It is not uncommon for top horses to sell at the Congress after having a very successful horse show. One big sale so far this year involves the 2013 NSBA Horse of the Year, Huntin My Zipper (Bob). Following an outstanding Congress, Rebekah Kazakevicius sold the four year-old gelding to amateur Larisa Affeldt. Huntin My Zipper had just won one Congress Championship and two Reserve Congress Championships. Affeldt is very excited about her new partner.
“He is the kind of horse I have always dreamed of owning but really didn’t think it would ever happen,” Affeldt, who shows under the guidance of Nancy Renfro, told GoHorseShow. “To be in the right place at the right time, I really have no way to describe it other than it was truly meant to be.”
Bob was 2014 Congress Champion in Junior Western Riding and Reserve Congress Champion in the Green Western Riding with Jason Martin, and Reserve in the Limited Non Pro Maturity Hunter Under Saddle with former owner Rebekah Kazakevicius.
“From a somewhat homely little weanling to NSBA Horse of the Year and multiple Congress Champion, we couldn’t be prouder of raising such an amazing horse and seeing him go to a great new home,” Charlie Cole and Jason Martin of Highpoint Performance Horses told GoHorseShow on Sunday.
Affeldt continues, “My goals have always been to do the all-around successfully. To be able to be a contender in the amateur division for the all-around title at the big shows, it takes a very special horse. When I tried Bob, I knew that he was a great horse, but I really didn’t realize just how cool he was until I was in the saddle. I really feel like he is my once-in-a-lifetime horse, and I am just so thankful for the opportunity to own him.”
Affeldt has been showing UF Certainly A Priss and was 5th in Novice Amateur Showmanship, 6th in Novice Amateur Western Riding and 12th in Novice Amateur Horsemanship at the Congress. The duo was recently awarded the Novice All Around Amateur at the Novice West Championships in Las Vegas. Affeldt is ready for a new horse and challenge.
Last year, the 2010 chestnut gelding by Hubba Hubba Huntin and out of Ima Zipper Snipper won the Congress Three Year Old Limited Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle, Three Year-Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle, and was Reserve in Green Hunter Under Saddle with Beth Case. The duo was also fourth at the AQHA World Show in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and Beth won the NSBA World Championship in Green Hunter Under Saddle.
“It’s been such an incredible opportunity to own Huntin My Zipper,” Rebekah said. “Bob has a very willing personality. He is very eager to learn and very rarely says no, which makes him a great all around prospect because he has the enthusiasm and patience to learn new events. I think what sets him apart from other horses first and foremost is his consistency, along with his natural athleticism, versatility, and pleasant attitude in the show pen.”
Rebekah adds, “I would like to thank Jason Martin, Charlie Cole, Beth Case, Adam Smith, and everyone at Highpoint who contributed to his success. He is a one-of-a-kind horse, and I am very grateful to have been a part of his show career.”
