5 from Motlow Creek heading to Conyers

Originally posted on GoUpstate.com by Gina Franco

Sally Frick, who owns the Motlow Creek Equestrian Center, claims she went into the venture "eyes wide shut." But those who ride at this 24-stall equestrian paradise on New Cut Road see her as a clear inspiration.
The reason is simple: She cares so much."I love this place," Sally says. "It's my baby, and I treat it like my baby."

All the horses here are athletes, finally tuned and trained to compete. More importantly, they all are like family. It's a pleasure watching Sally walk through the stalls, talking about the personalities of each steed. First, there's Lanzelot, a huge Holsteiner at 17.3 hands high with a great upside. "He's just getting good," Sally says. Lanzelot, her son Tommy's horse, is preparing to go to Conyers, Ga., this weekend in hopes of accumulating more points in this end-of-the-year extravaganza at the grand Olympic facility there. Lincoln Russell, one of the four trainers at Motlow Creek, says Lanzelot's huge stride will be a magnificent asset at this show. He said horses need "great jumping skills and great endurance" to perform well at the large arena in Conyers. Lanzelot has that.

Motlow Creek is sending four other horses to the Conyers show: Saladin, a Dutch warm-blood at 17.2 hands high; Mr. Brown, a solid jumper; River Man, a Dutch warm-blood and also an accomplished jumper who "has won plenty of ribbons"; and Lazara, whom Lincoln calls a Danish circus horse who "jumps really well." Now Edward, Sally said, is not going to Conyers, but he is quite a character. He's a fancy hunter, "but he has some very bad habits," she says almost in a motherly way. Edward, you see, was orphaned and grew up bottle fed. "He was handled so much as a colt," she said, that he never learned not to enter your bubble. Nevertheless, he's very talented and good-natured.

Robin Dickey says Edward is a pleasure to ride. "He's not happy if he's not working," she said. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Sally will show you Sterling, whom she calls a giant teddy bear. "He's the sweetest horse," she says. "Last week, his shadow was chasing him, and he was so afraid." Don't let that fool you, though. Sally says Sterling just might be the most versatile, most talented horse at the center. Each horse has its own personality. Sally knows each one, and she treats each one as an individual. If a horse needs anything, Sally will get it for him, Lincoln said.

One horse dear to Sally's heart is The General, her horse. She said The General has been trained so well that "sometimes he's teaching me how to ride." She hopes all riders and horses feel that same connection. And training, she said, is key. So she feels blessed to have Lincoln at Motlow Creek. Lincoln, she said, "will get on a horse that everyone else will say no thanks to. "I'm so lucky to have him here," she says. "You have to be a very advanced rider to train the babies and the hard ones." She also feels blessed with her three other trainers: Jennifer Holmes, who is the coach at Converse College; Carolyn West, the dressage trainer; and Crystal Bohnen, the assistant coach at Converse College. Together, they make sure Motlow Creek operations run smoothly. And it shows. "This is a great barn," said small animal veterinarian Dale Paley. She was out giving Turner some exercise. "The horses you see here are tremendous athletes," she said. And Sally treats them special. "They don't live much better," Lincoln said of the horses, whom they try to turn out in the pasture at least 12 hours a day. "Sally's a great owner."

• Equestrian