June 19, 2005
Rumors Wins National USEF Title

By Priscilla Dance

This is a state better known for its reining champions. This makes it even more surprising that Sarah Bierman and Rumors won the 2004 United States Equestrian Foundation’s (USEF) Amateur Owner Hunter, 36 and Over, National Championship. The USEF determines its national championships by points accumulated over the year. While there are numerous shows every weekend up and down the East Coast, Arizona and the surrounding states have a limited number of qualifying shows, making it difficult to acquire a winning number of points.

Bierman didn’t start out 2004 trying to win a national championship; she just wanted to qualify for the indoor shows in the East in the fall. “I did the circuit at Tucson and a few more shows and I was in first place,” she said. “I decided to go for it. You never know when you might have a chance to do something like this.” Bierman and Rumors went to over 30 shows; since there are so few shows in Arizona – and none at all in the summer – it meant they had to travel. Bierman, a lawyer, works for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She had to use vacation time. “It’s tough for a working person from Arizona to get ranked nationally,” she said. “In the summer, you have to fly somewhere. Colorado was harder for me getting in and out. I had lots of vacation stored up and I was able to take Fridays off to show in California. For me, showing on Friday was a big problem. Fortunately, I have an understanding employer.”

On the advice of trainer Archie Cox, Bierman decided not to go to indoors. He told her to “stay home and get points”. Someone winning the division at indoors can accumulate as many as 500 points. This meant that she and Rumors had to create a buffer. “It was tough late in the year,” she said. “I went from car to the airport to a car to a hotel. I went to every airport in the Western United States. The Orange County Airport was the best. Nine/Eleven made flying so miserable. I left my boots, bridle, and saddle with the horse. I was always worried that my boots would turn up missing. You can replace the saddle or even the bridle at a horse show, but not your boots. Nothing was ever missing.”

With Bierman’s busy schedule, she is only able to ride two or three days a week. Trainers Sherri Templin and Renae Coates kept the horse fit. Since they couldn’t go to every show, other trainers worked with Rumors and Bierman at some of the shows: Kathy Johnson, Tracy Baer, Nicole Bloom, Archie Cox, Michael Dennehy, Mike Fiery, Peter Lombardo, and Lise Quintero. Bierman started riding with Arizona trainer Sherry Templin when she was six or seven. Her first mount was a Palomino pony, named Lickity Split. Slumber Party, a Children’s Hunter followed. She finished her junior career on Airman’s Angel, a Junior Hunter. After that, college and law school kept her away from the riding arena. When she moved back to Arizona ten years ago she returned to Templin’s stable and bought Kashmere, a Thoroughbred. In 1999, she and Kashmere led the zone and qualified for Madison Square Garden. Sadly, Kashmere developed a permanent lameness and is now retired. Bierman went to Indio in 2001 to try and find another horse. She first tried Rumors at Indio in 2001. “Renae came running to the barn,” she said. “I found your horse, I found your horse.” The Belgian Warmblood by Aydin des Malais was showing in the open division. “He was winning everything in the open division in Indio,” she said. “I got on a lot of horses that were winning, but when I got on him, it clicked. I never imagined we’d be national champion. It took a while for us to click. We spent the first couple of years doing three foot and learning his schedule.”

Rumors was a different ride than Kashmere, a Thoroughbred. “Kashmere was different,” she said. “I didn’t need to use spurs. Kashmere created his own impulsion. With Rumors, I have to create the impulsion. He really takes a lot of leg to hand. I use a lot of leg. He has a big stride. I have to package up that stride. He likes to be supported.” By 2003, Bierman had figured out the differences. Rumors was PCHA champion and Tucson Winter Circuit champion. “Rumors is a beautiful mover,” she said. “Here is this plain bay horse with beautiful form. His knees are perfect, under his chin. When I do my part, Rumors does his. When that happens, I’ve yet to find a judge that won’t pin him first. He’s a really good show horse. All horses have their quirks. He’s got such brilliance. It’s worth trying to understand him.”

Bierman does everything possible to keep Rumors fit and happy. She has him poulticed after his classes; he spends his summers in cooler California; she uses another horse – What If – for lessons; and she gives him special treats after every class. “I always have a cookie in my pocket,” she said. “He loves Mrs. Pasture’s and knows he gets a cookie after a round. He looks for it.” Both Rumors and Bierman are taking time off from showing; she plans to put him back in training in July. This summer, Bierman is focusing on her young horse, Faberezze, a two-year-old son of Alla ‘Czar. He’ll show in hand at the Oaks. “It’s good for a young horse to show in hand,” she said. “Renae is very, very good with babies. They get used to trailers, tractors, and golf carts. He was reserve best young horse at Del Mar. I’m going to the Oaks to watch my baby.”

Rumors finished the 2004 season with 6882 points, over 2000 points ahead of Red Dragon and Betty Oare from Virginia (4764). “The hard part is that there is nowhere but down,” said Bierman. “Our new goal is to qualify for the indoors. It changed my outlook on life. You can do it. Even a little person like me from Arizona can win a national title.”

Reprinted with permission of Bridleandbit.com