Breeder and horse show mom Sheri Robinson-Kern of Crossroads, Texas has been involved with horses for over forty years. She just purchased a gorgeous farm, Star Ranch, located in Aubrey, Texas, where western pleasure trainer Andy Cochran has moved his training operation. Kern’s beautiful daughters, Blair and Kristin, continue to compete on a national level.
“My proudest accomplishments are watching my girls show and achieve their goals,” Kern tells GoHorseShow. “Also, watching a horse I helped bring into this world reach its potential and also matching the right horse with the right owner and watching their success is very satisfying. Finally, just going into the pasture and giving my old girls a pet and recalling all our years together is very special to me.”
Kern adds, “We just purchased the ranch in Aubrey. It’s a lovely place with lots of sandy soil and trees. It’s close to the Dallas Tollway and my residence, so I love it. We just finished the mare motel and I’m excited for more babies to fill it.”
The Kern family recently returned from a successful Silver Dollar Circuit in Las Vegas, Nevada. Andy Cochran and Big N Rich (Tank) won the Senior Western Pleasure under all six judges. Cochran and Tank were also the 2011 Reserve Congress Champions in the Senior Western Pleasure. Her daughter, Kristin, also placed well with Tank in the Youth Western Pleasure in Las Vegas.
Kern fondly recalls some fun stories about Big N Rich, including how he got the nickname “Tank”.
“When he was a baby, David Dellin worked for me and was looking at him and he ran his chest right into David, who said, ‘My gosh, you are a little tank aren’t you?’ We will keep showing Tank until he tells us he doesn’t want to do it anymore.”
Kern continues, “Tank is my miracle child. His dam coliced when he was in her belly and she spent three months in ICU. The vet was amazed that the fetus was still swimming around in there! When he was born, his legs were so crooked that they went every which way and he was tiny,” she recalls. “As he grew, his legs straightened. Our vet at the time advised us to get rid of him. He said Tank would never make a show horse because he will never be strong enough. Sad but determined, I kept him and I guess the rest is history. He has more heart than any other horse I have ever owned. I always say go with your gut and have faith.”
Trainer, Andy Cochran, is preparing some nice two year-olds for this season including Big N Rich’s full brother, Bigger N Richer. Another two year-old prospect, Shez Lopin Lazy, is a gorgeous filly by Lazy Loper and out of World Champion Zizzles Hot Impulse who was raised by Sheri. The mare was just purchased by the Cox family who is under the guidance of David Dellin.
“Andy is one of the best in the industry. I have enjoyed working with him and learning from him. I am loving the results I am seeing and the success in the show pen,” Sheri says.
Cochran is very excited to be working with Sheri and to be part of the new ranch. He does not work exclusively for Sheri, and is accepting new horses and customers at this time.
Andy says, “I feel the pleasure classes have an extremely high level of difficulty–you have to continuously improve and change. No ride is ever the same. It’s an on going challenge to train the horse, work on yourself, and, it all has to come together in the show pen and made to look effortless.”
This year, Alla Byes will be shown in the amateur events with Blair Kern and Junior Western Pleasure with Andy. Blair and Andy will also be showing Good To Be Immortal in the Three Year-old western pleasure events.
“I’m looking forward to watching our three year-old by The Immortal show in the Novice events beginning at the Virginia Classic,” Sheri says. “I bred and raised her and Andy will be showing her in the Novice Three Year-Old and Blair in the Non Pro events.”
Sheri’s older daughter, Blair, says she loves the competition at the shows. “I am always pushing to work harder and improve, because there is always someone working harder and longer. I just love working with horses…being able to work with animals is a gift.”
Blair said that winning the youth world in 2004 in the western pleasure was her all time childhood dream. “With a lot of help from my family, Dave Dellin, hard work, Impulsive Lite and grace of God, a little girl’s dream came true.”
Sheri’s 14 year-old daughter, Kristin Kern, says her plans are to continue to show Big N Rich and also add the western riding as one of her classes. Her proudest accomplishment would be in 2008 when she won the Congress on Zizzles Hot Impulse (Shorty).
“A cool fact is that while I was showing Shorty at the Congress, my sister was showing in the other pen on Big N Rich and we had simultaneous wins–literally at the exact same moment our names were called,” Kristin remembers. “Blair won the Limited Open Maturity and Non Pro Maturity and then in November, Blair and Tank went on to win the Amateur Western Pleasure at the world show. It was a great year.”
Kristin adds, “My future goals with the horses are to one day win the youth world and to keep showing and showing. It’s definitely been a huge part of my life and I’ve learned so much from it.”
Like most horse crazy girls, at ten years-old, Sheri got her start riding a half Clydesdale half Quarter Horse and then progressed to a half Hackney, half Arabian that she rescued and trained which led to 4-H where she won a Grand Champion.
“After that, I was hooked. I had an uncle that raised quarter horses which I had always loved. I would go up to his ranch pick out a couple from the 300 acre pasture bring them back home train them and show and sell them,” she remembers. “My parents did not believe in trainers so I used to go and sit and watch the bigger horse shows and apply what I saw to my own stock. Forty years later here I am. Still passionate and loving the industry–I would love to show again someday if time allows.”
The family’s plans for the future is to keep breeding, training, showing, and selling prospects. The Kern’s always have a nice selection of prospects and finished horses for sale. Please visit their website for more information by clicking here.
Andy is accepting new customers and horses. Contact 501-681-0205 or [email protected]
Photo © Shane Rux
