Horses have always been a part of youth exhibitor Bastian Zielinski’s life. His great-grandfather had racehorses; his grandfather owned and showed trotting horses; and Bastian and his brother started showing Quarter Horses 12 years ago. The seventeen year-old from Rellingen, Germany started in lead-line classes and walk trot, moved up to Novice Youth and then the Youth and Open AQHA classes.
Bastian recently debuted in western pleasure with his new horse, Congress Champion and Reserve World Champion, A Slow Burn, in Europe. He is also showing his other horse, Pines Rumor, in the trail and horsemanship. GoHorseShow interviewed this accomplished rider to find out more about his back story and future plans.
Q: Hi Bastian, so tell me about the horses you are showing this year?
A: My two show horses are A Slow Burn and Pines Rumor. A Slow Burn is a 2008 gelding by Blazing Hot and out of Born Lopin. He was the 2010 Congress Masters Champion in the Two Year-Old Western Pleasure and Reserve World Champion Two Year-Old Western Pleasure with Katy Jo Pickard. We bought him in October 2011 from Joan Schroeder. I never dreamed of owning a horse like him. Not only is he an amazing pleasure horse, but he is also great minded and easy to handle. I’m looking forward to showing in the pen in the western pleasure classes at all the big upcoming shows. Pines Rumor is a 2006 gelding by Vested Pine out of Passing Rumors. His barn name is Ted. He is my trail and horsemanship horse for this year. It’s his first year in the trail, but he is becoming one of the great horses in Europe for trail.
Q: What are some of your favorite equine accomplishments?
A: I enjoyed winning the 2010 European Championship in Senior Trail and Youth Trail 14-18; the 2009 European Championship in Youth Trail and Horsemanship 13 and under. I was also third in the AQHA Rookie 12-14 in 2009.
Q: What are some memories that stand out from your show career?
A: One of my two favorite memories was winning the European Championships the first time. After showing and training for so many years, it was great to be successful at this major show. The other memory was showing at the Arizona Sun Circuit. Riding together with all the famous riders that I used to watch on the World Show videos was a great experience and I learn a lot from them.
Q: What do you like about showing horses and the horse industry in general?
A: What I like about the horse industry is that you have a living animal you need to take care of. They will never do anything bad on purpose but still they are a little bit different every day and this makes showing horses so individual and interesting. As well, it is great to make so many friends and meet great people all around the world, who share the same passion.
Q: What grade are you in and what are your future career goals?
A: I’m in the 11th grade, therefore in Germany, I’ll have to go two more years for my graduation. For my career, I’m planning to study medicine as my major after graduating from high school.
Q: Biggest challenges you have faced showing horses?
A: My biggest challenge was definitely losing my great show horse, Simply a Notion, in 2011. She was the horse I won most of my European Champion titles with and the horse I loved the most. Replacing her not only in the show pen but also in my heart, is a hard thing that Barney and Ted are trying to do.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: I want to let my parents know how grateful I am for their support and help with the horses. As well I want to thank my brother, who is always there for me to give me advice with my horses based on his knowledge of eight European Championship titles in Trail, Western Pleasure and Horsemanship, and, in 2006, his fourth place win in AQHA Senior Open All-Around.
Q: Thanks Bastian for talking to us!
A: You’re welcome!
Click here to view Bastian’s ad in the April issue of GoMag.
