AQHA Open and Amateur exhibitors are headed to the World Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma just days after the All American Quarter Horse Congress has completed. It’s an exciting time of year and the best place you can be is on top after competing at the largest single breed horse show in the world. For many exhibitors, a successful Congress can build momentum moving into the AQHA World Show.
If that’s the case, then four year old gelding, Not Just Anyhoo, is running full throttle. In just two years of showing, “Horton” has won two AQHA World Championships, NSBA World titles, an excess of $40,000 in NSBA earnings, and earned his tenth Congress Championship this October.
Not Just Anyhoo (Hot Ones Only x Skys Strawberry) is owned by amateur exhibitor Rebekah Kazakevicius. She purchased Horton from Jason Martin of Highpoint Performance Horses as a two year old. Horton is also shown by trainers Beth Case in hunter under saddle, and Charlie Cole in pleasure driving. Rebekah has been under the guidance of Highpoint since 2012.
“His natural cadence was what made him stand out when I first saw him,” remembers Rebekah. “Even on a video, I knew he had a lot of forward motion, and a great trot. Beth also seemed to like him, which is a good sign.”
Beth described Horton as “determined.” He has a strong will to show and do as you ask in the arena. His natural ability makes him a standout. Beth laughed as she explained that he always wanted to be a show horse, but it took some treats for Horton to decide he liked attention on the ground. She also said this attitude is what makes him the performer he is. Horton does his job, shows off, and gets it done. “He’s a great trotter, has a great canter, and is fun to show,” Beth says.
Charlie echoed Beth by stating that, “Horton is an impressive horse. When he trots into the show pen, his good looks and huge trot commands attention and then when he canters, he has a big soft canter.”
Beth and Rebekah both showed Horton as a two year old at the NSBA World Show, and he brought home his first championships in hunter under saddle. As an early three year old, the team decided to start Horton in pleasure driving.
“Hot Ones Only was a phenomenal pleasure driver, so, of course, we hoped Horton would be successful in the event as well,” says Rebekah. She hopes to start showing in Amateur Pleasure Driving next year.
Rebekah has earned World and Congress championships in hunter under saddle before Horton, but believes there are some things that set him apart from all the rest. “He is a true English horse. He has a great top line, lots of forward motion, and an eye catching trot.”
This year at Congress, Horton proved once again that he was a force. Between Beth, Charlie, and Rebekah, Horton was undefeated and won five championships. These wins included Junior Pleasure Driving, Junior Hunter Under Saddle, Open Maturity Hunter Under Saddle, Non-Pro Maturity Hunter Under Saddle, and Amateur Hunter Under Saddle.
“This year’s Congress will probably be remembered as one of my favorites. Horton earned his tenth Congress championship, and I was back-to-back champion in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. That was pretty special to me because I don’t usually have a horse long enough to accomplish something like that.”
Rebekah also said that her parents were there for all of his wins, which was special to her. “For them to be able to share in his success is icing on the cake.”
By the sounds of it, we might just see Horton in Select Amateur Hunter Under Saddle with Rebekah’s mom, Cindy, in 2017.
In 2015 Horton, won the Three Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle unanimously at Congress, and the Junior Hunter Under Saddle at the AQHA World Show. Beth says that these two wins have been the most special to her so far with this horse. As this talented duo head into the AQHA World Show once again, Beth says that Horton has nothing to prove. “To us, he’s already won.”
Rebekah has similar feelings about this year’s trip to Oklahoma. They are the defending champions in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, but says they are approaching it like any other horse show. “I’m going to take care of my horse and hope for great rides. This year has been fun. There’s no pressure on what happens next because he has already accomplished so much.”
We wish Rebekah, Beth, and Charlie good luck and continued success at AQHA World Show with Not Just Anyhoo.
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