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A Grander Plan
A Grander Plan
By: Alexis Arbaugh
After losing his cherished Thoroughbred mare, Aaron Clark began searching for a new horse. While browsing CANTER Michigan’s available horses, he discovered Grander Plan. Originally adopted for Aaron, it wasn’t long before his young daughter, Riley, fell in love with the gelding, and Grander Plan soon became her show horse.
During Aaron’s visit to CANTER Michigan, he rode Grander Plan and instantly knew he was the right fit. Aaron brought him home shortly after. Grander Plan, a 2018 dark bay gelding, raced for less than a year at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada and Mahoning Valley Race Course in Ohio.
Once Aaron brought Grander Plan home, he introduced him to his 14-year-old daughter, Riley, who has been riding horses since before she could walk. “She has such a calm demeanor with animals. She loves her horses, and it shows in the way they interact with her. She’s a kind, animal-loving person,” Aaron shared.
They renamed Grander Plan to Prince and quickly realized what a special horse they had adopted. He had a gentle, kind personality. “He’s very eager to please and do whatever we ask of him,” Riley wrote.
As they began retraining, Aaron focused on teaching Prince the basics—walk, trot, and canter. Once Prince mastered those, Riley introduced him to speed patterns and English Pleasure, both of which he quickly excelled in. Riley recalled, “He was quite easy to retrain since he always wants to do everything well for us whenever we ask.”
Since adopting Prince, Riley and Aaron have taken him to the Hillsdale County Fair twice and entered him in numerous local speed shows. Prince competes in a wide range of events, including Gymkhana, English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Showmanship, and Speed, often placing well in Gymkhana competitions. Riley and Prince even competed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where they earned prize money for the first time in a speed event.
In 2023, Prince and Riley tied for reserve high point in the pleasure division at the Hillsdale County Fair, winning or placing in all their other pleasure classes.
In addition to excelling at county fairs, Prince is also a great trail horse, exploring Hocking Hills, Waterloo, and Drummond Island with Riley.
Prince is set to return to the Hillsdale County Fair this year, eager to showcase his impressive range of skills across multiple events. With each outing, Prince has proven to be a versatile and talented horse, thriving in both competitive settings and trail riding adventures. This year, they hope to build on their past achievements and continue making wonderful memories together.
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