As I pulled down the drive towards Summit Equestrian, I felt as though I was moving through Narnia. The ice-coated trees sparkled in the rising sunlight, just sneaking out behind the mountain looming over me.
As I got out of the car, I heard my name:
“Gillian?” I look over to a woman and a girl by their truck, getting tacked up and ready to ride.
“Hi!” I exclaim, walking in their direction. I extend my hand to meet hers in a shake.
“Jessica,” she states. “Welcome to Alaska.”
~
I’ve grown used to the same look of surprise everyone gives me when I mention my decision to go to Alaska in February. With limited sunlight and sub-zero temperatures, it’s not necessarily the warm, sunny getaway many people enjoy to break up the winter back home. But I was determined.
There’s so much to explore in Alaska, even with the chilly temperatures of winter!
I’ve written about places that are challenging to reach, places that require strength and determination from the people who call those places home. Places like Mongolia and Patagonia. I’ve learned so much from people making their lives within a greater conversation with our natural world, working and thriving with the unpredictability.
So when I was itching for my next adventure, something that would deepen my understanding of human-environment interactions, and adaptability and resourcefulness, Alaska was an easy choice.
Switching sports? We enjoyed a day of dog sledding at six time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey’s kennel.
“I want to dog sled, and I want to lean into winter for what winter is and the beauty it can provide,” I’ve explained numerous times to numerous people as my reason to go. Mostly they nod in response, looking unconvinced.
But when I decided to make the trek and I started connecting with Alaskan equestrians, I heard only enthusiasm for my plans, and encouragement to connect when I was there. Which is how I ended up spending a day teaching at Lauren Eaton’s Summit Equestrian with the Alpenglow Pony Club.
Lauren Eaton’s Summit Equestrian – the most beautiful view!
With an original connection through Sally Spickard to Erin Tomson, Erin put me in touch with Barbara McDonough, organizer for the Red Mountain Horse Trials, and Jessica Winnestaffer, District Commissioner (DC) for the Alpenglow Pony Club. Barbara and Jessica oversaw and organized a clinic day with me based out of Lauren’s Summit Equestrian. Lauren invited us into her home after lessons were wrapped up, where Barbara, Lauren, and I were able to dive into what life is like as an equestrian in Alaska.
“You have to be tough,” Barbara cut to the chase, “The fair weather people fall behind… it’s really a labor of love.”
“There are stretches where it’s too cold to ride, so consistency in training can be hard,” Lauren referenced the temperatures dipping below ten degrees fahrenheit frequently. “We also deal with limited vet, saddle fitting, show and clinic services, and access to horses.”
A majority, if not all of the horses ridden in the clinic were from out of state. Which might not seem like a big deal, until you consider the distance – I covered thousands of miles just to get there. Horses were coming from Arizona, Colorado, California, and more, making similarly long trips north.
Acquiring, caring for, and training horses in Alaska is no small feat, but despite the hard work, these riders showed up ready to learn, with happy, healthy, and fit horses, and many accolades among them, from IEA competitions, Pony Club certifications, and show experience. Other opportunities include Quarter Horse shows, as well as 4H. Lauren has been able to achieve her bronze and silver medals, and is currently working towards her gold, all while also operating a successful training and boarding business at Summit Equestrian for the last four years.
With a show season running from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, shows are condensed to the summer months. “We have four USDF shows around, which is the minimum to qualify for the year-end awards. But they’re all condensed into three weekends. You just have to make it work,” Lauren explained.
“This all wouldn’t be possible without the best group of clients, who are so helpful, generous, and kind… they make it doable,” Lauren reflected.
It’s clear that the environment can make for some challenges, but it’s hard not to enjoy the beauty as you look around.
“What about the good?” I asked, “What’s good about being an equestrian in Alaska?”
“It’s a bit more low key,” Lauren explained, “The shows tend to be a bit more relaxed and enjoyable… people tend to be friendlier. [The shows are] still high quality, with judges coming from all over.”
Barbara also acknowledged the tight knit community of the shows, with 20 horses making for a pretty full show. Despite the smaller size, the quality of the work remains high. “We’re competitive, and competitive when we go out and show elsewhere,” Barbara said. “There’s a group of kids who do inter-collegiate shows… I have one friend who flew her horse to Thermal and did a month or so there, but that’s not common.”
One home show is one that Barbara organizes, and this coming year will be the fifth year of Red Mountain Horse Trials, the only event in Alaska. Run as an educational opportunity and competition, the event offers three days of lessons with clinicians from across the country, and a day of competition to wrap up the long weekend. It’s a popular opportunity, with a 40 horse limit, which typically fills, with participants coming over 300 miles away.
The cross country course at Willy and Mimi Peabody’s farm.
Curious to see their cross country course, Barbara and Jessica took me over to the event’s sprawling course laid out under the mountain range on Willy and Mimi Peabody’s property. Willy and Mimi provided an exceptionally friendly and warm welcome and took hours out of their day to show us around. I was strolling along, soaking up the view, when Jessica called out for me to pause.
“See that?” She pointed down to long, drawn-out tracks cutting through the cross country field. “Moose tracks.”
The cross country course at Willy and Mimi Peabody’s farm.
The cross country course is outfitted through novice, with a water complex, brush jumps, plenty of logs and hanging logs, and so much more. As a carpenter, Willy made the course his labor of love. But it’s a team effort, with plenty of members helping mow and maintain the property. The Pony Club members of Alpenglow play a hands-on role in such efforts. With members from 2-65 years old, Alpenglow provides new to advanced riders the opportunities to progress their skills in the community, and extends across surrounding areas such as Sutton, Butte, Palmer, Eagle River, Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Wasilla.
Offering the same quality and consistent instruction as Pony Clubs around the country and the world, Jessica and the Alpenglow Pony Club leadership team have worked to provide learning experiences to all members. They’ve all poured their hearts into their work to give back to the community they share, and in the time that Barbara and Jessica took to organize the day, spend the entire day answering my millions of questions, driving me to facilities, and offering suggestions on places to go, hikes to try, and recommendations for food and entertainment, they truly made me feel as though I was part of it all.
Teaching Alpenglow Pony Club members.
Despite the occasionally hostile weather and unpredictable environment, the community and welcoming nature of the people who call Alaska home make the tough days more manageable, from caring for and training horses, running a business, and making the most of every season. From the riders participating in the clinic, Willy and Mimi opening their property for a community event, Lauren sharing her facility, Barbara and Jessica for dedicating the entire day to spend with me, and many other Alaskan residents who I crossed paths with at restaurants, tours, shops, and more, I never went very far without recognizing a helping hand nearby. Living and working with horses in Alaska might be a labor of love, but it’s a labor of love that connects you to a community and support system that will fight for you and with you.
With enthusiastic members and a strong community, it was a great day to spend with Alpenglow Pony Club!
