Staff Report

Allison Boozer, a fourth-grade teacher at Newberry Elementary School, competes atop PRF Southern Kiss (Katie), an American Saddlebred. Katie was raised at the Boozer family barn in Newberry.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_boozer1.jpgAllison Boozer, a fourth-grade teacher at Newberry Elementary School, competes atop PRF Southern Kiss (Katie), an American Saddlebred. Katie was raised at the Boozer family barn in Newberry. Courtesy photos

Trainer Kim Cowart, left, shares a moment with Allison Boozer after she and Katie won two ribbons. Boozer placed fourth in the Amateur Ladies Three-gaited under 15.2 competition and placed fourth in the Ladies Three-gaited under 15.2.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_boozer2.jpgTrainer Kim Cowart, left, shares a moment with Allison Boozer after she and Katie won two ribbons. Boozer placed fourth in the Amateur Ladies Three-gaited under 15.2 competition and placed fourth in the Ladies Three-gaited under 15.2. Courtesy photos

NEWBERRY — Newberry Elementary School fourth grade teacher Allison Boozer lived a childhood dream this fall by competing in the 2015 World Championship Horse Show.

She and her trusty horse, PRF Southern Kiss (Katie), earned fourth place finishes in her qualifying class of 13 horses, many of which were prior champions. Under the direction of trainer Kim Cowart, Katie and Boozer worked as one to rule the ring at the competition.

Boozer said she was nervous prior to competing.

“Katie and I were walking down Stopher’s Walk and I told Katie to take care of me. My trainer (Kim Cowart) said, ‘She will take care of you and you are going to be fantastic.’ Those words reassured me has we trotted into Freedom’s Hall (to compete).”

PRF Southern Kiss (Katie) was raised at the Boozer family barn in Newberry. She and her parents, Rance and Karol Kunkle, as well as the staff at West Wind Stables, bred, raised and showed the American Saddlebred horse. Such home grown horses are a bit of rarity among the competitors, according to Boozer.

“Not many people get to say that they bred, raised, and showed their own show horse that came from their own barn,” she said. “I knew that I had accomplished one of my things on my bucket list.”

Boozer began riding horses in first grade and rode trail horses until she started middle school. By age 12, she was riding American Saddlebred horses and showing them.

Her parents first taught her to ride, but she said she really honed her craft under the tutelage of Peter and Kim Cowart from West Wind Stables in Statesville, N.C. Her parents also supported her equine efforts. They attended an American Saddlebred horse show at JD Massey at Clemson University and fell in love with the breed.

“The horses move with elegance and poise which made my parents to pursue to purchase Saddlebred horses to show,” Boozer said. “Debbie and Jerry Tolliver gave my family the opportunity to find Saddlebred horses that we could show and I fell in love with competing with the American Saddlebred.”

Boozer attributes some of her calm, assertive approach in the classroom to lessons she learned from horses.

“As a teacher, riding the American Saddlebred has taught me to be patient and work with the students so that they can reach their fullest potential,” she said. “My horse and I work together in order for the performance and ride to be successful.”

She credits her team of students when her class does well and she is quick to credit her team of supporters for her success in competition, including Rooster, her first American Saddlebred horse, which taught her so much about the sport.

She kept her students posted about her progress in the competition, a tangible expression of the school’s 21st Century Learning Skills like, resiliency, productivity, reflective listening, self-discipline and integrity.

Boozer said she was thrilled she and Katie got to live out the barn motto and “ride like the wind!”