Three NSBA bronze trophies were awarded to NSBA members who competed in dual-approved classes at the 2015 AQHA Amateur Select World Championship Show at the Tri-State Fairgrounds in Amarillo, TX. The show got underway last Saturday, and the first of twelve NSBA bronzes were presented to exhibitors in finals on Wednesday. The Way To Go caught up with Wednesday’s NSBA winners.
Showmanship
Gabrielle Kostiuk and Xtra Hot Irons took home the NSBA bronze in the first finals of the day in Showmanship. Kostiuk and Xtra made the final 15 in the class after competing against 56 entries in the preliminary of the class on Tuesday. “I’ve had her for four years, and we show in Hunter Under Saddle and Showmanship,” Kostiuk said of the 2008 gray mare by These Irons Are Hot and out of Ima Lady By Choice (by Investment By Choice).
“This was actually a little better pattern than the one we had in the preliminaries, but we had a better go in the prelims,” she said. “I’m really happy to win the NSBA trophy. This is it for us for now, because Xtra is bred to Good Hotrod for a 2016 foal. I’m really excited to see what the future holds – maybe another baby to show in Hunter Under Saddle and Showmanship!”
Ranch Riding
In Ranch Riding, Lisa Freeman and VR Jack also were named to the final 15 exhibitors after competing in a large class of 57 entries in the preliminary go on Monday, and earned the NSBA bronze trophy in the process. “We ran Pattern #1 on Monday, but today we had Pattern #5,” Freeman said. “Our go felt really good, It was a pattern where you had to keep pushing forward. There were a couple of areas where I was a little concerned, but he did great.”
The team of Freeman and ‘Frank’ has only been together since January. “I was looking for a reiner that could help teach me how to do reining,” Freeman said. “I was attracted to him because he could do that, but he’s also so pretty. I get a lot of compliments on him every time I show him. I was working with him earlier this year, and Jon (Barry) suggested that we could do the Ranch Riding. So we tried it and qualified for the World Show.” The 204 bay gelding is by Von Reminic and out of Jackie Hickory.
Western Pleasure
For Carrie Chown, winning the world champion title and the NSBA bronze in Western Pleasure was an emotional moment. “I’ve been doing this a long time, so this means a lot to me,” Chown said of her first world championship title. Chown showed Hot Precious Lexus, a 2009 sorrel mare by Born To Be Blazing and out of My Precious Lexus (by Vested Pine).
We’ve had her for three years, so it’s been a process. I was drawn to her because of her movement and her looks. I love mares, and she’s just so pretty. And she is quite a character. This is so wonderful, and I am so thankful to have a very supportive group of people who cheer me on. It really does take a village. It starts with God, and then continues with Troy Oakley, my daughter Courtney Chown and Tate, Jamie and Ava Oakley. There are so many others, it’s hard to name them all!”
The AQHA Amateur Select World Championship Show continues through Saturday. Thursday’s schedule includes Trail finals along with Halter and Roping as well as Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation and Hunter Hack preliminaries. To learn more, view complete show results or for a link to the live video feed, please visit http://aqha.com/Showing/Select-World.aspx.
