The first time accomplishing a goal is memorable, especially if it takes years to complete. There are exhibitors in our industry that have been fighting and working hard to win a globe at the AQHA World Championship Show, practically their entire lives.
Some competitors finally reached that dream this year including Trainer Melissa Jones of Reelsville, Indiana, who won her first golden globe in the Senior Trail a few days ago.
Some equestrians in our industry are still searching for that big win, their first globe, and the stars to finally align their way. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn’t. That’s life.
For the lucky ones who happened to have everything come together at the right time and place, GoHorseShow asked them about the first time they won a globe in Oklahoma City. Read their priceless stories of blood, sweat and tears in search for gold.
Kari Kraft – My first ever World Show was in 2007. I competed in the Amateur Horsemanship, equitation, trail, western riding and showmanship with my horse, Mostly Chocolate. I had bought him his 3-year-old year and it took two years of hard-core showing and promoting him to make him “famous.” I believe it takes at least two years to promote a horse. I was only home for probably one month out of that entire year in 2007. We were always at a show, but I believe that’s what it takes, especially in the all-around. 2007 was my first World Show ever and I went into it wanting to make the finals in trail, showmanship and horsemanship…just hoping for a top ten in one of those events. My first class was the western riding, and I bombed it. Other than a score of a 0, I think I had the lowest ever recorded score in the western riding at that time. Jason Martin went up to my trainer Jason (English) after they announced my score; this was when they still announced the score after every ride, and he said, “um, what happened?” Jason (English) said, “It started bad and got worse.” I did lead changes where I shouldn’t have and thought I did changes where I was supposed to and didn’t. I came out of the arena humiliated. The very next class was the finals of the horsemanship and I was so determined to make it good. I went back and forth to the practice arena eight times between the time I left the western riding arena and went in to show the finals of the horsemanship. I was first to go in. It was a beautiful pattern, but I didn’t watch anyone else’s so I didn’t know how it would end up. Well, at our first world show, when I was hoping to make the finals and have a good go, we walked out world champions. It was probably the best two years of my life working up to that moment. We worked so hard. There were so many days that I cried from being mentally and physically exhausted and stressed, was sore from riding multiple times a day or spending hours perfecting a pattern. It’s a long, hard process winning a globe at the world, but when it happens, nothing will ever compare. My mom and I still reminisce about that day. I’m not sure anything else compares when you work that hard for a life-long dream.
Laurel Champlin – When I was a young, horse-crazy girl, my family couldn’t afford horse shows. My grandfather bought my first horse for me and I joined 4-H. My years in 4-H taught me all of the basics about horses and horse showing. I am very thankful for those years of education. During my college years, I worked for Carolyn McGinnis in Arizona. To support my growing desire to show horses, I spent many years working towards that beautiful globe trophy. I was top 10 many times, but it wasn’t until I raised one of my own and joined Highpoint Performance Horses that I finally found success. Art Show was a double registered quarter/paint. In 2008, I was 51 years old and competed at the APHA World Championship Show and won my first world title in Hunt Seat Equitation. It wasn’t until 2011 that I won my first AQHA World Championship on Skys Blue Eyes in the Hunter Hack. There were many years when I qualified for the equitation, but couldn’t entirely execute that finals pattern. I never gave up and I think I get harder on myself every year. There is always something to improve on and I continue to watch my videos and work on those issues I need to perfect. There is no substitute for hard work. Winning that first globe was a dream come true for me because it came after many years of struggles, both mental and physical. Confidence is built from hours of practice until performing a pattern is from muscle memory. No amount of money can buy you a globe. Some horses might make it easier. However, I’ve never had one of those. Both of my World Champion partners made me work hard for every trophy. I am forever grateful for the lessons they taught me.
Laurel Walker Denton – I showed for three years at the Youth World and made the finals a couple of times. My first World Champion was in 1976 in Open Aged Geldings. Skip Scamp was an AQHA Open and Youth Champion. It was a huge win for me. I won an Amateur globe in the ‘90s. After making the finals every year in the Ranch Riding and hearing my name called, I won the World Championship in 2017 and I came close this year again, placing 4th and 10th. I will be back in 2019 to try again. I wouldn’t miss it for the World.
Amanda Wallinger-Rowan – One of my first memories in life, I was at a horse show proudly mounted on a pony named Buster. I was about 2.5 at that time. I was so proud to win a ribbon and it was a dream to win a trophy at a local boots and saddle show. Never would I have imagined 30 years later I would have the golden globes to stare at every day. Over the 30 years, there were many trials and tribulations, and my first AQHA World Champion in 2013 with Hey Coach, who was sired by our stallion Acoolest Touchdown, was indeed one of the most memorable days of my life. There are only a few occasions I cried happy tears, when I had my kids and when I have won my trophies at the world. I never take them for granted; there is so much behind those globes for so many people the tears, the frustrations, the challenges every day, but when you win one and get to carry it out of the arena, it’s like no feeling I can describe. I owe this all to my parents, especially my mom who started me on the horses. Her dream began before I was born and never did she imagine she would be on this level of competition, competing for world championships.
Debby Brehm – I started back with horses in 1983, and my first big win was Reserve World Champion Aged Gelding in 1988 with Skips Bellboy. Unfortunately, in those days, no trophy was given other than the World Champion trophy. I received the red ribbon with the medallion on it. However, two years later, in 1990, I showed Cant Stop Styling to win World Champion Amateur Two Year Old Gelding. What a thrill to win my first gold globe. I’m fortunate to have continued to win several other gold trophies, but I will always remember my first one.
Candace Jussen – 1992 was a great year. Still being inexperienced with showing halter, the momentum was gaining. We had shown my stallion as a weanling, and shockingly, he went grand champion at a Del Mar show. We thought he was pretty special, so I approached Ted Turner Jr about taking him as a yearling. It was a wild ride; winning every show we entered. Going to the Congress, he not only won his class but was Grand Champion in the Amateur and Reserve in the open. This set the bar for the World show. It had to be the most exciting class I’ve ever shown. Having raised his mother and him, I had a lot of emotions invested. He won the world and went on to surpass any goals I may have had. I took him home and trained him for pleasure. With the help of a dear friend, Tom Luckenbill, we rode him on trails, small shows and gave him his freedom. He went on to win the Solid Gold in Pleasure as a 3-year-old, again to Congress and won his halter class, then back to the world to earn his Open Halter Stallion title as a 5-year-old with Denny Hassett showing him. I’ve shown many horses since then, but because I was a timid person, it was his confidence and trust that gave me the courage to go in the ring. It was a great trip – Mister GQ – World Champion Amateur Stallions, my first.
Kamiah McGrath – My first time going to the AQHYA World Show was when I was eight years old. We only state qualified in one class, and that was trail. I had a great ride and was hooked. My favorite parts were the parade of teams and stall decorations. After my first year, my next goal was to go into the western pleasure so I could jog down the center. I took me five years to get a callback. I never even placed in the Top 10 until I won which took nine trips to Oklahoma City to get that globe. 2019 will be my final year as a youth.
Karen Evans Mundy – Well, I have shown AQHA since 1974. I did not win my first globe until I won the all-around on Hes A Honky Tonk Man in 1992. That’s almost 27 years. It took me a long time and the following year, my horse, All In Silver won a world championship. I never gave up on that dream of being a world champion. I certainly did not have the early success that some people have.
Rebekah Kazakevicius – I won my first globe in 2006, AQHYA Reserve World Champion Hunter Under Saddle with Cool Assets. It was the first year the youth world gave globes to the top three. I started riding at a very young age and showing much later, but I would say almost 13 years.
Cathy Corrigan Frank – I didn’t win my first personal AQHA globe until I was with Searles. Thirty plus years in the making, and since I moved four years ago, I’ve managed to collect five of them, although none are gold – two silver and three bronze.
Carey Nowacek – Ever since I started showing Quarter Horses back in 1999, I had always had my eyes on the coveted Golden Globe. It took many years and lots of losing on the path to finally winning in 2010. I would not trade the journey for the world.
Carli Pitts – At my third Youth World, I won my first globe in Performance Halter Geldings, and it was my ninth and final Youth World that I won a globe in a riding class, Horsemanship.
Scott Reinartz – I started going to the World Show in 2011. I was awarded my first Globe in 2016. I had been showing in AQHA shows since 2000. It was a dream come true. You never forget the feeling.
Beth Case – I showed at the youth world once in 1999, and I didn’t even make the finals. My first AQHA World Show was in 2004. I showed Dont Ya Just Love It in Sr Hunter Under Saddle. I wanted to make the finals and I ended up Reserve World Champion. The next year we won that same class.
Do you have a memorable story about the first time you won a globe at the AQHA World Show? Let us know.
