GoHorseShow is sad to announce the passing of AQHA Reserve World and multiple Reserve Congress Champion, That Would Be Me, better known as Tyler. The gorgeous black gelding was by Mito Cierra and out of To Sleepy Too and bred by Sue Ann Haenlein Barry of Bath, Michigan.
Over the years, Tyler had several owners who adored him including Brianna and Marissa Dalton, Taylor Gillette, and Kara DeVlieger and Laurel Champlin. He amassed over 2200 points in several different events including being the 2001 Congress Reserve Novice Western Pleasure Champion with Marissa Dalton, 2001 Congress Reserve Youth 12-14 Western Pleasure with Brianna Dalton, 2004 AQHA Reserve World Champion in the Youth Western Pleasure with Brianna Dalton, 2010 Congress Reserve Amateur Select Western Riding Champion with Laurel Champlin and 2010 Congress Novice All Around Youth with Cassidy Champlin.
Amateur Laurel Champlin of Garnerville, Nevada last owned and retired him on her farm. Champlin says that the 19 year-old passed away peacefully in her pasture last week with no signs of struggle or indications that he was sick. Champlin chose to not perform an autopsy. She says that she will miss watching him everyday out her kitchen window.
“He was a funny horse,” Laurel remembers. “He had tons of talent but it had to be his idea. One show I would win a trophy and then the next time, like at the Select World Show in the equitation finals, we walked up to the first cone and he pivoted around and left the arena. ‘Not today,’ he said.”
She also remembers that it took him two weeks of pacing and demanding to be fed out in a knee high pasture to finally accept retirement. “Once he decided he liked it, you couldn’t catch him,” Laurel reveals. “This last year he lived with a 30 year-old mare and two miniature horses. He definitely ran the show. I loved all his quirkiness.”
Champlin said her favorite memory with Tyler was winning the 2010 Congress Reserve Championship in the Select Amateur Western Riding. In the class, Champlin was beat by her best friend, Susan Wilson and her horse, Knowtorious. Unfortunately, Susan’s horse passed away in 2012. (Both horses pictured above right)
“The funniest story I remember about him was when Susan met me in Vegas for a circuit. I needed points and I kept him at home at the time. Susan came to help me,” Champlin recalls. “We were getting ready for showmanship and had a cooler on him. They had divided the arena with cones. I was talking to someone as usual and laid the show lead over his neck while Susan was combing his tail. He kept inching forward and neither of us noticed until it was too late. He took off through the show ring with all the halter exhibitors bucking the cooler off. I almost peed my pants laughing and crying. Susan went and caught him. A few minutes later we get a text from Charlie Cole because someone had told him that his selects had gone crazy–makes me laugh just thinking about it.”
Laurel’s daughter, Cassidy Champlin (pictured left) who won the Congress Novice Youth All Around Championship on him in 2010 says that, “Tyler and I definitely had our ups and downs, but I owe him a lot for my success at the Congress and other shows.”
We talked to other past owners about what Tyler was like to be around and show during his storied show career. Brianna Dalton (pictured right) says that she immediately fell in love with him after her family bought him in 2000. Her favorite win was in 2004 when she was awarded the AQHYA Reserve World Championship in the western pleasure.
“I called him Chubby because he was a little on the porky side,” Brianna recalls. “
He had a unique personality and he sure loved to eat–anyone who would feed him was his best friend.”
Brianna recalls one day when her mother was feeding him red grapes. “He had consumed quite a few and all I could think of was, I sure hope my horse doesn’t get sick. Every time he was good at a show, he would get red grapes, not green, as he would spit those ones out. If show time was near dinner time, he was adamant that dinner would have to be before performing. I knew I could count on him when it came show time. He was a great teacher and once-in-a-lifetime horse. I am forever grateful that I was able to own and show him.”
Brianna’s younger sister, Marissa, whose last name is now Ledford, also shared some funny stories about Tyler. “I would have to say one of my favorite memories was with my middle sister, Summer. This was back when all three Dalton girls were showing,” Marissa explains. “Summer’s horse, Prince, used to eat Twizzlers and we decided we were going to see if Tyler would eat one. To our surprise he did–little did we know our trainer, Dan Trein (pictured left) was about to take him out to ride. Shortly after Dan left, he came back and seemed panicked. We didn’t know why so when I asked Dan what was wrong he told me his mouth was bleeding but he couldn’t find out where. Then, it hit me, it must have been the Twizzler that Tyler was foaming not blood. After telling Dan what it was, you better believe we never gave Tyler another Twizzler.”
Past owner Taylor Gillette who also showed him in youth after the Dalton girls, reflected on what Tyler meant to her. “He was such a great boy but he definitely liked things his way. He did love his job, but occasionally he just didn’t want to change leads or do a turnaround. Sometimes he would pin his ears in the showmanship and scrape his teeth against the stall when he was really hungry,” Taylor recalls. “I loved him for every challenge and lesson he gave me. Such a unique, talented horse, and he will forever be remembered for his spirit and personality. He taught me so much and kept me out of trouble. I will forever be grateful and indebted to him for the time he spent with me and my trainer, Doug Huls.”
