Black Diamond… in the Rough
By Jamie Coffy, Administrator of the USTA's Standardbred Equestrian Program.

Not much holds Sandra Gasson back. When the 63-year-old equestrienne saw a black gelding for sale at the Hardin (Ohio) county fairgrounds, she bought him.

The black horse turned out to be Roger’s Renegade, an unraced homebred pacer. Bred by Roger Arvilla of Richwood, Ohio, who also owned the gelding’s sire, Perky PR p,4,2:02.4 $17,829, and dam, the double-gaited Stacey’s Dart, 3,2:18.2h, $445, p,3,q.

Though the gelding is 9 years old and might be expected to have some good under saddle skills, Gasson could tell from handling him that he had not had much formal under saddle training. Undaunted, she dubbed him "Bo Jangles" and started working with under saddle. At first he didn’t understand what was being asked of him, but she said she is "overcoming his resistance" to being ridden.

To strengthen his muscles to help him canter while carrying a rider, she started lunging him. Gasson said she hopes to teach him to canter under saddle soon.

Despite Bo’s greenness, he has still endeared himself to Gasson by his actions, she said, relating one of her early rides on him.

"While riding in the back 40 one day, a youngster on an (all-terrain vehicle) popped up from nowhere," she said. "Bo spooked sideways then backed across the path carefully, watching me as he did. Then he stood and looked after it, still looking back at me."

"I knew I was being taken care of," she added.