42/ JANUARY 2012 THE RIDER If Jumping Wasn’t Enough By: Allison Park


Is it the thrill of victory because it can’t be the agony of defeat. She has accomplished more than her share already and that list is long. The hunter/jumper discipline knows her well; however, the western discipline is becoming acquainted witnessing her remarkable talent and sen- sitivity. The art of horsemanship overlaps into all disciplines and to her credit, cross training disciplines which is a mark of master horsemanship. In this case, horse- womanship and her identity is Frankie Chesler. As a dual citizen, she has repre- sented Canada in ten Nations Cup showjumping competitions (a team of four horse and rider combinations) throughout the world as well as many as an individual member of the Canadian Equestrian Team representing Canada where she says the public are fans know- ing the competitors and horses. Frankie has now made a change to the western discipline of riding and training duties focusing on the saddles with a horn that include bovines as well. Where she was


once in the grand prix lineup, her name is now being called in the cattle ranch sort- ing and cutting orders of go. Cattle ranch sorting-a two person team? What is that you may ask? Statistically, it is the # 1 equine family sport in North America. The top prizes go to the most skilled horse and rider who deal with sometimes very cantankerous cattle. They work as a two man team; a gate guarder and a cutter of cattle depending on each others’ cues. A rider uses time, not necessarily speed to evaluate how cattle respond to pressure. It is best to allow the horse to see the environment and have a smell of the atmosphere. The two person team uses a defensive strategy with the gate person taking the pressure-holding the cattle in (or holding the line) and the sorter cutting out the cattle. Sorting cattle is a test of skills and voice commands reinforcing the entire process and a competition where you will definitely hear plenty of verbal enthusiasm.


Competitions for team sorting are held all over Florida every month as well as throughout all fifty states and Canada


Frankie and Nemo


amazing 6th individu- ally overall in her ranking category while only having competed in nine RSNC shows before the finals.


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with their own base organizations. All of the accumulat- ed points are tabulated by the Ranch Sorting National Championships for the National finals held every year that team sorters and their horses travel to for a week of serious and funfilled competition. Frankie usually attends the Stuart, Ithica and North Florida locations. Trainers lucky enough keep cattle onsite and rotate them every thirty days which helps keep the critters keen! The horse of choice is a Quarter Horse, no matter what the color. It works like this; the announcer has ten cattle all numbered or collar colored and calls out a random number, say #4 and the riders cross through the gate/hole picking out #4 steer tracking it through the same gate/hole that the riders crossed through to start, then continue bringing the cattle in numerical order. The idea is to herd as many of the ten cattle into the adjacent 16’ x 24’ holding pen through a 14’ opening before time expires. The time limit is 60 seconds although most of the classes are handicapped which can change the time for a team by adding more seconds to your time. The herd is typically comprised of yearling beef cattle, no mature steers or bulls permitted. These single and team classes are made up from precision movements where all work in harmony. The timing begins when the riders cross through the gate/hole. Historically, sorting is credited to brothers Ray and Joe Janez of Ventura, Ca. and Canadian cowboy Bill Schmindt in 1942 when dur- ing lunch one day; they theorized that everyday cowboy chores could be a competitive sport, which has grown exponentially. Cattle ranch sorting is an exploding sport of fun where the entire family can and does participate. The entry fees are less than rodeo riding and families love that aspect and the all around fun. The system has nine ratings of proficiency. Win- ning moves up your personal rating. Frankie began sort- ing in January 2010 as a ‘1’ beginner and is now a 5. In 2010 she competed in four RSNC shows and in 2011 before the RSNC finals in July competed in five RSNC shows. Feeling confident and qualifying from Florida, she and her Quarter Horse, Chase My Tab set off for the week long July competition for the 2011 Ranch Sorting National Championships in Ardmore, Oklahoma held at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum. All of the events were live with great broadcasting. The hotel was proud to list their free breakfast favorite of sausage, biscuits and gravy! What started out as over 4,093 teams filling all nine categories, Frankie and Chase My Tab finished an


All the competi- tors give it their ‘best shot’ but there are times when all efforts go in vain. Time and time again, the wrong cattle push through slinking past horse and rider with a bit of chortling from the audience. It seems like 60 seconds passes quick as a heartbeat. Episodes of Ranch Sorting can be seen as part of a program called ‘The Ride’ on RFD-TV. Frankie has said that besides learn-


ing to read the steer, the most cerebral horses are the best. They train well, have great reactions and definitely develop a ‘steer sense’. Under the pressure of the clock, the tension can be severe for both since this activity is in a small area.


What began as a lark interest in western riding as a kid has grown into a productive business venture. Beginning as a small pony hunter rider to winning the Winter Equestrian Festival Pony Classic (to this date the only small to win and youngest rider) at the age of nine, graduating to childrens jumpers and placing second for the year on a Quarter Horse Missile Control marked the path of equestrian extraordinaire she was destined to take. Add barrel racing to learning the art of driving a single and double horse hitch and onto the North Ameri- can Young Riders Championships with her black Quar- ter Horse Braveheart earning her two silver medals and the WEF circuit award Braveheart, who by the way at 31 years is still the ‘man’ at home on the farm. Frankie, climbing the ladder was named to the Canadian Equestrian Showjumping Team at 17 years of age with her incredible mare Ravenna Z that she brought up from junior jumpers. To date, Frankie is still the youngest rider to represent her country in nations cup competition at Madison Square Garden, New York City. In addition, she has been champion in the AGA Series of what was considered the gold standard of American showjumping, winner of the Jump Canada Trophy, reserve at the Royal Winter Fair of Toronto at the Cana- dian Showjumping Championships behind Eric Lamaze, alternate of the Barcelona World Equestrian Games and reserve of the Winter Equestrian Festival Global Cham- pions Tour behind McClain Ward. She has been fea- tured in the New York Times, Washington Post and Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen and Calgary Herald, including articles from Sweden, France, Germany, Hol- land, Brazil as well as gracing the cover of many publi- cations, just to name a few.


For Frankie’s 20th birthday she was gifted a palomino Quarter Horse named Rascal who reignited her true western desire even though all the jumpers wore a western saddle from time to time. Hence, afterwards she purchased a three year old paint colt, made him up in her spare time, continually adding to the group with young well breds training and selling them. All of the pur- chasers are thrilled with their horses and have been back for more.


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Juaquin. Having and raising Juaquin is the best event to ever occur in her life. He too rides and loves to give his pony Biscuit a bath. When she has the opportunity to start a project horse from scratch, they turn out with a mouth like butter, have an excellent work attitude and show off the tricks she taught them. Whether she was barrel racing, driving a hitch, riding ponies, competing internationally, sorting or cutting, her skill and feel mas- ters the moment. Oh, and did I mention she is also teaching herself roping as well as planning to build a venue where she plans to run sorting and cattle events, have cattle for sorting and cutting practices with a cov- ered arena and lighted sorting pens. Now, with all of this experience, the western discipline has no choice but to bring great results. Having been very interviewed so are in her life, the one question mostly asked is does she have any words of advice and her answer is, “have fun, treat your horses with respect, understanding all the time and always keep learning. I have had tons of success but I have worked very hard for it and I love my horses.”


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In closing, Frankie has a three year old son named


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