August 31, 2005
One-woman horse operation
Rider raises, trains Quarter Horse while going to high school, college
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Stephanie "Stevie" Murray is nothing if not versatile and her horse, Gilbert, a seven-year-old Quarter Horse, follows in her footsteps.
Together, the pair will compete in six different classes October 7-19 during the All American Quarter Horse Congress, held in Columbus, Ohio. As they segue smoothly from showmanship, trail class and hunter class to horsemanship, equitation and reining, they will exhibit a range of skills and training not usually combined in one riding team.
"I go for the all-around champion when I show," said Murray. "When I'm training with my horse, I try to do a little bit of everything. I go from reining and then go over a jump - he's never surprised by what I do."
The 2004 graduate of Central High School has been competing at the national level for five years, racking up wins and filling her room with trophies and ribbons. She has owned Gilbert for two years, nursing him through an illness that involved his central nervous system, and relishes his personality.
"He's very smart, very smart," said Murray. "He thinks he's a big dog, he likes to go swimming and he plays soccer with me."
What is unusual about her winning is that Murray is a one-woman horse operation. She competes with riders on very expensive horses that have trainers, grooms and top-dollar care. These riders usually do not care for or live with their horses, seeing them just for training or a competition.
While her parents gave her a 100-foot by 60-foot indoor training space for her birthday (and Christmas and many future birthdays) in 2000, she is the one who cleans Gilbert's stall, cares for him and trains him. She rides him at least two hours a day plus spends at least an hour a day caring for and cleaning up after him.
To her, winning under these circumstances means so much more than just showing up to ride.
"It makes me feel good when I beat a $200,000 horse with my little horse," said Murray, who was captain of Central's Equestrian team for four years. "It's unusual on the national level - I'm the only one showing on the breed circuit who lives with my horse, most people keep them away."
"I get made fun of for babying my horse," she added of her devotion to her mount during competitions.
The constant daily care has forged a bond between Gilbert and Murray, a trust that shines through in the ring during a show.
"I don't think she could ask that horse to do anything he wouldn't do," said Christine Murray, Stevie's mom.
Murray began riding when she was eight, inspired by her mom's experience with horses. The family connected with a 4-H club based in Elk Rapids and eventually bought a horse; at one point they owned three horses though now it is just Gilbert and a boarder in their barn.
Murray has been showing for ten years, adding competency in class after class.
"It's all been worth it," she said of the many hours of training and caretaking, traveling and competing.
Focused and ambitious, Murray will turn 19 in the fall but already has gained enough credits to be a second semester sophomore when she transfers to Michigan State University for spring semester. Currently a student at Northwestern Michigan College, she plans to major in international law at State and hopes to study overseas.
With her sights set on Harvard for law school, Murray said Gilbert is her walking undergraduate tuition. Wrenching though it will be, she plans to sell him after the show to help pay for classes, housing and books.
Even without Gilbert, horses will remain a part of her college life.
"I want to join the MSU Equestrian Team and then I want to do the polo club, too," she said.