Montana Saddle Clubs Association Royalty – Teens Excel in Horseback Riding Competitions

On a bluebird day, Flathead Valley teens Emily Tuck and Lilly Erickson saddled their horses Leo and Whiskey for a day of O-Mok-See play before a saddle club awards banquet in Columbia Falls.

Mounting the horses, Tuck of Columbia Falls, 14, and Erickson of Kalispell, 18, rode to a field near the Rocky Mountain Riders Saddle Club arena, the bright sun glinting off their glistening belts, their buckles bejeweled belts and their crowns adorning their cowboy hats.

The hardware is from their recent crowning achievement at the Montana Saddle Clubs Association competition in late August. Erickson was crowned queen and Tuck the eldest princess. The duo won the titles at the O-Mok-See State Games by displaying expert horsemanship and sportsmanship in addition to their public speaking skills, dress and their community service.

With these titles, Tuck and Erickson will represent the Montana Saddle Clubs Association at the 2025 O-Mok-See National Championship, which will be held in Helena. They will spend the year promoting the O-Mok-See association and sport at parades and equestrian events, as well as opening and attending competitions.

“We basically help out in the arena, whether it’s raking, making the ground really good for the horses or arranging the different patterns, barrels or poles. We provide support to the little ones if they are struggling,” Tuck said.

Most people may not know about O-Mok-See whose origin belongs to the Blackfoot tribe. The Blackfeet called this dramatic style of riding, traditionally a prelude to battle, “oh-mak-see pass-kan,” meaning “to ride in a great dance,” according to the National Saddle Clubs Association. Nowadays, O-Mok-See has become a timed racing sport in Western riding.

“In O-Mok-See there are corridors and you have to go through different circuits usually involving poles or barrels. Whoever gets the best time wins in each age category,” Tuck explained.

Throughout the summer, they participate in O-Mok-See each week, which culminates with the state games and then the national championships.

Tuck said she has been riding since she was 4 years old and entered O-Mok-See in 2022.

“I actually started showing horses and riding horses,” Tuck said, describing it as “all bling.”

“You have to show your horse through different gates,” Tuck said. “You have what you call your rail classes and that’s horsemanship, and that’s how good your seat (posture) is, how you look and how well you connect with your horse. You get on the rail, and they tell you: walk, trot and gallop.

Connecting with the horse is a major part of riding, whatever the event.

“They (horses) have really big personalities, but you also put a lot of work into it, and I think that deepens the bond because I trained my horse to do a lot of things he couldn’t do.” , Tuck said.

Tuck purchased Leo about five years ago and said it takes a lot of training to prepare the ranch-raised quarter horse to take on shows and competitions. The result of his hard work brought a great feeling of satisfaction.

“I started out doing shows and thought if I wanted to get more into the saddle club I could also do O-Mok-See. If you do well in O-Mok-Sees, then you can go to the state, where the competition is held,” she said.

Although owning a horse came later in life for Erickson, who began riding horses in 2017, horses have been a generational part of his family. Her sister Violet was the 2019 National Saddle Club Association O-Mok-See champion.

“I grew up as a motorcycle kid, then my grandfather bought horses for hunting and my sister and I fell in love with them,” she later added. “My grandmother still rides and she’s 86 years old.”

Inspired by his grandparents’ devotion to horses, whiskey entered his life. Even though she had a rocky start with Whiskey, she held on, seeing its potential.

“I was kind of like I’m going to ride him because this horse definitely has a lot of potential, so I never gave up. He definitely gave me a hard time, that’s for sure. He still does it today,” she said with a smile.

“It took us about four years to get along, that’s for sure. But he’s definitely my O-Mok-See horse.

Although Whiskey might have a fit, Tuck said Leo would “try you.”

“He’s always trying to be at the front of the pack, at the top of the totem pole, but really he’s just an insecure little kid,” Tuck said with a laugh.

Erickson added: “It kind of looks like my horse. He’s a little full of himself.

However, on Sunday morning, October 13, the beautiful horses presented their best hooves, exuding calm and curiosity as they were photographed, and after eating treats, they expressed their joy.

“Right now we have a little game day, basically all O-Mok-See, but we’re just having fun, not really competing,” Tuck said.

Tuck and Erickson enjoy the camaraderie of saddle clubs, as well as the opportunities to compete. Erickson, who is a member of the Kalispell Flathead River Riders Saddle Club, said it’s something riders of any age can participate in, noting current members range in age from 2 to 86 years old. Tuck, who belongs to the Rocky Mountain Riders Saddle Club in Columbia. Falls, okay.

“We’re just one big family,” Erickson said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson can be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].