Eighteen year-old Cole Gower of Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada has a great lineup for 2013. Currently under the guidance of World and Congress Champion trainer, Bruce Vickery of Sanger, Texas, Gower has the backing of his supportive parents and three talented horses including: Wicked Krymsun, She Made It Happen, and Design By Leaguer.
“My plan for this year is to be the best rider I can be for my horses and for myself,” says, Gower, who has been riding horses for over 12 years and taking this year off to show. “Along with this goal is to qualify my horses for the Youth World where I hope to make the finals.”
Gower adds, “I have loved horses ever since I was very young because of the bond created between horse and rider. I am a very competitive person, so, when I ride my horses to their full potential and we are successful, there is no better feeling than when we have done our best together.”
One of his mounts is Wicked Krymsun (Vic) who is a seven year-old gelding that his family has owned for four years. Cole will be showing him in the 14-18 Youth Trail at all the major circuits this year.
“Vic has the personality of a young child,” Gower states. “I have so much fun with him because he doesn’t try to be bad or anything–he just keeps me on my toes. Vic is special to me as he was my first real show horse.”
His second horse is 2013 Reserve World Champion Senior Trail horse, She Made It Happen (Skyler). Gower will be showing her in the 14-18 Trail, Showmanship and Horsemanship. His favorite win so far was with Skyler at the 2013 Arizona Sun Circuit when the team won the Circuit Championship in the 14-18 Youth Trail.
“This was the first time I had shown her and she was amazing,” Gower recalls. “We just clicked. The win was really special. She is a real diva that knows her job and does it extremely well.”
His third horse is multiple AQHA World Champion Trail horse deluxe, Design by Leaguer (Bevis), who just turned 20. Gower will be “borrowing him” from his younger brother, Kade, to show in the 14-18 Youth Trail.
“Our barn calls him Grandpa. He receives lots of treats by everyone in the barn and Bevis has certainly earned the right to be treated extra special,” Gower explains.
So far in his show career, Cole’s standout memory involves his new horses, Skyler and Bevis before he even started showing them.
“It was last year at the AQHA Open World Show. My family had purchased, She Made It Happen and Design by Leaguer before the show. My mom and I were watching the prelims in Senior Trail and both horses made the finals. We were very excited,” Cole remembers. “The night of the finals came and both horses had great goes. Mom and I were texting the rest of the family back home and we were thinking they had done really well. As the results were being announced, the last two horses were both ours. At that point, it didn’t matter who won we were very proud of both of them. Design by Leaguer with Jason Gilliam was the World Champion and She Made it Happen with Whitney Lagace was Reserve–that was the most exhilarating feeling ever!”
Gower would like to take this opportunity to thank Bruce Vickery, Keith Boutet and the rest of the barn for their constant support.
“Bruce has taken me from a novice rider to a competitive 14-18 youth. He is caring, fun and I have the utmost respect for him,” Cole says about his trainer and mentor. “He is extremely talented and has an eye for picking the best horses. He is more proud of my accomplishments than of his own. He is a true horseman and I am extremely proud to be a part of the Vickery team!”
Cole would also like to thank all his supporters back in Alberta, and his parents for all they have done to support his dream of showing in the United States.
“It has been a fun ride so far and I am certainly grateful for all the hard work everyone has invested to help me achieve my goals.”
CLICK HERE to check out his ad in the March issue of GoMag.
Photos © Impulse Photography
