Commander Riker 2003 World's Best School Horse Winner In all of the memories of people who love horses, there is always one who stands out as the horse that taught us the most about riding. This is the story of one such horse. In 2003, Just About Horses, the official magazine of Breyer Animal Creations, held the World’s Best School Horse Essay Contest. Picked as the winner from hundreds of touching entries was 15-year-old Commander Riker from Greenway Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia. Gentle and sweet in nature, this chestnut gelding with a bright white blaze and left hind sock has had an impact on many of his riders. Wise beyond words, he has been able to “teach” students how to be better riders, and takes care of them while doing so. Lynn Tyler, Commander Riker’s owner, summed up his qualification best: “Our babysitter Kiki owned Commander Riker but was sadly forced to sell him as she left for college. When my daughter began riding in an English lesson program, Riker kept coming to mind. One year later, we finally bought him. Delighted to have little girls fussing over him, Riker quickly became a crucial member of the lesson program and began to touch many people’s lives. One rider had suffered a severely broken leg and had not been on a horse in six months. She swung up onto Riker, then trotted and posted beautifully like she hadn’t missed a day! Then Riker became a hero for two little girls: one had her leg trampled in a pasture accident and rode Riker as part of her rehabilitation; the other, my daughter Paula, had a horse flip over backwards and was able to recover her confidence through Riker. Commander Riker’s wisdom, charm, gentleness, and manners make him the School Horse of the Year!” Article courtesy of Breyer horses Date Retired by Breyer: January 1, 2006 |
