In the late 80s and 90s, Keith Carter of Miami, Florida dominated the halter events under the supervision of Ted Turner, Jr and Ronnie Casper. Carter won eight youth world championships with legendary halter horses including Causin Confusion, A Lucky Mr, and Heavenly Ohara. Keith’s parents, the late Colen and Marlene Carter, were amazing supporters and cheerleaders of their son.
“My most memorable win was my first in 1988 with A Lucky Mr. He was a yearling gelding and it was the first time I won a world championship title,” Carter recalls. “It was surreal, and to this day, I have that buckle and now my sons wear it.”
The following year was one for the record books. In 1989, Carter won the yearling mares with Causin Confusion and the three year-old mares with Heavenly Ohara. Later that year, he won the Congress with both horses and was Congress Grand Champion Mare with Heavenly. Finally, Carter ended the year with both mares winning the Open World.
“This by far was my most memorable year. Both of these mares were special in different ways, one was refined and the new style of halter mare (Causin Confusion, pictured right) and the other was the old school tank (Heavenly Ohara). It was awesome to show these two. If you could not win with one, you could win with the other.”
Carter says that his favorite horse to show was Causin Confusion. “She won a weanling open world championship, then the next year, youth and open world championship, then the next year, youth, amateur and open world championship as well as Congress and every single class we entered her in all over the country from coast to coast,” Carter remembers. “Not to mention, I literally could go in and lay down with her in the stall and take a nap with her. She was like a human to me and we had a close bond.”
Carter has many special memories from the AQHYA World Show. “First was the pure adrenaline of being there. I remember when we would drive into Tulsa and park to find our stalls, I used to literally size everyone up that I saw, and I only liked them if I knew they were not showing against me. If we were competing, I was cordial but we were not friends. I guess I was a little competitive,” he says and laughs. “When I was younger, and even to today, I worked to be the best, to know all there was to know, and to produce results.”
Keith’s final favorite memory was when he became active in the politics of AJQHA. “Yes, I still call it that, and yes, I refuse to acknowledge the replacement name (AQHYA). I started as a state delegate and loved the time spent when we could debate and help shape the future of the Association. I eventually was elected to the Board of Directors in 1993 to the position of Treasurer. I was able to serve the Association, be a voice for my region and to travel the country speaking at numerous state awards banquets. This was amazing, I truly enjoyed my time with my fellow board members, we built bonds that last still today.”
Today, Carter is CEO and Chief PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) Architect of Digital Imaging Solutions and Cloud 9 PACS. “We are a small digital imaging company in a land of giant conglomerates, however, because of our small size we are considerably more nimble and able to take a problem and solve it quickly,” Carter explains. “I still carry myself even though I have moved from pudgy to full on fat boy with the attitude of I am the best that I learned from showing horses. I own and run my company with that attitude I learned all those years ago.”
Keith who has been married for 20 years, met his wife, Jennifer at his brother’s wedding. “I walked up the stairs and when I saw her, I was so awe struck that I literally fell on my face–total face plant. I jumped up and was hoping she did not see me, of course she did and was laughing at me. I did not know who she was, but I knew that no matter what she said, I was marrying that woman one day.”
The couple, who live in Hattiesburg, Mississippi have three children, Alexis, 18, and 15 year-old twin boys, Keith William Carter, II and Keith William Carter, III (pictured left). The boys play soccer internationally for the Mississippi Rush and daughter Alexis is a professional model working out of NY and LA with Model Management Group. Alexis started competing in pageants at the age of 15. She won the title of Miss Ole Brook and served as a prelim title holder for almost a year, then she won the title of Miss Mississippi High School America.
“Alexis is very passionate about being an advocate for those in the state. She is more than a model and actress, she believes that she wears her crown 24/7. She has talked to over 18,000 children about her platform which is The Crown C.A.R.E.S. (Creating A Respectful Environment in Schools). This continues to amaze me daily, when she gives a seminar on anti-bullying, she is speaking for over 45 minutes and controls large crowds that sometimes can get a little unruly.”
We asked if there was any comparison between pageants and showing horses. “Of course!” Keith exclaims. “She has to maintain her health and physical fitness and pageants are all about the total package from her face to gown to poise. Everything a show horse and his handler require, and of course, both are very expensive,” he says and laughs.
Carter says that showing hoses and being involved with AQHYA has taught him a multitude of things in his personal and professional career. (pictured left at his first show)
“Horses are like children (my children), they need to be cared for, fed, loved, disciplined, and trained. All of these items have helped me be a better father in my personal life,” Carter says. “I also learned that the little pudgy boy had to work a whole lot more to be better than the rest. Don’t take this as being sexist, it is really not, it is just a fact. I did not stand out, I could easily get lost in the countless numbers. So I had to be the best; be spot on with my moves in showmanship; know everything there was to know about my horse, and probably the most important thing I picked up was attitude. I learned quickly from those pretty girls that I had to have that attitude. I portrayed the best, acted the best, had the air of ‘why are you looking elsewhere, I am the winner.’  I have taken this component, plus the hard work element and implemented this in my professional career and life.”
GoHorseShow finally asked Keith if he plans on showing again. “I would love to! I keep threatening Ted Turner that, like Arnold, ‘I’ll be back!’ Â I am fully committed to my children right now and until they are raised and on their own, there is no way I can commit to both showing and raising them. So Ted may be on a walker or maybe a motorized scooter, but one day, we will be back together!”
