Kirsten Thomsen of Nicolaus, California is one lucky girl. The twenty-year-old purchased Elis A Sleepin in January, just shortly after he was crowned the 2011 AQHA World Champion in Junior Western Riding with Leonard Berryhill. The gorgeous 16.1 hand black gelding is by BSB Quarter Horse’s Too Sleepy To Zip, and out of Vested Investment.
“It was a long process and a big transition for him from the western pleasure to the western riding, but by Congress time, I knew we had a shot at winning,” says, Berryhill, who is well remembered for his bridleless victory lap after his win in the Junior Western Riding at the 2011 AQHA World Show. “I knew he had the talent and the look to win, but you never know.”
What makes Eli stand out is not only his height, being 16.1 hands, but his gorgeous black shiny coat and striking white markings on his face. He is also one of the few horses these days that can be considered a true all-around horse. Eli has amassed points in the western pleasure, western riding, hunter under saddle, equitation, trail, and performance geldings.
Thomsen, and her trainer, Nancy Alto-Renfro of Finley, California, thought Thomsen and Eli would be a great match. In Thomsen’s first year competing at the AQHA World Show in the Amateur events, Kristen placed eighth in the Amateur Western Riding and Renfro also placed eighth in Senior Western Riding. Thomsen shows Eli in Amateur Western Pleasure and Western Riding and Renfro is slowly adding Horsemanship and Hunt Seat Equitation to his repertoire.
“Eli is just a big goofball,” says Kristen, who is currently in cosmetology school. “As soon as you call his name, he whips around with his big ears up and he is happy to see you. He is just a happy and kind hearted horse. My trainer, Nancy, is very easy to get along with and fun to be around. She is just an awesome trainer, and I’m glad to be working with her.”
Kristen became involved with horses through her mother, Carol Thomsen, who showed on the Open Show Circuit when she was younger.
Kristen says that when she was about three-years-old, she started begging her mom to let her ride horses. Finally, when she was was six, she started riding, and, then, a few years later, she was showing. Her favorite prize so far in her career came in 2010, when she placed third in Western Riding at the AQHA Youth World Show with her youth horse, Zippos Petite Prince.
“What I like most about showing is the people I have met and became friends with and the great horses,” Kirsten says. “Showing horses has taught me patience, sportsmanship and that hard work really does pay off.”
Kirsten’s future goal is to win an AQHA World Championship, and she’s hoping to fulfill that goal with Eli.
“I’m excited to be 
an amateur,” Kristen says, “I felt with being a youth–there was so much pressure because you only have so many youth years. With being an amateur, there isn’t that pressure and you can be an amateur for the rest of your life.”
Click here to see her ad in the holiday issue of Go Mag.
Photos © Emajes Design and Shane Rux
