Volz's Mountain Horses to show at Hoosier Horse Fair

Cindy DiFazio, Staff Writer

Jason and Christi Volz of Osgood, along with two-year old son, Blake, and Jason’s parents, John and Theresa Volz, raise, breed and show Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses. They have 19 of the horses on John and Theresa’s farm just outside Osgood, and are expecting four foals this spring.

Christi is also expecting later in the summer, so she has been replaced by other riders in most of this year’s shows. It doesn’t, however, prevent her from being very involved in the care and training of the animals.

Even little Blake is included in this family affair. Christi says she first put Blake up on a horse when he was just seven months old. He was a natural. Christi reported that Blake participated in a show at Logansport, riding on Diamond. He rode in Lead Line Class with Jason’s help. Blake was required to back the horse up three steps then bring him back to the front without dad’s assistance. He and Diamond performed flawlessly.

From Friday, March 30 through Sunday, April 1, Jason and other members of the Indiana Gaited Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Drill Team will participate in the Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo 2007 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The 3-day event will begin on Friday morning with a trail ride which will arrive at the Pepsi Coliseum at 11:00 a.m. The drill team will perform with flags at 4:00 p.m. Saturday’s performance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and Sunday’s at 11:00 a.m. All performances will be in the Pepsi Coliseum.

The Indiana Gaited Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Drill Team has 10 members. They are also members of the Indiana Club of the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association which boasts about 200 members. They perform at many events throughout the region. Last September, the team opened the Special Olympics in Danville. Two members with disabilities participated.

Kentucky Mountain Horses are bred for their temperament and gait. According to gaitedhorse.com, the “saddle” gait is recognized and defined as a natural, four-beat gait (i.e. no artificial means used). This gait is smooth, even and very comfortable to the rider. The Volz’s agree. They train their own horses as well as others. “You can do so many things with these horses,” noted Jason. Jason and Christi not only show them, they ride them up into the hills for what Christi termed “extreme riding.”

Jason will ride the stallion, Smokey McGuire, at the Hoosier Horse Fair. Smokey’s sire, Blue Man McGuire, was a national champion.

Advance tickets for the Hoosier Horse Fair are available locally at Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance . Advance tickets are $12 for adults, $4 for children 7-12. Tickets at the door will run $15 for adults, $6 for children 7-12. Children 6 and under get in free.

For more information about the Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo, call the Indiana Horse Council at 317-692-7141 or visit their website www.indianahorsecoun cil.org.
CINDY DI FAZIO PHOTO
Pictured are Jason and Christi Volz, along with two-year old son, Blake. The whole family enjoys riding Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses and participating in horse shows throughout the region.