Select Amateurs, Ronnie and Vickie Kent of Graceville, Florida have been on a roller coaster ride of highs and lows over the past two years. One of the highest highs came Saturday night in Fort Worth resulting in a big win for their home-bred two year-old and a $100,000 paycheck. The lowest low came exactly two years ago when the Kent’s show horses, Won Ona RV Version and Ill Be RV Radical died in a trailer accident.
“It is still really hard to deal with,” Vickie told GoHorseShow. “We put these horses in that situation. We put them in the trailer and then they died because of our actions. There are constant reminders when we go to horse shows about the horses we lost,” Vickie recalls. “They were like our kids. We raised them, and I definitely know that the time I spend with the horses that I have now is more important because they may be gone tomorrow.”
In September 2009, tragedy struck the couple when they were traveling in their motorhome on their way to Santa Barbara when their trailer hitch broke free in Big Spring, Texas. The 2009 Select World Champion, Wonit Ona RV Version, died in the accident. The 2001 bay gelding by Good Version x Ill Be Dun Won was bred and raised by the Kents. Right before the accident, the 2008 AQHA High Point Amateur horse had just been crowned the 2009 Select World Champion in Showmanship and was also Reserve World Champion in Performance Halter Geldings.
Ronnie and Vickie’s other horse, Ill Be RV Radical, also a 2009 Select World Champion, survived the accident but suffered severe lacerations. The mare survived just over a month but was unable to be saved due to founder of her right hind leg. (Photo © The American Quarter Horse Journal)
Ronnie Kent also talks about his thoughts about going
through such a tragedy. “It was really hard to start over and to
continue showing young horses after the trailer accident. We just had to
take one step and a time,” he says. “If we didn’t have each other, I
don’t think we would have made it back in the show arena. We pick each
other up and keep each other going.”
The Kent’s are in current litigation with the trailer company. They maintain that they bought the best trailer hitch on the market. “It was supposed to be strong enough, but it broke,” she said. “I still worry when we haul them, but we still go down the road in our motor home and bumper pull. We can only try to be as safe as possible–some things are just out of your control.”
The Florida couple were devastated over the accident, but the horse industry surrounded them with well wishes and condolences. The Kent’s continued showing their new prospects.
“People encouraged us to go to a show right after the accident,” Vickie remembers. “It was the second hardest thing I had ever done, but I just love horses and showing.”
Their dedication to the sport they love was never more apparent than Saturday night when the couple’s home-bred two year-old, Won Lopin RV Machine won the Reichert $250,000 Two Year Old Western Pleasure with Jay Starnes aboard. (Photo @ Dasi/GoHorseShow.com)
“They are great people,” trainer Kristy Starnes says of their customers, the Kents. “They really care about their horses and understand what it takes to make a good show horse. It is nice to have clients who are so hands on with their own horses. They just love every aspect of breeding and showing!”
Vickie said she loved working with the Starnes and says that they are very funny and superstitious. “We were very excited that we won the class. I thought we had the best horse,” Vickie says. “The Starnes always go through a special routine before they show. Kristy has to band the mane, and Jay’s mom always had to wear the same blue boots with the same dirt on them at the Reichert before he goes into the pen. It may be silly, but it appears to work.”
One interesting fact is that the Kent’s raised all of these outstanding horses with their superior western pleasure mare turned broodmare–Ill Be Dun Won It (pictured right–Photo © Sally Blackwell) She is the dam of Wonit Ona Version, Ill Be RV Radical, RV One Good Version, Won Good RV Machine (Reserve 2010 Masters and Third 2 Year-Old World Show with Jay Starnes), and Won Lopin RV Machine. RV One Good Version was also fourth at the 2010 World Show in Junior Trail with Robin Frid. They also have seven full siblings to the recent Reichert Champion and five half siblings. They also have three babies out of the mare Ill Be RV Radical that passed away in the accident. The Kent’s also wanted to thank McDuffee Quarter Horses for doing such a fabulous job with all the embryo transfers. Vickie wanted to let everyone know that, “Some of them are for sale, too!”
