GREENFIELD — The saying goes that families that play together, stay together. What about families that show horses together?
That’s the case for Greenfield father and son Chris and Alex Sabin, who recently returned from Tampa, Fla., where they competed in the Little Gasparilla Spring Horse Show and Gasparilla Charity Horse Show on the Florida State Fairgrounds.
Both piled on the accolades, including Alex winning riding championships at each show and becoming reserve champion in the Junior Exhibitor Pleasure Driving Division. Chris won the Adult Pleasure Driving Division at the Gasparilla Charity Horse Show and was reserve champion in two riding classes.
“I like competing. It’s so fun to ride,” Alex said last week. “I compete to get that blue ribbon.”
The two had previously competed in Lexington, Ky., in July, in Deerfield, N.H., in September, at the Big E in October, and Kansas City, Mo., in November. They hope to compete in the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Ky., in August, if they qualify, and will be at the UPHA CH-14 Spring Premier Horse Show at the Big E in West Springfield next week.
“We definitely get around the country and have a lot of fun competing with our horses,” Chris said. “It’s definitely a family affair.”
The Saddle Horse Report named Alex, now 13, a top 10 champion of the year for 2020 in walk-trot pleasure for competitors 12 and younger.
“Alex is very competitive and I think that is part of the draw,” said Chris, 51.
Alex rode his horse, Robin, a 16-year-old American Saddlebred gelding competing under the show name X-Ray Vision. Alex’s mother, Cindy Marshall, saved Robin from slaughter in Pennsylvania in November 2018. Chris rode his horse, Alvin, a 7-year-old American Saddlebred gelding competing under the name Kalarama’s Super Duper.
Alex first saddled up when he was just a year old, and started competing in shows when he was 2.
“It’s been really fun,” Alex said. “I enjoy riding and I love my horses.”
Chris, a farrier by profession, was introduced to equines when he was 8, when his aunt bought a Morgan show horse named Windcrest Image for her daughter.
“I fell in love, I guess,” he said.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.