Happy New Year! GoHorseShow hopes that everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. Many people compile a list of resolutions for the new year and we would like to know your goals for the new show season.
The year 2015 may have been a great year for you in the show arena, or it may have been a year you would like to forget. Regardless of your experiences from last year, there is always room for improvement and it is now time to evaluate last year’s show season and develop a goal list for this year.
You might be starting with a blank slate this year with a new horse; adding new classes with your horse; or improving and refining maneuvers and skills to step it up in the show arena. We asked several youth and amateurs about their goals for this year.
Let’s see what everyone had to say!
Lisa Mazurka – 2015 was an acclimation year for me. It was my first year showing my junior horse, Invested in Cowboys (aka “Mudflap”) and his first year learning the all-around events. Our most important goal was to make the learning process a positive experience for him and to take our time and build a strong foundation of skills. The most important goal for me in 2016 is to keep Mudflap healthy, happy and continuing to enjoy his job. We will also strive to really sharpen the skills that he learned in 2015 and make his all around classes more crisp, sharp and now that he knows his job, to be able to add a bit of style and personality. We will start showing the western riding at some point this year which is a new class for me. Lastly, we hope to qualify again for the 2016 World Show in our all around classes and take it to the next level. He is such a talented horse, it comes naturally for him. I am amazed at what we were able to accomplish last year. I am so excited to see what is to come in 2016!
Cathrin Gutmann – Some of my goals include getting into trail and western riding more with Onlyafraid Inthedark and showing more in the United States. It’s going to be my last real intense U.S. show year before my little one will start school in 2017 (in Austria), so I’ll try to get the most out of it as I don’t know how easy it will be showing over there from 2017 on. Also, getting my first home trained horses in Europe out and shown at least a few times when I’m home. Lastly, of course, Congress and World Show are the major goals for 2016, but gaining as much experience as I can throughout the year working with my amazing trainers will be my number one focus.
Jenna Dempze – My 2016 horse show goals: I would like to qualify In the Amateur Western Pleasure again with Rewind and Repeat and see him find success in a new division, the Senior Western Pleasure. I also look forward to showing Special N I Know It in the three year old non pro events. My life long goal is to win the AQHA World in western pleasure. I also want to have happy and healthy horses for 2016.
Juliana Blackburn-Baskin – As far as goals for 2016, I am really excited to have a new horse to show, Cash Included. One of my goals is to start showing him and figuring out my new partner. It is always exciting to start off with a new horse, so I am looking forward to the opportunity. There is no set in stone goal of “Oh I would like to accomplish this or that,” but I do want to work on being the best I can be with Cash right from the start especially with the help of Leslie Lange and Jeff Mellott.
Cole Gower – My goals for 2016 are just to have great rides and get all my horses qualified. We are really excited to watch some of our new horses that are up and coming in the show pen and that’s always exciting!
Beckie Peskin – My goals are a bit different these days with a three and a half year old and a crazy job that keeps me on the road a lot. But here they are for 2016: First, to make it to at least two bigger circuits and qualify again in the showmanship and horsemanship and performance halter and maybe add the equitation and trail this year. Second, to get a Top Ten at the Congress and a Top Ten in the Level Three at the AQHA World Show. I also would like to have a strong showing in the level one trail at the Level One Championships, but I am still perfecting my riding skills in that class!
Michael Tidwell – Justine decided to get back into the hunter pen and went to Chuck Briggs and Linda Crothers. She now has a new horse, Hez My Valentino, and plans to debut in Florida in January. She rides with Jill Jones, a hunter trainer in our home town, Cartersville, three days a week to keep her strength and eye. Her goal in 2016 is to ride as much as possible between now and April to show at the Novice Championship, the Red Bud, the Big A and NSBA World with the ultimate goal to be solid by the Congress. I have just sold, Good Hot Gal, and my immediate goal is to find a great two or three year old to compete in the Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure at the summer futurities. Outside of the show pen, I am interested in becoming more involved with NSBA and AQHA. I would enjoy being in a service position with an eye on the big picture.
Jessie Hadlock – This year I will be returning to the show pen with my new partner, Safe Havens Version, aka Jasper. 2016 will be full of learning and building a new team with my horse and trainers. My goal is to become stronger with each ride, learn from our mistakes, and to continue challenging ourselves with the hopes of winning along the way!
Ashley Hadlock – For 2016 goals, my trainers and I began by looking back on the previous year and found my weak areas. I really want to focus on making those areas stronger while continuing to improve and polish my stronger points. I am also planning on switching up my show schedule and attending some ‘new’ shows that I have not attended in the past. However the most important goal is to always have fun!
Sydnie Ochs – This year I will be showing a new horse, RV Miracle Machine. I recently retired my old horse, Zippos Lightair. My goals are to learn to connect with Miracle and become a team. I will be showing him in the all around events. I will also be showing, Only Invite the Best, in the pleasure, she is going to be three, and Im With You Know Hoo, a three year- old hunter under saddle horse that will also be new for me this year. So, my goals are to practice a lot and learn and grow as a team with my new horses. Good luck to everyone in 2016!
Emma Edwards – I am very excited about next year because it will be the first full year I get to show my new horse “Jack” (This Is Why Im Here). One of my biggest goals is to qualify for the Youth World Show, which I have dreamed about doing for a long time. Another goal is always working hard to continue improving my riding skills and prepare me for riding in college. Finally, I want to finish my senior year academically strong. I hope everyone has a great New Year and 2016 filled with good health and happiness.
Julie Hoefling – My goals for 2016 are to grow as a team with my horse. We added the all around events this year, so my goal is to really step it up there. I’m also planning on showing at the Sun Circuit for the first time this year which is a special show as it’s in my backyard. A circuit championship there is definitely on the list of goals. I’ll be heading to the Level One Championships in Vegas, so some great placings there would be awesome! Hopefully a Top 10 at Congress later in the year would be a great way to end 2016. Now that these goals are in writing, we can check back at the end of the year and see how many we met. Most of all, my goal is to have great rides and a tons of fun!
Erin Mask – I would love to learn more and show more in the ranch riding it is becoming a very tough class and my horse has only been showing it for about a year so I am excited to focus on doing well in that in 2016 it is one my favorite classes!!! Also the western riding has been a tough class for me in the past and it has been getting better so I am excited to keep improving in that class!
Cathy Corrigan Frank – To get myself and my daughter, Sydney, back in the show pen with Hanks A Skip N Zippo. He’s been laid up all year with an old injury but seems to be on the mend. I also bought her a new youth horse so it will be fun to see them connect. I will be continuing to show Living Large in the pleasure driving but will need to keep him available during the breeding season.
Linda Coakley – I set small goals to reach through out the year. I’m still very new at the western riding, and I would like to get that more solid and then try to qualify nationally. I’m going to try ranch riding this year. I’m excited to try something different as I am always looking to develop new skills and I want to continue to grow. I have a coming three year old, so I will be learning how to ride and show a pleasure horse. Of course, Charlie and I will be headed back to the Select World Show, where I always want to do better than the year before. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy this journey that my husband, Ron, and I are on in the horse world!
Janae Walker Bronson – My professional life is extremely goal driven, so my first goal is to take a more flexible approach with my show goals so that I can actually enjoy showing more. One goal I have set for the past few years is simply to be a quiet and effective rider and to learn from every opportunity I am given. I am showing The Party Bus in the Non-Pro 3 year old events, and my goals with him are to make sure we are both well prepared for the major three year old events and that we have solid trips each time we enter the pen. A new goal is to get back into the all around events. I haven’t shown horsemanship since I was in youth, and we are preparing The Roan Bone to be my all around horse if he hasn’t sold. My stretch goal is to show The Party Bus at the Amateur World.
Livvie Van Lanen – The new year marks my final year in Youth! I am focusing on fine tuning in all of my pattern classes and really having my head in the game for each and every show. Recently we have had so many losses in our horse show community–Darla Blanchard and Lise Von Uhlit were both very special to our HighPoint Family–so I plan on enjoying every minute I get to spend with my horse show friends and family. Jason and Charlie have taught me so many life lessons, including to ride every stride, and let every failure lead to eventual success. I am really excited for my final Youth World, NSBA World, and Congress as a Youth competitor, and can’t wait to start my Amateur career next year!
Katie Van Slyke – Well I have a new horse, HotLadyBornLopin, aka Dixie. So, my main goal is to get to know her and to enter the amateur arena as a strong competitor. I believe our first show will be at the end of January in Cloverdale. Hopefully, I’ll still show Kalvin a bit in the western riding but that’s not completely decided.
MacKenzie Preston – I would like to make it to the finals in horsemanship at the AjPHA World Show this year on Brokers Lucky Kid and qualifying for the NRHA affiliates with Karl With A K.
What are your goals for 2016? We would like to know! Post your comments on our Facebook page or at the bottom of this article.
