Amateur Jordan Gardner of Fort Worth, Texas is one of the few individuals in our industry that became interested in showing horses on her own accord. Her family and parents have no background in horses, but Jordan said she’s been hooked since birth and says, “it’s an innate thing.”
Gardner is currently showing on the ApHC circuit with her horses, Krymsun N Klover (Tommy) in the all-around events and her new project, Big Time Money (Chip) in the pleasure events. Another interesting fact about Jordan is that she also does the speed events, but she recently sold her game horse and is currently in the market for a new one.
The Texas native started taking lessons when she was in first grade at a barn that had Appaloosas. When Jordan was 13, Gardner was able to purchase, Ima Dandy Secret (Dan), and that led her to the ApHC show circuit.
“Being from Fort Worth, my mom and I would visit the horse show events that were at Will Rogers Complex and that definitely fueled the fire,” says Gardner, who went to college at Texas A&M University and was a member of the equestrian team. “I love showing. I enjoy getting to spend my Saturday mornings riding. Love being at the horse shows and riding and visiting with people I’ve grown up with from all over the country. I’m competitive by nature and showing horses allows you to compete against yourself – there are always new goals and challenges forming.”
Gardner won her first-ever world championship on Dan who is now 28 and retired on her parents’ farm. She remembers fondly traveling the states with Dan for three years – trailer chasing points for year end titles.
“Those were some great years and lots of great memories, but it would take a novel to share them all!” says Jordan, who now works for Chuck Latham Associates and WF Young as an outside sales rep – specializing in animal health and equine products. “Another huge accomplishment was earning my Youth Superior Achievement Championship, which is a lifetime award. My goal was to earn it all on only one horse–which hadn’t been done, and thanks to Dan and my parents– we were able to do it.” (pictured left)
For our readers not familiar with the ApHC Youth Superior Supreme Champion award–the youth must earn 350 points for this award, a minimum of 105 in Showmanship at Halter, a minimum of 140 points in performance classes, and the remaining 105 points may be won in elective youth activity events.
One of the individuals that Gardner credits for her success is Sue Scobee. “She trains my speed event horses but is knowledgeable in all fields of showing. She’s been in this business for a long time and is about as honest as they come,” Jordan states. “She’s a tough rider and hard worker – and her client’s successes and her own is proof of that!”
Jordan’s current trainer for the pleasure and all-around events is Dave Archer of Pilot Point, Texas. Archer and Gardner grew up showing Appaloosas together and both riders trained with Sue Scobee.
“I appreciate that Dave is hard worker and is very competitive. He always has my best interest in mind. Dave likes to win and he wants his clients to have the best chance at winning. His wife, Courtney, is Dave’s biggest fan and biggest cheerleader for his clients,” Jordan says. “Having their support is great and makes all the difference when it comes to successes and those times when the outcome in the arena isn’t what you wanted.”
Gardener’s future goals are to start showing in the western pleasure and the non-pro events with NSBA. “It’s something I’ve never done and look forward to it,” Jordan states.
“Dave has been working with Jordan the past two years and she has so much talent and drive to be the best she can be every time she steps in the arena,” Courtney Archer states. “It makes working and learning with her so much fun. We are super excited to get her in the show pen in the western pleasure with her new three year-old, Big Time Money.” (pictured above)
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Photo © Impulse Photography/Mallory Beinborn
