GoHorseShow asked several horse show competitors about their personal, professional, and horse-related goals for 2012. We have some rather ambitious individuals in our industry—but we already know that! Horse shows and competition go hand-in-hand and it carries over to their personal and professional lives as well. We talked to trainers, youth, and amateurs on the AQHA and APHA circuit. Make sure to read some of their goals and let us know what your plans are for this year!
Chelsea Bain–I am currently preparing to tour in just a week! I’ll be playing with the band Sister Hazel. Halfway through the tour, I’ll be shooting my music video for my first single, which will be released in February. My older brother will be directing my video as well. My goals for 2012…To try to show and ride my horse (Barbie) as much as I can in the midst of touring. I also hope to become more experienced in the music world. The most important thing to me is to be a good person, that is my thing every year. I always hope to embrace something new. We will see!
Amy Mackie Smith–On a professional level, my goal for 2012 is to promote our young stallion, Greatmindsthinkaluke. I am very excited about him and his first foal crops. My personal goal is to learn more about the breeding industry. I have spoken with several top AQHA breeders over the past few months to prepare for our first breeding season. I’m so grateful for the friends I have made, the advice and words of encouragement. I look forward to many new friendships. In regards to the horse shows….I love showing; traveling, meeting new people. My goal this year is to attend some shows I haven’t been to before and to campaign our two year-old prospects.
Jake Gigax–My goals for 2012 are all focused on me since my life had always revolved around horses and living life on the road capturing the 2011 High Point Showmanship title along with the 2010 Limited Showmanship title. I am not exactly sure what shows I will be doing next year, but I am already qualified for the Amateur world and plan on showing there. To be honest, when I was starting on the Quarter Horse circuit five years ago, my goal was to win the Congress and now I have been grateful enough to win it twice! The only thing left on my list horse show wise is to make the finals of the showmanship at the Amateur World Show and I will continue to work towards that goal in 2012.
Kirsten Farris–I have mixed feelings about traditional yearly goals or even worse, the dreaded New Years Resolution. For some people, traditional goal setting works, for me, not so much. I like to think of goals as a general direction, not the destination. With that said, I am excited about 2012 and looking forward to riding english without my irons, adding Equitation to my horse show classes, working with my clients and increasing subscribers on my online entry system.
Stephanie Willsey–For 2012, my professional goal is to maintain a high GPA at school while still competing at all the horse shows. My personal goal is to really enjoy, and not feel too much pressure, throughout my first year of university and final youth year. My horse show goal is to work really hard with my horses, Stewie and Frog, so we can peak and have great rides at the Youth World and the Congress. Although my trainer Charlie Cole might argue that a good goal for me should be to remember what bit I use–he always teases me for coming to my lessons with a different one everyday!
Charlie Cole— Professionally, my goal for this is always the same each year. I want to get better at riding, showing and coaching. I’m never complacent with my success. I want to work hard and learn better training techniques from other successful trainers. Personally, I’d let to hit the gym more consistently and eat better–horse shows make it tough. My new barrel horse Moe would sure appreciate it if I lost a few pounds and he’d probably run even faster. Horse show goals– first I’d like to win the Jr Western Riding at the World Show. Last year on Waylon (VS Code Red), I knew I had a great chance, but, just prior to finals, he hurt himself. He’s a great horse and I look forward to every ride. I also have a really nice group of young horses that I am going to start showing, and, of course, Vino (A Certain Vino) and Lucy (Vital Signs Are Good), and so many others that make showing so fun and exciting for me.
Amy Lynn Brosch–I have two goals for 2012. The first, is to send my stallion, A Chance For Romance, to stand his first “real” breeding season. After several years of successful showing, and achievements such as 2011’s Congress Open All Around Champion. I believe it’s time for him to show his stuff in the breeding shed, and to hopefully produce many more generations of champions. My second goal is a personal goal – after several years of sitting on the sidelines enjoying watching great trainers do great things with my stallion, it’s time for this gal to get back in the saddle! As much as I enjoy spectating, I have missed being the one in the saddle and competing at the horse shows. I recently purchased a full sister to a Master’s HUS Champion, and a 4x Congress Champion, who has been out to pasture as a broodmare for most her life. At the tender age of seven, I am now riding her full time to get her finished for the shows, to be my personal show mount. It will require a lot of practice to get these two out of shape girls into the show ring.
Katy Jo Pickard–I’m just so happy to have survived 2011. We are looking forward to having all the change and turmoil and adjustment behind us of getting moved and merging our businesses. Now we have an awesome group of horses started and a great group of people gathered and we have taken a deep breath and our first step forward together. Plus of course we got engaged over Christmas so we get to get hitched with all our family and friends. We can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store!
Lauren Michelle Kelly–2011 was a bit rough for me. My first year in amateur, and I only showed at 4 shows. Not what I expected. I really want to be healthier in 2012, and be able to make more shows. I want to complete my gelding’s superior in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, and complete his open championship. Personally and professionally, I want to get the ball rolling on my second degree. I’m hoping to be working on that by late summer.
Jenna Dempze–My horse show goal is a revolving goal from year to year, I would like to win the AQHA Congress and the AQHA World Show. I’d like to have both trophies at some point, they don’t have to occur in the same year. A new personal goal for me this year is to run a half marathon. It will be difficult but I want to push myself to achieve that challenge. My professional goals are to continue in keeping a high standard for our horse business; to breed and show at a high level of competition. I also want to continue to be a positive contribution for our family’s cranberry business.
Kaleena Katz Weakly–My professional goal is to learn how to say “no.” My personal goal is to spend more time with our family. And my horse show goal is to attend more futurities this year with our three year-old, and keep working towards a World Championship.
Katie May–I have a lot of different goals in 2012, luckily my professional, personal, and horse show goals are all the same. One of my main goals for 2012 is to get my horse, Gold Star Investor, aka Boots, into the show pen at most of the larger shows. Also, to end out my PHBA Youth Presidency on a strong note. And most importantly end my high school career and youth career with memories that last a lifetime.
Beth Cosentino–My personal goal is to get accepted to go to a college in Texas, and pursue a degree in education. Horse show goals are to qualify and compete at the Youth World, and finish in the top 10.
Susan Pennau–My goal is to continue to seek to fulfill my God given purpose on this earth. I want to work at staying physically fit and healthy so I can continue to travel with my husband and family and horse show as much as possible. I am going to look for more ways to volunteer and use my time wisely.
Michele Wilheim–My professional goal is to actually spend less time at the office. It seems like a reverse goal of sorts, I know, but I need to reorganize some of the priorities in my life. My personal goal will sound silly to most people, but as much as I love the horses and all of the people that I’ve met from being involved with the shows, I’m still very nervous in traffic when I ride in the practice pen. So much so that it keeps me out of the show pen. So, my goal for this year is to do at least 1 walk/trot class. The journey of a 1000 miles begins with 1 step! My show goal is to help the associations that Sydney and I have been working with to really promote the new Rookie divisions. It’s an awesome opportunity to introduce new people to the fun and camaraderie at AQHA events. I’m looking forward to putting some creativity into the promotion and management of those divisions in particular for Rock Star Horse Shows. I’d love to see a couple of new AQHA members at each circuit as a result of our efforts. Keep your fingers crossed!
Leonie Behrens–Professional: If I am not at the barn or at college I like spending time at my atelier designing and creating show clothes for my brand “LeBe Design”. I have so many ideas I want to breathe life into during the year. Horse show goals: My horse Invy and I just started doing the all around events as horsemanship last year, so the goal is to build up the maneuvers and get more competitive at it. I am also very excited about showing Invy in the trail this year (since I got addicted when I was working with Bruce Vickery) I want us to gain experience and just enjoy doing it 
It is going to be a challenge since we both are green at it but it will be fun! The personal goal is to spend as much time as possible with my horses and family, create some gorgeous outfits and just enjoy life!
Janet Brooks–2012 will bring its challenges and i am fully prepared to take them head on. I hope the 2012 Youth world show (which will also be my first youth world) will be a sucess for me and that Sweet Movin Hotrod and I can have our best ride possible. I am taking on the challenge of learning horsemaship and following a program similar to the collegiate equestrian program. I hope that my hard work, four days a week lessons and workout plan will bring me that much closer for qualifying for an equestrian scholarship a year and a few months from now. I am praying for a sucessfull and happy 2012 year!
