Image of an Equine: Suzanne VanRandwyk & Fizz Image
by Jamie Coffy, Administrator of the USTA's Standardbred Equestrian Program

Suzanne VanRandwyk has jumped head first into the world of Standardbred pleasure horses. Her first introduction to the breed was her mare, Fizz Image, a brown pacing mare by Fizz Whiz Lauxmont and out of the Striking Image mare Prim Image.

Last year, VanRandwyk bought "Fizz" in Maine, a few years after her last start in March 1996 at Pompano Park, with 16 races and $960 to her credit. Her short track career began inauspiciouly with 15 qualifiers before making her first pari-mutuel start in April 1995.

VanRandwyk said the mare shows more talent for a mounted career and is currently training her for eventing.

"But since she only knew right turn, left turn, and stop when I got her, we've been working very hard to get her trained," VanRandwyk said.

As part of her retraining, VanRandwyk has been working to strengthen her weak hind stifle, as well as teach her balance and flexibility under saddle. Their instructor Jeanne Coupe has them working on circles, transitions from the walk to trot to walk, and have been slowly introducing Fizz to the canter.

"She's really such a good sport," VanRandwyk said. "She'll try anything if she thinks it's what

we want. She just gets confused when it's something she's never done before.

"She gets panicky sometimes in new situations but responds very well to calm reassurance," she added. "If she sees that we're not scared, she settles down. It's such an incredible feeling when this huge animal looks at me as if to say 'Well, I'm not sure about this but you don't seem upset so it must be okay.'"

This same attitude has helped the mare through her first few shows, but VanRandwyk said she is still learning that performing at a show is different than performing on the track. VanRandwyk has taken the mare to several shows to introduce her to the excitement of competition without the expectation of performance, and soon hopes to be showing consistently in the spring. She also plans to begin teaching Fizz to jump, first using trot poles, then low jumps.

Besides her willingness, VanRanwyk has come to love the mare's quirky personality.

"I'll be riding in one end of the ring and another rider will give her horse a verbal command in the opposite end of the ring and Fizz will obey it," she explained. "Part of me is happy that she is such an obedient horse and knows all the commands, but she needs to learn that she's only supposed to listen to the person who's riding her."

She also added, "She is a quite the snuggler."

Now a believer in the versatility of Standardbreds, VanRandwyk, as vice-president of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Massachusetts, along with other members, coordinated the Standardbred breed demonstration at the Equine Affaire exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, on November 12.