Even though Nicole Kuklinski of Ironwood, Michigan has been showing at the NSBA World Show for several years, she finally had a breakout win in Tulsa and brought home her first championship in the Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity with her horse, Sketchie Details (Petey).
“When they announced my name as the World Champion, I couldn’t believe it,” Nicole recalled. “It still seems surreal. I had tears in my eyes; I was so happy. I’ve dreamt of winning this show before and for it to finally happen is amazing. I’ve put in a lot of time and effort into working with Petey over the years. We have faced many highs and lows together and in the end, to see my hard work pay off is so rewarding.”
Nicole excitedly adds, “Seeing as Petey was in the next class with my trainer Keith Miller, I wasn’t able to take my victory lap on him, so I ‘loped’ it myself,” she says and laughs.
After Kuklinski’s Limited Non-Pro Maturity class, she jumped right on her other horse, Im All Diva (Tess), for the Non-Pro Three-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle and Limited Non-Pro Three-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle. This team ended up Reserve World Champion in the Non-Pro 3’s and were Bronze Champions in the Limited Non-Pro 3’s. Aside from these wins, Sketchie Details and Nicole were Reserve Champions in the BCF 4-6 Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle, Reserve World Champions in the Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity and fourth in the BCF 4-6-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle. Allison Clark McDonald and Petey were Champions in the BCF 4-6 Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle and Keith and Petey were fifth in the Senior Hunter Under Saddle.
Her other horse, Im All Diva was Reserve World Champion in the Color Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, Reserve World Champion Three-Year-Old Open Color Hunter Under Saddle, BCF 3-6 Year-Old Open Color Hunter Under Saddle with Keith and Reserve World Champion Three-Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle with Allison Clark McDonald.
“All of these wins mean the world to me,” Nicole states. “I’m so blessed and thankful for the talented horses that I own as well as the supportive trainers and team that I have behind me.”
Petey is a six-year-old bay gelding by Hot N Blazing and out of Sentimental Detail. “He is big, pretty and stands out. My favorite thing about him is his big floaty trot and soft canter. For a big horse, he is very soft and looks as if he is just floating across the ground,” Nicole shares. “He has a goofy, loving personality. Whenever I go into his stall, he greets me with his ears forward. He’s an enjoyable horse to be around.”
Tess is a three-year-old APHA sorrel overo mare by All Time Fancy out of Future Diva. “Tess is the sweetest, most lovable mare I’ve ever been around. She’s so kind and loves Keith and Sydney’s two-year-old daughter, Charley. My favorite thing about Tess is her laid-back personality as well as her big hocked slow and soft canter,” Nicole says. “I bought her last year at the APHA World Show. Keith was down at the World Show and I received a call from him saying, ‘you need to buy this horse, but don’t freak out…she’s very loud colored.’ So, he sends the video and I fell in love with her immediately.”
Nicole’s next stop is the APHA World Show with Tess where she will compete in the Non-Pro and Open Hunter Under Saddle events with Keith Miller. After that, both horses will go to the Congress and lastly, Petey will head to the AQHA World Show where Nicole will show him in the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and with Keith in the Senior Hunter Under Saddle. “Going into these shows, I’m focusing on having good rides and making unforgettable memories. Being able to do what I love is a blessing in itself and I am thankful every day for it.”
CLICK HERE to view Nicole’s ad in the August issue of GoMag and best of luck to her in the future.
