Body
By Aimee Mills
They are easily my favorite car rides. It starts with a whine, followed by excited yelps combined with vigorous tail-wagging. These noises come from my dog, Champ, barely able to contain his enthusiasm as he realizes we’re on our way to agility class. His antics make me smile every time because, for him, agility is like his birthday, Christmas and the 4th of July all rolled into a glorious evening on the agility course.
We’re fortunate to live in a community that has numerous opportunities to be involved with our animals, whether for sport or enjoyment. Two of the more well-known activities are agility training and horseback riding, offering benefits for our four-legged friends, as well as their human companions.
Bringing Agility to Lynchburg
“Once people get wind of it and get involved in it, it just grows from there,” Jim Smotrel explained.
He and his wife, Judy, know this firsthand. They started the first agility classes in Lynchburg 20 years ago.
“We found out there was this sport called agility, although there was no one in Lynchburg doing it at that time,” Smotrel said. “I think we actually went to Danville the first time to an agility trial there and we thought, ‘Hey, this is really fun,’ so we started looking into it and we both decided that the only way we were going to get agility here was to get some people interested.”
The Smotrels both became approved judges, started building equipment on their front lawn and offered classes through the Dog Obedience Training Club of Lynchburg (DOTC). Over the last two decades, they have introduced hundreds of people to the sport of agility.
Before moving to Lynchburg, I had very little exposure to canine sports. It wasn’t until completing an obedience class with DOTC that I learned about agility and thought it might be fun to try. Little did I know that both Champ and I would be hooked. Two years later, we’re still involved and loving every minute.
“I think it has to do with the fact that it’s so much fun to do,” Smotrel said. “People find out that you don’t have to have the perfect dog. You don’t have to have the perfect obedient dog to go out and do agility.”
I’ll admit, I was nervous at first about how my somewhat unruly dog would do. When Champ completed beginner obedience, I was over the moon that he actually passed. But agility turned out to be exactly what he needed to harness his abundance of energy.
Smotrel sees this as a valuable benefit.
“Dogs need an outlet. Dogs have energy to burn and this is just a great outlet for them where you show them, ‘Hey, you can use some of your energy up here and we can all have fun with it.’”
Dr. Rick Krason of the Animal Hospital of Lynchburg sees several benefits for dogs, including making the dog more obedient and providing exercise that builds cardiac endurance and muscle strength. It also creates a strong bond between the dog and handler.
“It really makes the owner and the dog a ‘team,’” said Krason. “They will be much more bonded and interactive together. There is a relationship there between a dog and a handler that is not there with your average pet; not that the average pet is not loved, but there is a different kind of respect and appreciation for each other.”
A Rich Equestrian History
While agility is relatively new to our area, horseback riding has a rich history in the Commonwealth that can be traced back more than four centuries to the settling of Jamestown. It’s a tradition embraced by Thomas Jefferson that continues to be woven into the culture of Central Virginia. At Mane Top Stables on Linden Avenue in Lynchburg, the stables date back to the late 1800s. It’s a picturesque setting, right in the heart of the Hill City, where equestrian sport is being taught to a new generation of riders.
“Riding lessons teach you about responsibility and accountability,” said Kristen Nelson, owner of Mane Top Stables. “Riders have to brush and tack up their horse before their lesson, so it’s not like they just show up here and ride. It teaches care of the equipment and the pony.”
Nelson opened Mane Top Stables three years ago. She attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (now Randolph College), where she was co-captain of the riding team. After graduating in 2007, she was asked to be the college’s riding coach before moving on to open Mane Top Stables.
There are approximately 60 people who are currently taking lessons at Mane Top Stables–both children and adults. It’s a unique sport that teaches important life lessons.
“Riding is something bigger than themselves. It’s a different aspect of team sports. It teaches them a lot of field awareness and responsibility. You have to have a heads up attitude when you’re around horses and I think that’s definitely a life lesson to be safe and aware of where you are and your surroundings,” Nelson said.
Dr. Krason knows the benefits well. He, his wife and both of their daughters are among the riders at Mane Top Stables.
“We and the kids love the horses, we love the instruction and the other riders at the stable are a very close knit group of friends, both for the kids as well as the adults who ride and the adults who support,” explained Krason. “Once you start, you really get hooked. So, there was little that it took to motivate us. We already knew about the benefits of riding, and when the kids showed interest, we jumped on the opportunity.”
The Krasons see numerous benefits for their daughters, who have learned responsibility on several levels, from caring for their animals, to learning safety around the horses.
“Even the best behaved horses can be 1,000 pounds and up,” said Krason. “My youngest daughter weighs 70 pounds. You need to have respect for something that big.”
The number one priority Nelson wants to instill in riders is a sense of horsemanship and respect for the animals. For riders, this means putting the horses’ needs above their own.
“When they’re done and they’re tired and hot and sweaty, the horse is tired and hot and sweaty too, but that horse comes first. They have to take care of their horse and put away their equipment before they can really take care of themselves,” said Nelson.
A Competitive Edge
Being involved in animal sports provides the opportunity to enter competitions, if you have that desire.
Between the two of them, the Smotrels and their dogs have earned numerous agility titles–so many, in fact, that they couldn’t give me an exact number off hand. They travel extensively judging and competing in agility trials. But, thanks to the sport’s popularity, you don’t have to travel far to participate.
“On any given weekend, you could probably find an agility trial within three to four hours of Lynchburg,” Smotrel said.
In April 2009, the American Kennel Club opened agility competitions to mixed breed dogs, meaning even mutts like mine are welcomed. But, you don’t have to compete to enjoy agility. Just being out on a course with your best friend can be reward enough.
And the same is true for horseback riding.
“There is a lot of competitive riding around here,” Nelson, who attends events almost every weekend, said. “You can be very competitive, and I certainly am, but you can be just as good and do it just for the love of horses and because you like to ride and that’s your activity.”
Competing in either sport takes a lot time and dedication. Nelson likens horseback riding to the commitment it takes to be a good golfer.
“A lot of people can do it okay, but it takes years and years of being out on the course everyday to be a good golfer and it’s kind of the same thing with riding,” she explains. “When riding, you’re a beginner for a long time. And each horse rides differently.”
Agility also has a learning curve, as the dogs figure out what they are capable of accomplishing.
“Once the dog gets the confidence to do the things that are being asked of it on the obstacles … it’s really great because a lot of dogs don’t have that independent spirit to do it and agility classes can get the dog to say, ‘Look what I can do.’ And the bonus is, you’re doing it with your best buddy,” Smotrel said.
Which means that, for an animal lover, it’s time well spent.
“Riding is really rewarding,” said Nelson. “Horses are good teachers and it gives you a lot of confidence. At first, the rider might be timid or scared, but once the rider can make the horse do things by learning the correct technique and when they accomplish it, you can see the looks on their faces; they’re so proud of themselves.”
“It is one of the most relaxing ways to get away from it all at the end of the day,” said Krason. “When we get to the barn, anything outside the barn no longer matters and you can just concentrate on you and the horses. It’s a great diversion.”
Getting Involved
If you have an interest in dog agility or horseback riding, there are a variety of places to get involved and learn more about each sport.
Mane Top Stables welcomes visitors any time to walk through the stables, see the horses and learn more about the programs offered.
“It’s really family orientated. It’s a lot of fun–a good place for kids to be able to come out and run around and get fresh air and do something different after school and work hard,” Smortel said.
The Smotrels require that dogs complete a basic obedience class before starting agility, but other than proper vaccinations, that is the only prerequisite. Although Smotrel points out, if you are considering getting a dog and would like to participate in agility, the breed is an important consideration.
“There are certain dogs that agility is difficult for,” he explained. “I’m generalizing, but I’ll use a hound for an example. Hounds don’t generally like to do things you want them to do except hunt and smell. A herding breed just wants to do something to please you for the most part so they are going to be one of the easier breeds to train.”
While I’m confident Champ and I will never win an AKC National Championship, we have fun together. Seeing his enjoyment is all the thanks I need, but there is another great reason to get involved.
“It’s great exercise for the handler,” Smotrel added. “That’s kind of a nice side benefit. If you’re going to do this, you need to be able to keep up with your dog.”
Agility:
Dog Obedience Training Club of Lynchburg
www.dotclynchburg.org/ComingEvents.html
Cub Creek Runs
Vicki King
Companion Dogs, Inc.
Diana Rutherford
(434) 907-1200
Horseback Riding:
Mane Top Stables
Northwind Stables
www.northwindstables.homestead.com
(434) 384-4906
Serene Creek Run Riding Center
www.serenecreekrunridingcenter.faithweb.com
(540) 816-9905
Willow Creek Farms
(434) 660-9830
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