Sweet as Candy: Reagan Dockery & ‘Twix’ make their Paint World debut
By Laurel Cox; photography by Ruehle Photographix
Inspired by her mom’s stories of raising and training horses, 10-year-old Reagan Dockery of Creswell, Oregon, knew she wanted to follow in her mom’s footsteps. Now 14, Reagan and her gelding Trashn Tinseltown are making their APHA World Championship Show debut.
“I wanted so badly to have a horse that I bought with my own money and did all the training on myself,” Reagan said. “I wanted to know the feeling of that strong partnership.”
Where It All Began
When Reagan was 10, she visited her cousin’s farm to meet his three newest barn additions. Of the three foals, Reagan bonded with “the gangly plain red colt” by DP Gunnaoutshinya and out of Lena Tinsel Chex (QH)—she knew he was the one she wanted, but she first had to earn the money to buy him. Working hard to advertise her 4-H market hog, Reagan was excited when her pig sold for more than she anticipated. Now, she could afford the horse of her dreams.
“That night, I cried and kissed my pig goodbye,” Reagan said. “I thanked her for everything she taught me and for bringing ‘Twix’ into my life.”
The duo began working hard to make Reagan’s dreams a reality. With her mother’s guidance, Reagan began learning the art of horse training. She worked with Twix through every stage of training, checking off one milestone after another.
Now, four years later, Reagan and Twix have marked another goal off their list by attending their first World Show. The duo competed in six classes, and they clinched a fifth-place finish in IRHA Youth Ranch Rail Pleasure and 10th in Novice Youth Ranch Pleasure.
“He’s really a cool horse,” Reagan said. “He’s busy, but then he goes in the show pen and has a heart of gold. He works super hard for me, and I always feel like he’s there with me.” .
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association. Since it was founded in 1962, APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. Learn more at apha.com.