Region 1 Select Amateur Winner Janette Ames
Horses have been a major part of life for Janette Ames, 59, of Okanogan, Wash. Growing up in a farming family, she's ridden and shown since she was a small child, starting with ponies and saddle seat horses. As a teenager, she bought her first Quarter Horse. Today, she keeps about 10 Quarter Horses, including the mare she showed at the 2006 AQHA Regional Experience in Redmond, Ore.

Janette Ames Photo by Cheryl James Photography

Tell us about your horse.
Crystal Inclination, or "Matti," is a 6-year-old, 15.2-hand, sorrel mare. I'd wanted to buy her in 2002 at age two, but she wasn't for sale. I continued to watch her, and finally had the chance to buy her in 2004. In 2005, I rode her in horsemanship and some trail, and my daughter Melissa Sexton showed her in western riding. She placed 15th at the AQHA World Show and won the Mountain States Alliance All Around Select title and was reserve in the state of Washington for 2005. Matti is very friendly, willing and game for anything. She loves people and hanging out at the rail with her nose nestled in someone's hair. We show in the select classes, and her favorites are western riding, horsemanship and hunt seat equitation. We also do a little halter, showmanship, trail and hunter under saddle.

What has been your most memorable moment in the saddle?
December 20, 2000, was significant for our family--my husband, Mel, had a heart transplant. He'd been ill for years and was hospitalized for seven months waiting for his heart. While we waited, my lack of exercise worsened my scoliosis and arthritis. Eventually, I was having trouble walking. My daughter Melissa told me to get back in the saddle. I wasn't sure that I could, but she became my trainer and insisted, so I climbed into the saddle and rekindled a love that arthritis had squelched for years. After 35 years of not competing, I showed in amateur hunter under saddle at our 2001Northwest Congress, and placed second. It was a rush and a real celebration of life. The pain in my back was incredible, but I've never looked back. I love every ride and hope to ride until I'm 80.

Do you ride with a trainer?
I am blessed to have my daughter Melissa Sexton as my trainer. She trains all-around horses for all-around people, and believes that positive training techniques develop a positive horse and ultimately a positive team. Melissa lives on the ranch in Washington, and is an AQHA judge and Professional Horseman. She's qualified several horses for the AQHA World Show and has finished numerous times in the top 15. She earned a degree in equine science from Colorado State University, and as a trainer, she keeps Matti and me on track. As a daughter, she keeps her parents on track. How could you ask for more!

Tell us about your Regional Experience win.
This was my first year to attend the Regional Experience, and it was really fun. I went to the AQHA Select World Show the past two years, but the traveling really wears on me. This year, I qualified again for the Select World Show, but decided to stay in the Northwest. Matti and I won the Select Amateur All Around title at the Regional Experience by showing in halter, showmanship, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, trail, western riding, horsemanship and western pleasure. We just did our thing--we ate, we played, we chuckled, we toughened up and won ourselves a saddle. What a deal!

Would you recommend the Regional Experience to other show riders? To newcomers? Will you be back next year?
I would recommend this show--it has something for everyone. Experienced and non-experienced riders can enjoy the Regional Experience. As a former Washington State University cooperative extension employee, I like to see education included in our activities, and this show does that nicely. It offers really nice awards for exhibitors and classes for everyone. It's a really great idea, and nice to have it regionally located.