I Can Can I.
That is the name that I gave my little 14 hand horse…who keeps proving that she certainly CAN. Willow (that’s her barn name) and I drove 16 hours to Oklahoma City to the American Quarter Horse Association World show to compete in both traditional and western dressage.
?AQHA World Show Champion Open Western Dressage, Third Level & higher -average 72.9165%
?AQHA World Show Champion Open Western Dressage, Second Level -average 73.0215%
?AQHA World Show Champion Open Dressage, Third Level & higher – average 64.9005%
?AQHA World Show Reserve Champion Open Dressage, Second Level -average 67.677%
?I was so proud of my little pony and her big heart. We rode ten tests in four days and she was willing every time. The competition was amazingly tight, often wins were determined by fractions of a percentage!
?I also received my favorite judges comment of all times (my second favorite was a judge who commented ‘Cute pony ❤️’)
The comment read, “You got just about every possible point out of this willing, obedient horse who is just not gifted with elasticity. Good training.”
I was half laughing, half crying when I read it and drove around with the test on my dashboard for the next few days.
Willow is not elastic (just ask the farrier)…she is more like a tiny body builder. But she is willing and obedient and does her best to be a ballerina.
I’m forever thankful to this judge for recognizing both Willows effort and the limiting factor that is just plain true.
If you have a quarter horse and are interested in dressage or western dressage I highly recommend setting your sights on the AQHA World show next year. Take advantage of online lessons and shows…and look for AQHA approved shows in your state.
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Wow! You go girl with your bad self!! I’ve never shown before so I don’t know what all those titles, percentages and awards/trophies mean (for ex. “Stakes Reserve”), but I am hoping maybe you’ll explain what some of those things mean for the people like me who know nothing about showing. I’m only on Podcast #93 so perhaps you’ve already explained some of it and I haven’t heard it yet! Congratulations! I’m pretty sure from the looks of all those ribbons, and trophies, you both did amazing!
Congratulations on your and Willows accomplishments. I love how you have trained and shown in so many disciplines and truly show how versatile you and your horses are.
I have a 14.1hh dun gelding that is built a lot like Willow. I’ve started him on game patterns and love to trail ride with him. He’s all heart and go. He’s very smooth. They’d make a great driving team, those two. 😉