On Wednesday, Janae Walker of Pepperell, Massachusetts was finally able to show at the NSBA World Show. Not only that, she and her horse, Mito Been Me (Daisy), were named World Champions. This new team beat 20 other horses and won the NSBA BCF Four-Six Year Old Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle. They were also Reserve Champions in a big NSBA Maturity Limited Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle class earning first place under two of the judges. Earlier in the week, Daisy and Janae’s trainer, Dawn Baker, placed third in the NSBA BCF Four-Six Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle.
“Daisy loves to show and is so much fun to ride,” Janae shared with us after her win. “When I got here on Sunday and went to the arena, the first thing I thought was how much fun it was going to be to show her in that big pen.”
Walker reflects, “I have loved hunter under saddle horses since I was a youth kid, and she feels exactly like what I always thought it should feel like. She has this big, soft trot that is so easy to ride and her canter has so much lift to it. This is the fifth time I have entered a horse at the NSBA for me to show, but the first time I have been able to show here. My goal for the day was to get in the pen. It was worth the wait!”
The talented grey mare by Truly Priceless was in the Baker’s barn when Janae first set eyes on her. “They got her in to break as a two-year-old. I loved her the first time I saw her. I had flown in to ride The Party Bus and saw this big, elegant grey filly. I wasn’t in the market, and she wasn’t for sale, but I didn’t forget her. I saw her again at Congress last year and loved her.
I was driving the trailer with my retired show mare to Whitney Lagace to see if we could leg her back up for me to maybe show in the all-around events this year when Dawn called to let me know that Daisy might be available. It was an easy decision. Daisy is a one-in-a-million kind of horse, and she will have a forever home with me. She is as kind and sweet as you would like one to be. She is just curious about things. As much as I love showing her, when she is ready to retire, hopefully no time soon, I am looking forward to seeing her every morning when I wake up and go feed and every night at night check.”
This win is bittersweet for Janae due to her losing her horse, The Party Bus, this time last year. “This has been an emotional time for me. He was showing incredible promise as a hunter with Chuck Briggs and Linda Crothers. I know I have Daisy because he isn’t with us anymore. The Bus pulled a shoe on the trailer to the Big A last year and stood on the nails, which then turned into a massive abscess which then turned into an infection in his coffin bone.”
Walker continues, ”After two surgeries, and a roller coaster month at the University of Georgia, we thought the infection was gone and that he would make a full recovery. I had made shipping arrangements and a rehab plan for him. Out of an abundance of caution, the vet did one last x-ray before he was released and saw that the bone infection was not only back, but it had spread.”
Walker also wanted to brag on her trainers, Dawn and Brian Baker. “I can’t say enough good things about the Bakers. I have always admired Dawn for how soft she rides and how well she presents her horses. She and I are very aligned about bringing a horse along at the pace that is right for the horse. She has been great in helping me choose horses that are perfect for me and that I can ride and makes it easy for me to follow. She and Brian are great horsemen, and more importantly, really great people.”
Janae and Dawn will be showing Daisy at the Congress and the World Show and then, they will make a plan for next year. Dawn has a two-year-old filly for Janae named Al La Kazaam that Dawn should also be showing next year in the three-year-old events.
“I’m just incredibly grateful to be able to do what I love with a great horse and great people,” Janae states. “I am particularly thankful to the Leeman family for allowing me the opportunity to buy Daisy. Best of luck to Janae, Daisy and all in their upcoming shows. CLICK HERE to view her ad in the August issue of GoMag.
