Diversity Reigns At Jackson Equestrian Center by Nancy Brannon Michelle Weaver talks to me as she coaches four riders in the ring. One is preparing Michelle’s 12-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse GENERAL for an upcoming show. Another is working on her jumping skills over cross rails; a third rider schools her 5-year old Spotted Draft Horse IVY, and the fourth is working on equitation. This is a sample of the diversity of riding styles and horses at the Jackson Equestrian Center at 1875 Highway 70 East near Jackson, Tennessee. Michelle has owned and operated her boarding and training facility for three years, which includes a 26-stall barn on 10 acres and with an additional 76 acres leased for pasture. “We’re very versatile; I preach diversity,” Michelle explained. “We do hunt seat, jumping, gaited, Western pleasure, barrels, and all speed events. We have all breeds of horses here.” Her training program “starts with fundamentals—balance” she said. “Then riders choose either Western or English riding for further training. When they get good at that, we cross over. Riders learn so much more this way. Riders will see each other practicing the different disciplines and want to try something new themselves. They learn from each other and it keeps their interest alive.” Michelle got started in her horse career with Appaloosas. “I started riding and showing horses when I was about 4 or 5 years old,” she said. “I had a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion when I was young that we bred. Then when I was about 12 or 13 years old, we switched to Appaloosas I’ve been teaching lessons for about 10 years, but I’ve been involved with horses all my life. I’ve been lucky enough to make it a career.” She provides a lot of show activities for her students. “We recently got back from the Tennessee State Show where one of my students placed second in halter on GENERAL and third in Western saddle horse on him. We went to several smaller shows to qualify for the state. Chesterfield Saddle Club held the qualifying show this year.” At two years of age, her daughter Riley has started her show career early. Riley won 8th place in Lead line GOLDIELOCKS at the State Show, “her first big show,” Michelle said. GOLDIELOCKS is a 10-year-old Palomino Welsh pony. Michelle’s students regularly compete in local saddle club shows and several are trying for high point awards this year: Michele Sumner, for hunt seat; Hanna Wells for keyhole; “She’s high point rider now,” Michelle said. And Kristen Welch is going for high point youth halter. “They come home with belt buckles and high point awards that we’re all tickled about. We get the kids in a positive attitude around horses, haul together to the shows, and cheer each other on. We go to Appaloosa and Quarter Horse Shows, too. Michelle’s philosophy is to keep the kids interested in horses and to provide fun, meaningful activities for them, which keep them out of trouble. Her older students who have gone off to college sometimes take their riding enthusiasm with them. One, Julie Harrison, is taking equestrian studies at Murray State University and is on the Equestrian Team there. Another, Catherine Lacey, was on the Equestrian Team at MTSU. Michelle runs summer and fall riding camps where kids without horses can also have the “horse experience.” Her training techniques include driving. “We teach the horses to drive first. We like our horses to be all-round,” she said. “We also have miniatures who drive.” For more information about the diversity of riding styles at Jackson Equestrian Center, call Michelle Weaver at 731-427-8768.