While qualifying for a horse show as big and as special as the AQHA World Championship Show is no small feat, deciding to make the trip to Oklahoma City to compete can also take the toll and put a lot of pressure on the exhibitors.
This prestigious event draws exhibitors from all over the world to show their horses with the hope of bringing home the coveted gold trophy. In order to call oneself a World Champion, there are many hours of dedication that must be put in to not only the journey, but the achieving the dream as well. We spoke with several of the international exhibitors who are attending this year’s AQHA World Show and found out some of the perks and challenges in taking part of this large event.
Lisa Schlatter of Austria
Lisa Schlatter and her horse, Reno Jetset Aintblue, (pictured left) will be attending the 2015 Lucas Oil AQHA World Show to compete in both the Level 2 and Level 3 Amateur Trail. This duo comes all the way from Austria. Lisa told us that in order to qualify, she made the decision to show her mare at this year’s AQHA European Championships in Germany.
“We had some good placings, but I never thought I would have enough points to qualify (for the World Show),” says Lisa. But to her surprise, their one show together was enough to qualify them for the big dance in Oklahoma City. “I knew I could not miss the opportunity to show at the World Show,” Lisa says.
After the European Championships, Reno was shipped to the United States. Though Lisa had to send her show saddle and other equipment along with Reno, she plans to borrow other items from her trainer, Iris Petschenig. Petschenig lived and trained in Europe for several years before moving to California a few years ago to train horses.
As a Novice Youth, Lisa started Reno all on her own when the mare was three years-old. “I didn’t have a round pen, but she didn’t care. She jogged and loped like a pro with her head in the right position. She never bucked,” Lisa shares. When asked about why she chooses to ride quarter horses, Lisa says, “I have always loved their character, reliability, quiet nature and their gentleness.”
Dr. Candice Hall of British Columbia, Canada
Traveling from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, Dr. Candice Hall will be attending the World Show to compete with her horse, Machine Made in the Amateur Western Riding.
“Getting off of the island and getting to the horse show in time to practice is the most challenging part of being an international exhibitor,” says Dr. Hall. “There is a minimum of three to four flights to get anywhere,” she adds. “Trying to keep my luggage under 50 pounds and also organizing coverage for our vet and dental clinics can also be hard.”
Hall also includes that she keeps all of her show gear in trainer Kristy McCann and Gil Galyean’s trailers. “I think if I ever put all my hats, chaps, show jackets, saddles, bridles and show pads all in one place, I might be horrified,” she says with a laugh, also stating that there is no way that her belongings would fit into just one or two suitcases.
In order to qualify her horse, Machine Made, Dr. Hall explains that there is a team of people that make it happen. From breeding over 100 mares to driving back and forth from the training farm to the breeding barn, Machine Made is a very busy horse. “He is such a good pet,” Candice says as she talks about how Machine Made is so well behaved and packs her around like a champion. “I believe that the journey is so much more important than the destination and I am so thankful for the opportunity to take him to the World Show,” says Candice.
Philipp Roos of Switzerland
Philipp Roos traveled all the way from Zurich, Switzerland to watch his horse, The Hot Intern compete in the Open Performance Halter Geldings as well as the Junior Western Pleasure. Though the horse lives here in the United States, Philipp has also qualified as an exhibitor for the 2016 Select Amateur World Show with his other horse, Technical Nat Image. Recently, this duo placed third at the Congress in the Select Amateur Showmanship.
To get qualified, Roos shows in the United States, but adds that it does take some time to get used to everything. “It took me some time to get to know the U.S. geography. For instance, after a 14 hour flight, I once drove from the Atlanta airport to Perry, Alabama rather than Perry, Georgia,” says Roos.
In case you were wondering, that is a four hour drive between the two cities and Roos says that he has now learned to always check the route before heading off into the dark.
In order to keep costs down, Roos keeps a set of tack in the U.S. as well as at home as it is costly to send everything back and forth. “The level of performance in the U.S. is very demanding and there are plenty of good competitors, so my challenge is to keep up with them,” Roos says.
While it has been his dream to not only get qualified as an exhibitor himself, but also to have a professional show his horse at the World Show. “The World Show is the most prestigious in the world and it is very exciting to be a part of it,” he says.
Sherri Soppit of Alberta, Canada
After a rough road of medical scares along the way, Sherri Soppit from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada and her horse, Prepare To Be Dazzld, will be attending and competing at this year’s World Show. Affectionately known as Griffin, Sherri shares that while he came close to death twice with having to endure not only colic surgery, but a hernia and MRSA as well, he never gave up the will to live and is back to doing what he loves.
Besides the struggle of overcoming medical issues, there are more challenges that often come along with international exhibitors. “I am not a fan of flying, so I drive through two provinces and two states to get to trainer, Kristy McCann’s. I try to plan all of my trips around the weather, but it is pretty much impossible to predict- we get a lot of snow!” says Sherri. While the traveling can be one of the hardest parts of living so far from the show, Sherri also claims that she hauls her tack back and forth with her, along with keeping it in her trainer’s trailer as well.
While Kristy McCann showed Griffin in the Senior Western Riding, Sherri will show him in the Amateur Level 2 Western Riding, which she qualified for after almost two years of a break. “It took a while to get our mojo back,” states Sherri, who also adds that showing at the World Show is the ultimate dream. When we asked her what her favorite place is to go in the whole world, Sherri doesn’t even hesitate to say, “The AQHA World Show.”
We hope these international exhibitors and owners have a safe trip to the United States and we are thankful they have developed a passion for the American Quarter Horse and are sharing their love all over the world.
Photo © Figure 8 Photography
