CLICK HERE to view the April Issue of GoMag
About the Cover
Featured on the April Level 1 Championships cover of GoMag are Kristie and Melanie Patterson of State College, PA, with trainer Adam Deardorff. The mother and daughter duo are pictured with show partners, Mind Your Biscuits (Biscuit), Ima Cool Chocolate (Nono).
The Patterson Family has been riding with Chris Gray Performance Horses for seven years. Chris has coached and trained many World, Reserve World, and Congress champions in his program.
“Chris and Adam have an incredible dynamic with their customers. They know just how to push us to our very best, and we have a lot of fun along the way,” Kristie told us. “Adam, pictured with us here on the cover, primarily shows both of our horses in the Open Western events.”
In 2024, Adam and Nono were two-time Reserve World Champions at the APHA World Show. “We consider Chris and Adam family and look forward to many more years with them.”
A new horse for Kristie this season is Mind Your Biscuits, a 2019 gelding by Its A Southern Thing. They will be showing in the Amateur All-Around Events. Ima Cool Chocolate is a 2017 mare by Huntin For Chocolate. This will be Melanie and Nono’s second season together, showing the all-around events and their first year in the 14-18.
Melanie and Nono will be competing at all the majors this year. “They are focusing on pushing forward and improving with every ride. Melanie’s long-term goal is to ride for an NCEA Equestrian team in college,” Kristie says. “I plan to introduce Biscuit to the All-Around classes this year. We had our maiden horsemanship and showmanship runs in February. We are excited for Adam and Biscuit to make their maiden trail voyage at The Premier.”
These new teams will also be showing at the AQHA Level 1 Championships this month at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio.
Fifteen-year-old Melanie is a freshman at State College Area High School. She is a member of her local FFA chapter while also riding for western and hunt seat IEA teams.
“Nono is such a sweet and gentle horse. She is always willing to give me her all. She stepped into her all-around role last year and took every class we added without hesitation,” Melanie says. “We found Nono at the 2023 Congress after my amazing year with Glo Inthedark (Augusta). I instantly fell in love with her from the first ride.”
When Kristie decided to retire their AQHYA World and Congress Champion mare, Augusta last fall, Chris and Adam had an excellent plan for Biscuit to become her new partner. “He was a horse that had been in the barn as a project for the summer, and Melanie had even ridden him several times. He is also a sweet horse who does anything you ask without hesitation.”
Kristie adds, “We are so thankful for the amazing friends the horse industry has given us. We have an incredible barn family at CGPH that always supports us. We have also been fortunate to make friends across the country.”
We wish them all the very best of luck.
CLICK HERE to view the April Issue of GoMag
Cover Photo: Keagan Phillips – Cover Design – EM Design
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