated! If something's not going right, figure it out and make it work.

You're into trail riding, I believe. Tell us a little about that discipline and why you love it.
Surely you jest! I ride Western: always have and always will. The wife says I was born a hundred years too late, and being the good husband, I agree with her. Trail riding, for me, is about the best way I can possibly think of to let your hair down and really relax with your horse. Doesn't matter if you're solo or with a huge group, because however many folks are with you, they all share the same passion: horses and the outdoors. With so many like-minded people along, how can you possibly not have a good time?

Then there's the overnight trail rides, which if you haven't done one yet, you are really missing out on some serious fun under the stars!

Tell us about your current horses and goals with them.
Gabe, our latest acquisition, who is in my profile photo, is a cross Tennessee Walker/Belgian. Yes, this makes for a rather large pleasure horse. 16.3 hands to be exact, but you wouldn't think it to look at my photo album. He's 17 years old and only needs some minor tweaking. Has a real great disposition, light neck reign and seat cues to the point that you could probably ride him without the reigns.

The knucklehead is Tango. A 24 year old Tennessee walker that hooked me on Walkers with those smooth as silk gaits of his and willingness to work once under saddle. And therein lies the rub: He's gotten a little testy in his old age, and I am regaining his trust and establishing who is the Alpha: much like with our dogs. Though I think the dogs got it far easier because they don't do the saddle thing.

Next is Tango's best buddy and all around nice guy, Shadow. Shad's a Quarter/Arab that is so gentle my 6-year-old grandson can lead and ride him. We found out about 6 months after buying him that he had foundered, something the seller neglected to tell us, and we were too dumb to get the vet out first. Anyway, Shadow is pure joy to event with. My daughter has several ribbons adorning her room from shows that she rode him in these past several years. Sure am proud of the lil girl of mine, as well as Shadow.

Where do you go or who do you listen to when seeking additional advice or information?
Qualified horse experts of course. Mostly I do online research, talk with the vets, tack shops and other horse owners. You can usually tell the chafe from the wheat and come away with something new to pass on.

Best one locally for me would be Jamie, of Legacy Horse Training -www.legacyhorsetraining.com - who trains the John Lyon's way of gentle breaking horses. I've watched this lady take a 2 year old that's never had a saddle and three hours later she's on his back! Now that is talent anyone can admire.

Is there a special horse or experience that stands out from the rest?
More than one. I call these my "perfect moments": those times where you and the horse are one. First one was in the early 60's on Bucky, the first ever ride. Actually did a double with my brother on back. He got dumped into a creek we jumped. Needless to say that cured him of horses.

Next would be my first horse, Miss Gee. Each and every time I took her out, it was a perfect moment, and that's quite a few years of bliss!

The latest one was on Gabe, our latest acquisition. I almost felt like I was back on Miss Gee, but don't tell Gabe that, because I think he dislikes cross dressers. Gabe and I immediately hit it off like a perfect fit, despite his size. It was like BAM and we were one being!

If you could change one thing within the horse industry, what would that be?
Tough choice between BLM's Mustang program and the Racetracks, but I'll pick the races. Why, you ask? Simply because I don't think any 2 or 3 year old is ready to be made to perform that hard. For pity sake, they're still growing at that age! It's a wonder that more don't break down on the track, let alone by 6 years old.

Other than horses, what else do you enjoy doing for fun?
Taking long walks in parks or through the historic town of Fredericksburg with the family dogs. I always find something new and interesting on those treks.

Writing fiction that deals with horses. Actually have a contemporary/fantasy novel I need to finish up. Maybe I'll share some pages with you all later. Heck, might even ask some of you for advice on certain scenes to make them as realistic as possible. Of course it goes without saying that you will be credited in the book for your part.

Is there a special significance to your avatar?
You would have to ask that. That's Gabe and I sharing a quiet moment together. Daughter took the shot as I was finishing cooling him off. Don't recall what I was thinking at the moment, other than what a marvelous horse he is.

Anything else we should know about you?
By now you know I write. I took that passion during my horse down time to co-create the Woodbridge Writers Critique Workshop about 12 years ago. This workshop has one goal, and that is to help the author grow in their chosen genre through positive critiques. Border's Books has been very kind in sponsoring us all these years too. They provide a comfortable, relaxed environment for the group. One particular high point for me there was one of the poets, a kid about 10 years old, who had some of the most profound and touching poetry I have ever read. We lost track of him after a year, but I sure hope he goes on to success with his poetry.

I hope this wasn't too long winded. All this patting myself on the back is giving me calluses on the palm.

Happy Trails, Bliss and Blessings

Comments  

 

# tattooed_reiner 2008-10-01 07:26

Great to get to know more about you, Chase. I hope you do share more of your writing with us!

 

 

# joelsteven 2008-10-04 01:24

I like the part about Klamath Falls! I too am from Oregon, originally and spent most of my time in the Redmond area. Great country for trail riding, horse people and just living.

 

 

# GSPerformanceHorses 2008-10-08 06:24

love how you can find ways to add humor in your writing chase =)

 

 

# wranglerdani 2008-10-08 13:20

Thanks for your kind words to me... good to know more about you!
God bless,
~wranglerdani

 

 

# horselover53 2008-10-30 23:05

Chase, I totally agree with the race horse comment. I am not much on any timed events, just because of the stress on the horses.
I am new to this site, but I think it is very informative. I it is nice to meet you.
Judy

 

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