Eighteen year-old youth exhibitor Jonathan Nowacki of Fort Lauderdale, Florida may be one of the few male exhibitors in the female dominated sport of showing horses–but he seems to be holding his own just fine. GoHorseShow.com would like to introduce our readers to new and also highly successful exhibitors in the industry and Jonathan is definitely not to be missed.
Jonathan is self-proclaimed “the epitome of fun” and always the life of the party. His goal at the show is to make sure his circle of friends have a good time. Jonathan says that there is no telling what will come out of his mouth, and sometimes that can be a problem. That being the case, let’s find out what he had to say!
Q: Hi Jonathan! So tell GoHorseShow how you first got into horses?
A: My mother was the driving force that got my sister and me involved in horses. I would listen to her stories about how she went to riding camps and owned horses in Texas in her early twenties. When she got married, she didn’t have time to have horses anymore. When we were old enough, she took us to a farm that allows you to lease horses on a monthly basis. My love for horses has just grown from there.
Q: What classes do you show in? What are your favorites and what is it like being one of the few males showing in a highly female dominated sport?
A: The classes I show in are Trail, Western Riding, Horsemanship, and Western Pleasure. My favorite hands down is the Trail. I love it because each course is new and a different challenge every time out. There really is nothing bad about being one of the few males showing with so many women. They are all friends of mine so it’s great. I think that it’s really fun showing with friends, because if I lose, I want it to be a friend who beats me.
Q: Who are your mentors in the horse industry and your trainer now?
A: I personally have so many mentors in and out of the horse industry. First and foremost my family, because they make this all possible. My trainer, Bruce Vickery, because he is such a horseman–it truly just blows my mind! A lot of people are not able to see how he gets his horses ready–the work ethic is just unbelievable. He has truly taken me and my horse further than a lot of people would have ever thought. People that can stand the test of time and always produce and show great horses are really my idols in the horse industry. (Photo © Kaleena Weakly)
Q: What are your favorite horses that you have shown?
A: Well of course I have loved all my horses, but my current horse, RL A Sudden Image, “Larry” truly holds a special place in my heart. He has taught me so much–he is not the easy “push button” type horse which has made me a better rider. He really is a part of the family!
Q: Favorite memories in the industry?
A: My favorite moments are probably when I’m in Sanger, Texas, riding and preparing for a horse show. Bruce and everyone at the farm are my family. They have always been there and are such role models for me. Bruce is more than a horse trainer, he is my life coach.
Q: One of your best friends, Darcy Reeve told us that you are absolutely obsessed with the singer Beyonce. Care to share?
A: Haha, yes, I am obsessed with Beyonce and her song, Single Ladies. Kathryn Gorusch filmed me in the tack room at the Gold Coast without me knowing, performing to that song. There is usually some point at a show that I’m performing that song to someone. I remember doing it at a hotel parking lot in Scottsdale. It was at the Arizona Sun Circuit when Karen Hornick and Darcy were giving me a ride back to the hotel. In the parking lot out of nowhere, I turned the song on my phone speaker and started doing the dance… in front of everybody in the parking lot and in the lobby.
Q: What is it you like about Beyonce?
A: I just think she is the epitome of an icon in the music industry. She is hardworking and always trying to outdo herself. That is what I try to do myself when I show. I want to do better and try to outdo the ride I had before.
Q: We also heard about a funny memory when you visited a haunted house during Congress last year with Darcy Reeve and Alexa Rowland?
A: (Laughs) Yes, it was definitely an experience. I got lost in the haunted house and ran into a coffin and then lost my sandal–which I would be the only person wearing sandals in the winter. A lady with a knife in her head brought me my shoe. I pretty much left that place in tears and the girls were just laughing at me.
Q: On a more serious note, what do you like about the horse industry?
A: I feel that the horse industry is always growing. It seems to me that the horses and riders get so much better each year. The horse industry let’s people that love horses be able to not just love the animal, but love the sport of showing. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Q: Favorite equine accomplishments?
A: I have been so blessed with so many accomplishments, but I must say winning the All-Around at the Quarter Horse Congress last year was my favorite one because it was such a shock to me. I wasn’t even at the show when I found out. A great friend of my called me, and we started freaking out together. (Photo © Jeff Kirkbride)
Q: What was it like moving from the Novice to the regular youth classes this year?
A: I was really ready for a new challenge and felt ready to move up to the regular classes. I placed seventh in the youth trail at the Congress and won the Novice last year. I also just won the circuit in the Trail at Waco and was Reserve All-Around. It is a lot steeper competition but I feel I can compete with anyone.
Q: Do you have any advice to Novice competitors?
A: Just keep trying and keep going and bettering themselves. January 2010 at the Gold Coast was the first time I had ever tried Trail. I was Circuit Champion there and then went on to be Circuit Champions at the Big A and won the Congress. Don’t be afraid to try new events and challenge yourself.
Q: How has the industry changed your life for the better?
A: The industry has taught me so much about life. It has made me a better person for sure. It taught me that if I want something in this world–I have to just go for it and leave it all in the pen. I feel like showing horses is like a business deal–sometimes they don’t all work out, but you always have learned something from it.
Q: What are your future career and horse related goals?
A: Well, considering this is my final year as a youth, my future goals are to get a professional career and show as an amateur. I love the sport and industry so much that it would be way too hard to stop. I really do live for each and every horse show.
