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Saloma+
By Jennifer Parker
n July 14, 1980 a fairly average looking (for an Arabian) chestnut filly was born. Saloma+ (Bak x Sassy) matured into a 14.2hh, flea-bitten gray and was purchased in September of 1985 by Robin Ritter for Western Pleasure and Trail. It was to be the start of an amazing partnership that would span 16 years.
Robin began showing Saloma+ in Western Pleasure with the help of Houston White. In April of 1986 they competed in their first show together and won their first classes two months later. In 1989, Robin was the SAAHA High Point Amateur, with Saloma's help, and won a western saddle. Later that year the Saloma+ and Houston were Region 7 Reserve Champions in Trail.
Saloma+ took a break from the show ring for a couple of years due to the arrival of her Anglo-Arabian son, Dervish Dancer, in March of 1991. Following the tragic death of Houston White later that
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year, Robin began to search for a new outlet for Saloma's talents. In October of 1992, Robin, Saloma+, and I met for the first time. I was 20, had one other horse in training (and wasn't sure I wanted to do this as a professional!), and felt like the interview/ride went badly. I couldn't get Saloma+ to do anything I really wanted her to do. I just hoped that Robin didn't know enough yet about Dressage. Fortunately for me, at the end of the ride, Saloma+ stretched out her neck and rested her head in my lap. Robin took that as a sign.
The following year, I rode Saloma+ in her first Dressage shows; both breed and open, and did fairly well. In 1994, we were Region 7 Reserve Champion Training Level. The following year we earned the Championship at Second Level. In 1996, Robin took over the riding and the real fun began. In February of 1997 the pair brought home the Scottsdale Arabian Show Amateur Dressage Championship. The only possible way they could have topped this performance was with a little help from …ELVIS! Robin and I performed a pas de deux to Elvis tunes while
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dressed as Elvis. She rode Saloma+ and I was aboard N.S. Lutt. We demonstrated a First Level-ish pas de deux at the CARA Champagne Show and later that year at the TROT Benefit, Denim And Diamonds. Ask for the video…
The next couple of years were a little more serious and nerve wracking for Robin. She has notoriously bad show nerves and usually can't sleep for weeks prior to a BIG show. In April of 1999, Saloma+ and I dragged her to the Regional Championships at WestWorld. There, I captured the Second Level Championship on Saloma (beating my own horse, Bogotta+) and Robin earned her first Dressage Regional Championship at First Level Adult Amateur. Following this performance, I gently broke the news to her that she was going to have to go to the US National Championships in October. She didn't sleep for six months! Saloma+, however, continued her steady performance and earned a National Top Ten at Second Level. Robin persevered through sleep deprivation and an overabundance of butterflies and placed 7th in the country at 1st Level Adult (Continued on page 11)
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