SHELBY COUNTY, Ky. — A class field trip for students at Saint James Catholic in Louisville isn’t only teaching them about the American Saddlebred industry in Kentucky, it also shows off their principal’s blue-ribbon skills behind the reins.
Recently, a class of soon-to-be-eighth graders at Saint James Catholic got an up-close look at the world of American Saddlebred.
“No, not at all. I’ve ridden a camel but not a horse,” 13-year-old Jackson Cassady shared.
During this field trip, each student had the chance to get behind the reins of a Saddlebred horse for a few laps around an indoor horse track.
“I think I’m finally going to conquer my fear. I mean, this place is beautiful. I mean, I honestly want to live out here,” Cassady added.
The outing was organized by Saint James principal Gregg Boehmer. “The performance horse, the American Saddlebred is something that really found a place in my heart and to be able to share this experience with the students from Saint James…you don’t see too many of these walking around the streets in the Highlands,” Boehmer said.
Besides being an educator, Boehmer is an amateur champion in the Saddlebred “roadster” division. His students got to learn more about this culturally significant industry and the sport their principal loves.
“I remember the very first time I sat behind a horse. I was pretty much a city boy and the first time I was able to drive a horse it sent chills through my spine and so that is my wish for these young people is that they get that same exhilaration,” Boehmer said.
Every student experienced their first ride in a Saddlebred “buggy.” Buggies are sort of like the chariots from Ben-Hur, but you sit instead of stand. Either way, still fast.
“It’s amazing how strong these horses are they can pull two of us,” Lead Way Farm owner Andre Van Schalkwyk told one student while toting them around the track.
The day wasn’t be complete until Principal Boehmer showed off his own speed and skill.
“We’ll shoot for about 90%. How about that? This guy really gets moving along and this is not the biggest arena, so we have to be careful.” Boehmer ripped around the track while his students cheered him on from the center of the barn.
“It was awesome. So the things you grab, they’re connected to the horse’s mouth so you don’t really want to tug on it,” Cassady said.
“When he gets flying in those turns, just got to really lean in and put that stirrup to his body so that allows him to carry through the turns but man, he’s got speed,” Boehmer said after an exhausting few laps.
Boehmer recently won the Kentucky Spring Classic in the Roadster to Bike division on his horse named “Money Mission.”