Native New Yorker, Meg DePalma, and her new horse, Zip Back N Yak (Vinny) have been working hard to get qualified for the 2013 AQHA Amateur World Championship Show. This duo has picked up several circuit championships and high points at some of the biggest circuits this year including the Florida Gold/Gulf Coast, March to the Arch and Virginia Classic.
“I am at the point with Vinny, that every pattern that is better than the last puts a smile on my face. He’s such a good boy, and he is continuing to teach me so much at every show,” says, DePalma, who now lives near Augusta, Georgia and works as the Regional Vice President for Prudential Annuities. “Vinny is an old soul, a steady eddy. I’ve only owned him for ten months, but, in that time, he’s been nothing but a complete gentleman. I’m still a novice in a few classes, and he is helping me become a better rider. He has accomplished so much in his show career, and I trust that he will do what needs to be done in the pen.”
DePalma and “Vinny”, also known as “Vin Vin”, or “Vin Diesel”, are currently showing in the showmanship, horsemanship, equitation, and trail.
“I am very excited about the trail this year. I had never shown a trail pattern before August of last year, and I’ve come to love it,” states, DePalma, whose mother, Sue, got her and her sister, Lynnie, involved with showing horses when they were younger. “I learn a lot from watching the ‘trail gods’ at the shows, and, of course, a lot of practice at the barn. I look forward to the Big A this year. It will be our official one year anniversary as a team. If I can go out and have a great show in that tough crowd, I will be happy.”
The new team is currently under the supervision of Keith Miller of Reidsville, North Carolina. Meg’s mother, Sue, and sister, Lynnie also show under Miller.
“Keith is extremely hard working and takes great care of the horses,” Meg tells GoHorseShow about her trainer. “All the horses have been well kept and happy–just the way I like them. In additional to his care for the horses, he knows his riders’ strengths and weaknesses, and he helps us reach our potential in the show pen.”
Like, many hard-working individuals in our industry, DePalma also struggles to find the time and money to support her passion of showing horses.
“My career keeps me very busy supporting over 400 financial advisers, so I’m constantly on the road. Any free time I have while I’m home is taken up with the day-to-day activities like laundry and errands,” Meg explains. “I wish I had more time to spend at my trainers and show more often. If I get one show a month, I am pleased. In conjunction with having time to show, I also need the assets to do so.”
Meg continues, “As we all know, showing horses can be rather expensive. In addition to Vinny, I would love to own a hunt seat baby or a pleasure horse but simply can’t afford to keep them in training. I have made the best with what I can afford. As I continue with my career with Prudential, I hope to be able to own more horses and show more frequently.”
DePalma says that she enjoys showing horses because of the time spent making memories with friends and family.
“The quarter horse world is close knit, which allows you to make friends easily,” DePalma states. “Over the past several years, I have made many new friends and I enjoy seeing each of them at the shows. You can’t forget the feeling of getting your name called first either–that is what makes all the hard work and money spent worth it. Now, trust me there have been plenty of times I’ve gone out there and I don’t get my named called. You just have to keep positive and know that if your pattern was better than your last and improvements were made. then, all in all, it’s a good day!”
Photos © Shane Rux and Brad Lovell
