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Hickory's Country Gold |
 Country
Gold was the 1991 and 1995 NATRC Grand Champion. To earn this recognition, horse and rider
must compete on eight 60-mile rides in two different states or one out-of-region ride,
accumulating the highest point average of all competing horses across the nation. There
are six regions in the United States for competitive trail riding. Hinkebein's region is
Region 6 and includes 12 rides in five states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and
Nebraska.Country Gold retired in 1997. His foals show tremendous endurance and make excellent competitive trail horses. Indian Creek Equine Center is proud of the awards won by Hickory Gold, a sorrel stallion (A-I available) and the additional awards won by our other Fox Trotters. For a complete list of Hickory's Country Gold's accomplishments, click here. Bill has been featured in "Western Horseman" magazine with his award-winning stallion:
He has appeared in "Gateway Magazine" in September, 1992, and January, 1993. The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Promoters also featured Bill in one of their videos, "Trail Riding Your Missouri Fox Trotter for Pleasure and Competition." You may order the tape by visiting their web site or by calling Gene Moeller at 417-732-2213. Most recently, Bill was included in the book, "Missouri Horses... Gift to a Nation," Volume One, by Joan Gilbert (Chapter 42, "Two Famous Faces," pp. 367-369). NATRC 1996 Horse Hall of Fame Hickory's Country Gold was inducted into the NATRC Horse Hall of Fame during the 1997 National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. The prestigious Hall of Fame Award is presented to horses that exemplify the standards of excellence in NATRC. A horse truly worthy of the Hall of Fame would include the outstanding accomplishments of the majority of the horse's career. The criteria are very detailed and include national, regional, high point, national championships, sweepstakes, mileage, and other achievements. Country Gold had 43 first places and 22 second places on 80 rides. Country Gold is the only horse to achieve winning all the major awards. He became the NATRC first all-around champion. Country Gold is a 5th generation stallion over a 40-year span that has been selected for performance, attitude, willingness, trail sense, gait, and speed. Hickory's Country Gold, a Missouri Fox Trotter, was the 1994 National Sweepstakes Championship, the top prize of the North American Trail Riding Conference. Originated in 1993, this award replaced the President's Cup and represents total points for a maximum of 16 rides. Due to teaching commitments, Hinkebein was unable to make the 15th and 16th rides, so his good friend, Frank Keeran, was dispatched to do the honor. Frank rode Country Gold on the final two rides and accrued enough points to lock in the win for 1994. It might also be noted some consider it perhaps more difficult to win the "big one" as a Heavyweight. There are different classes for Lightweight and Heavyweight. Lightweight usually has a larger class. However, more often, Heavyweight classes are not filled, allowing fewer points than in full classes. Although Hinkebein and his heavy stock saddle, weighing in at 250 lbs., clearly put more stress on the horse's back and legs than that of other competitors, Country Gold frequently won the Sweepstakes award over all classes. Hinkebein, the rider, placed first in the nation in Horsemanship in 1994. He received the Linda Tellington Jones Award of Excellence for High Average in Horsemanship in Region 6 in 1995. Country Gold was the 1991 and 1995 NATRC National Grand Champion. To earn this recognition, horse and rider must compete on eight 60-mile rides in two different states or one out-of-region ride, accumulating the highest point average of all competing horses across the nation. Each year since 1989, Country Gold has earned National Champion status. This award can be achieved by winning first place in two states and receiving a total of 75 points. Country Gold had a total of nine National Championships, 5030 miles, and retired in 1997. In 1995, Country Gold won the championship challenge ride. Eighteen of the top NATRC horses were present. Hickory's Impressive Chickory, a national champion, placed 6th in the lightweight class. Hickory's Chillicothe Express, a National Champion in 1996, placed 6th in the heavyweight class. Hickory's Country Gold is an athlete in a sport that requires more conditioning than in his everyday existence as a trail riding pleasure horse. What makes this horse so impressive is his attitude and ability to be consistent year after year. The parents of Country Gold were selected for their ability to travel long distances at a fast 5-10 mph pace. These horses have flat, angular, Arabian or thoroughbred type muscles. These are endurance muscles that contain oxygen-burning slow twitch fibers, meaning they are aerobic-functioning only in the present of a steady supply of oxygen. Horses are born with a predetermined proportion of these genetic-inherited muscle fibers. NATRC's Best... N.A.T.R.C. Horse Hall of Fame... Training Tips We start young horses at the age of two or three, depending on their maturity and size. Riding the young horse 30 to 60 minutes three to four days a week will help develop the basics needed by any trail horse. This stresses the young horse on the small scale without causing failure. We train for 30 to 60 days, followed by a 30-60-day rest, than another 30-60-day training session. This schedule continues through the 5th year. During this time, we must remember the horse is growing: bones, muscles, feet - the total system is maturing. Developing this young horse slowly over a period of time will keep this horse going over 20 years. We teach side passing, open/close gates, control speed walk to extended walk, backing, standing while being mounted, and other maneuvers and techniques to be used later. During the training time, we will increase the speed and later the distance for endurance. Strength of the horse will follow. We check the progress of our horse by studying his actions. The horse's daily attitude, the puffiness in legs, his appetite are all signs of how well the training program is progressing. The first three years of training are the most critical for your horse. If you use the long, slow distance training properly, you will be well prepared for the beginning training of your trail horse. When the horse is five years old, he is mature and ready for extended trail riding of 30 to 50 miles per day. He is ready for open competitive trail riding or endurance. |