Brooks Spicer finishes 11th at World competition

By Richard Kendall

GOLDEN HILL - When Brooks Spicer was 4 years old, her Aunt Janet (Lewis) lifted the youngster onto the back of an old Appollusa mare. That was the beginning of a journey no one could have predicted.
In August, 2008, at age 15, Brooks, a 10th grader at Cambridge South Dorchester High School, competed among 189 riders and horses at the American Quarter Horse Association World Show, at Oklahoma City, OK. Top competitors from across the U.S., Canada and South America. Riders showed in categories of Horsemanship, Showmanship and Halter.
In World competition, Brooks finished 11th in the Youth Performance Halter Gelding class. (The top 15 were Finalists).
“As far as I know, nobody from Dorchester County has ever done that,” her father, Tom Spicer said this week.”
In order to compete there, riders must have first earned high scores in other competition through the year.
“It’s been my dream for the last few years to compete at World,” Miss Spicer said this week. In 2007, she won scored in 8 separate events with the highest points in her age group. At the All American Quarter Horse Congress, in Columbus OH., Brooks Spicer was a finalist, finishing in the top 20 out of 89 riders and horses.
For Tom Spicer and his family, showing horses has become a way of life.
“This involves a whole lot of work, a lot time and money,” he said. “Each of us has our own area of responsibilities to make this work.”
Brooks’ mother, Debbi, explained, “Its something we do together, as a family,” she said.
“Deb takes care of the fashion,” Tom Spicer said. “She gets the cloths together, the outfits, boots, the trailer (a piece used to accent the horse’s long, course tail).”
“Brooks and I take care of bathing the horse, clipping, brushing the tail, shaving whisker,” he explained, “there is a whole lot to it and a lot of sacrifice.”
As for the sacrifice of time, effort and the expense, Mr. Spicer explained his view:
“If I know my child is focused on this, and is working hard at something she enjoys and not using drugs, or alcohol or whatever, then it’s worth it to me,” he said.
“I bought her the first Quarter Horse in 1998,” Mr. Spicer recalled, “a gelding named Bear.”
At Christmas, 2000, Brooks was surprised with a 1st Grade American Quarter Horse.
“Mister is his barn name,” Mr. Spicer explained. “But, his registered name is Gotta Be Awesome.”
In 2005, a stunning, white gelding with black socks and mane joined the Spicer’s show lineup.
“Uptown Goods is his name,” Mr. Spicer advised regarding the horse Brooks rode in Oklahoma.
“It’s not all the horse or all the rider,” Debbi Spicer explained. “It’s the combination, how well the rider and horse show together.”
The show season begins in February.
“Brooks goes to school all day, then travels 2 ½ hours each way to her trainer’s arena in Davidsonville,” Mr. Spicer said. “Then, after riding and training for 2 hours, she comes home. She does that 2 or 3 times a week until she starts showing in March.”
Her trainer, Kerry Winter, made the 1450 mile road trip to Oklahoma City with the Spicers in August.
“Pulling that trailer, my truck got 9 miles to the gallon,” Mr. Spicer said. “But, Brooks did what she had to in order to compete there so I held up my end of the deal by making sure she got there.”
Brooks Spicer was asked what she aspires to be when she gets out of college.
“I want to be an Equine Dentist,” she said without hesitation, “and a horse trainer.”
How about a goal closer to the horizon, she was asked.
“I want to compete at World again next year,” she said with certainty. “And I want to finish in the top 10.”