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Chase Harvill
& Gai Argosy++//
1995 Youth National English Pleasure
& Park Champion
Multi National Champion |
Tell us about your
own Youth experiences showing Arabians and your most memorable
moments.
I had so many wonderful memorable moments as a Youth rider;
it is hard to pick just one. My first National Championship
on Princess Dineva is definitely special to me. This win came
out of the blue! No one knew me or my horse so it was kind of
like a underdog situation. I will also never forget winning
the English Pleasure at Youth with Gai Argosy. Argosy is the
most special horse I have ever been around. Argosy and I won
this class unanimously and got a standing ovation from the crowd
in the stands. Debbie Cain, one of the judges at Youth, came
to me in the lineup and told me that it was an honor for her
to get to judge us in that class. That was a pretty cool feeling!
Who were your greatest mentors in the industry whe nyou
were a youth rider?
Once again it is hard for me to pick just one mentor in my horse
career. Bob Battaglia and Josh Quintus are the two trainers
that I have really learned so much from. They were the first
people to really try and develop me as a rider and told me that
I had the talent to go far as a horse trainer. I spent about
three years working for Bob Battaglia. I would never have had
as much success if it weren’t for him guiding me along in
my career. I really do consider all of my peers as mentors now.
I learn so much from everyone I compete against. I enjoy just
sitting in the stands alone and watching all of the great trainers
we have in this breed school horses.
During your years as a youth rider which horse taught
you the most?
I really think that I have learned something from every horse
I have ever sat on. I think probably Gai Argosy taught me the
most as a showman if I had to pick one. He basically did everything
on his own, even with his positioning in the ring. Argosy taught
me how to get out in the middle and show!
Would you be training now if you hadn’t shown as
a youth? There is absolutely no way I would be a trainer
if I hadn’t shown as a Youth rider. I probably would be
fighting stacks of paper in some law office somewhere trying
to learn how to be an attorney.
Why do you feel our youth are so important to the industry?
The Youth are extremely important to our industry! Anyone that
does not agree with that is really missing the boat! They are
our future. We need to cater to the kids and their families.
Eventually they are going to be our 40 & over riders with
kids of their own trotting around the arena. If we solely look
at the present and not at the future, there will be no future
for us.
What do you try to impart to your Youth Riders?
I really try to be a good role model to our youth here at the
farm. I know that everything I do is being watched by them.
I do think it is important to teach good sportsmanship and showmanship
with the kids because it does transfer over to “real life”.
I have seen some kids come to my barn shy with no confidence
that completely open up and become extremely outgoing in every
part of their life just because they gained some confidence through
riding and winning.
Tell us about your riders going to Youth Nationals?
I have a great group of girls headed to Youth ranging from walk/trot
hunter all the way to 14-17 English. All of my girls have improved
so mush over the last year it is amazing! Confidence and practice
is definitely the key. I could use a few boys over here though!!!
I am severely outnumbered! Help!
How long have you been training professionally now?
I can’t believe it, but I have been a professional now for
ten years! Boy time flies by when you’re having fun and
working hard.
You can reach Chase Harvill at 281-252-6228 or visit his website
at www.ChaseHarvill.com.
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