Staff Writer

SANTUC - Libby and Robert Arnold met at a horse show, got married and have been following their love of equines together ever since.

The Arnolds compete regularly in barrel racing competitions, but Saturday they will test their riding skills on a different level. They both will compete in the non-thoroughbred amateur race at the Steeplechase in Tryon, N.C. Libby has competed in the race twice before. She was fourth out of eight riders in 2005 and third out of four in 2007.

“We just enjoy the excitement of it,” said Libby, 46 “It's a once a year thing, a challenge, something different from what we ordinarily do.”

The amateur race will begin around 4:30 p.m. after the main event. It is a contest with no jumps, on the flat called the Fox Hunter's Cup. This year for the first time, it is divided into two categories - thoroughbred and non-thorougbred, to make it more accessible. The thoroughbreds will run a mile, the non-thoroughbreds will cover 3/4 of a mile.

Libby will be riding Betsy's Special Lace, a 5-year-old mare who was born on the Arnolds' farm and is owned by Joel Vaughan. Robert, known as Robin to his friends and neighbors, will be riding Lola's Quarter Moon, a 4-year-old mare and one of the seven horses he and Libby own on their Santuc farm. They have trained and broken all of their horses themselves.

Robin, 49, grew up in Union County and works in maintenance at Timken. Libby is a stylist at Reflections Salon in Spartanburg. Both enjoy trail riding and they barrel race about three times a month within a two-hour radius of Union County.

Anyone can enter the amateur races at the Steeplechase, but the horse must not have raced professionally in another race in the last year. The thoroughbred amateur race takes about a minute and 40 seconds to complete; the non-thoroughbred race will be over in about a minute and 30 seconds.

To prepare, the Arnolds have been training by taking long runs on their horses.

“We thank our neighbors - Eddie Wayne Davis, Pie Ward and Susan Horne - for letting us ride through their fields and pastures,” Robin said. “Without them, we couldn't really do it.”

The Arnolds said they began training for the race in December to build stamina and condition in their horses. Libby races before going to work and Robin trains with his horse after he gets home in the afternoons.

The couple said they wanted to be in the amateur race just for fun.

“It's just a matter of doing the experience,” she said. “Everybody can't win.”

Most of the riders who participate in the races use an English saddle. The Arnolds are primarily Western saddle riders.

“We're riding in English saddles to do this, so that's a challenge,'” Libby said.

Racers will be attired in light-colored riding pants and blue polo shirts. They will wear helmets, rib-protecting vests and goggles in the race.

The Arnolds said they would like to see more people from Union compete in the race.

“We want to encourage other people who would be interested in participating to get ready for next year,” Libby said. “It takes time and commitment to do it.”