Michelle Frank was raised in the saddle, literally and figuratively. Frank’s mother would sit her on the front of her saddle, and she soon found her way to her own stirrups.
Frank used to jump when she was younger but found herself gravitating towards dressage. It didn’t take long for the technicality and elegance of the discipline to win her over.
With a USDF bronze medal in hand, Frank had turned to western dressage after she started riding Aka Tango, a 2009 Paint gelding, who’s known for his distinctive black-and-white coloring and iconic mohawk.
“Tango’s previous owner, Martha, got me into western dressage, and after that I fell in love with it, the people, the atmosphere, and I had a place for him [Tango] to be happy and successful,” said Frank. "She sold him to me for a single dollar. She's no longer with us, but I know she's watching us every day."
“Everyone is very welcoming. You can compete against somebody, and then they’ll turn around and be at the gate cheering you on. I would encourage everybody to try it out. The horses always come first, and if you ever have questions, someone is there to answer them.
“They also judge Tango on his conformation and the best of his ability. It’s a really great place for him to shine in his own little way.”
Finding a community was game-changing for both Frank and Tango, and it has allowed their partnership to flourish. The older (but still sassy) gelding gives Frank a ride she’ll always cherish.
“Even if I have a bad day, he’s always there with me,” she said. “I don’t have to fuss with him a whole lot; he just knows what I’m asking of him. I’ve never had a ride like him before.”
Frank cares for Tango by making sure to do his routine stretching and downward dog before a ride. He cares for her by keeping her smiling.
“He’s a people person. If he can be in your lap or butt into your conversation, he will,” she laughed. “He wants to be in your business at all times, so he is very personable.”
Though they’ve competed at the WDAA World Championship before, this time they competed in the inaugural USEF Western Dressage Seat Medal Final, and Frank sees them doing it again in the future.
contest
“The patterns are very well thought out, and they set the horse up for success while still maintaining a level of difficulty for the riders,” Frank said.
The Western Dressage Seat Medal Final celebrates the correct training and equitation that goes into a successful partnership. During the final, riders must complete a horsemanship pattern and an on the rail section, where the no stirrup work admittedly caught Frank off guard.
“I thought my legs were going to fall off,” she laughed. “When they asked us to drop our stirrups, I was like, ‘All righty, here we go.’ It had been a very long time since I’d ridden without stirrups on purpose, so it was a surprise.”
Even so, the pair earned a sixth-place finish, marking a successful first-ever medal final. With that goal checked off, Frank is looking forward to their future – which will include lots of practice with no stirrups.