WOODBURY- A remarkable horse with a history that speaks volumes — Chip Off The Red Rock, affectionately known as Rock. With years of experience under his girth in the prestigious Showmanship AQHA circuits, Rock isn’t just a horse; he’s the master of equine wisdom ready to be shared.
“His extensive AQHA show record brings great knowledge and skills that will enable all students of various levels to learn and grow within the curriculum that was just recently updated,” Equine teacher Marisa Bedron said.
Rock is adding a fun twist and spark to the Equine program due to his extensive amount of showmanship experiences. Students are now eager for the showmanship day because of the new and experienced horse.
“I think rock will be a great addition to the program. He has a ton of prior knowledge coming from a show barn,” said senior equine student Macey Chmiel. “I think he will really help students get a better understanding of doing showmanship and help kids learn, rather than students almost teaching the horses.”
Not only are the students excited about working with him. Bedron is excited to be able to show students a well trained horse in showmanship and maybe even put Woodbury FFA on the map for showmanship.
“With his previous experience in the show pen, especially in showmanship, we will be able to get more students interested in horsemanship skills, competing in the FFA Showmanship Contest, and gaining the skills necessary to be successful in the equine industry,” Bedron added.
Students will undoubtedly find joy and inspiration when working with Rock, not only because of his impressive background but also due to his lively and spirited personality that promises to bring fun and excitement to the farm. Rock’s presence is sure to create cherished memories and valuable learning opportunities for everyone involved.
“His coat is not a common color you see every day, so it really makes him stand out. Not only his coat, but also his personality,” Chmiel said. “The first day I met him, he was really settling in nicely and already showing some of his personality by smiling and moving towards you when you stopped petting him.”
“His easy-to-handle demeanor and kind eye are traits that make him a highly valuable animal in the Agriscience’s Educational Farm,” Bedron continued. “Rock brings a wealth of knowledge to the students in our program.”
While students warmly welcome Rock as a new addition to our Equine program, they also acknowledge the heartfelt impact of Doc not returning to the program. His absence is felt deeply by many students.
“I think many people, including myself, miss Doc, but we are happy that he is in retirement with his owner,” junior equine student Isabella Geloso said.
“I think Doc will definitely be missed by students. He was your average quarter horse that didn’t have a care in the world,” Chmiel added. “I think he really helped students who were new to horses, and he was, overall, a great opportunity for this program.”
