The Champlin Family of Gardnerville, Nevada had an amazing debut on their new horse, Look N Hott (JJ), at the Congress this past month. Their trainer, Beth Case, won the Junior Hunter Under Saddle with a broken foot, Laurel Champlin won the Select Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, and the Limited Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity, and Laurel’s daughter, Cassidy, won the 12-14 Hunter Under Saddle unanimously under all four judges. What was also awe-inspiring about these wins was that it was the first time Case and the Champlin’s had ever shown JJ.
Another interesting fact is that Look N Hott was bred and raised by the Bernhard family of Germantown, Wisconsin. They also raised his full brother, Thats Hott, who also won the 12-14 Hunter Under Saddle in 2009 with new owner, Taylor Brown–who bought her horse a few days before debuting and winning her class at the Congress! Alisa and her mom, Sue Bernhard, sold JJ to Laurel Champlin in July of this year. The Champlin’s are under the guidance of Highpoint Performance Horses. (Pictured left Thats Hott with Look N Hott who are full brothers and both won the 12-14 Hunter Under Saddle at the Congress)
Up-and-coming trainer and former owner, Alisa Bernhard, started showing JJ the summer of his three year-old year with great success. They won three classes at the 2010 NSBA World Show, including the Green Hunter Under Saddle. At Congress, the team placed third overall in the Green Hunter Under Saddle, and finished fourth in the Open Three Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle futurity. Starting in January 2011, it was Alisa’s goal to get him qualified for the Junior Hunter Under Saddle for the World Show, and she finished qualifying him at the Texas Amateur Show at the end of April.
“I was very sad and slightly resistant when my mom decided to put him up for sale during the summer,” Alisa says. “I was really looking forward to showing him. I wish it was me up there winning on him, but I am so proud of him and what he accomplished at the Congress. I knew he had a very promising future and being with Highpoint would make his success a sure thing. Beth Case is one of the nation’s top hunt seat riders, and I knew she would prepare him right. It’s almost a little bittersweet for me.” (Pictured right, Alisa Bernhard, former owner, breeder, and rider of Look N Hott, Photo © Larry Williams)
The Bernhard’s have JJ’s little sister at home, who is next in line. Her name is, Feel N Hott, aka, Twiggy. She’s a two year-old this year and has big shoes to fill with two famous brothers! All three horses are by Hot N Blazing and out of Alisa’s former show mare, Regal Marie, who they also bred and raised. Their mare, Regal Marie, had multiple top tens at Congress and the World Show and about 250 points in five events during her show career.
When we asked the current owner, Laurel Champlin, what it was like to win on her new horse at the Congress, she says it was the Congress of a lifetime.
“Considering I had never shown him before and only ridden him about four times it was incredible,” Laurel tells GoHorseShow. “I can’t take the credit though because Myles McLean rode him a lot when we first purchased him and then Beth Case put the finishing touches on. It’s easy to be a catch rider when Beth is preparing your horse for you. I’ve been attending the Congress for about 25 years so I know how difficult it is to win there.”
Laurel’s daughter, Cassidy, also shares her thoughts about her win. “When I first got there I thought I was showing our other horse, Skys Blue Eyes in the 12-14 Hunter Under Saddle, but, then, Jason talked my mom into letting me show JJ, and I was so excited.”
Cassidy continues, “I only got two rides on him before I got to show him, but I guess that’s all it took. I went into the arena scared to death not knowing this horse at all, but he was amazing and so much fun. When the judges placed the class, and I realized I won under all four judges, I was thrilled. JJ is such a cool horse, and I am so happy we own him. I can’t wait to show him more, not just because he’s a nice horse but because he’s such a fun horse to ride and be around.”
When asked about his future plans, Beth Case says that she is really excited to show him at the up coming World Show in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle. Case won this class in 2009 with Hot Ones Only.
“Next year, Laurel will show him at the Select World and Cassidy at the Youth World. Laurel wants to do the equitation on him too next year. Charlie might try to drive him, and then maybe the year after that see if he wants to jump. We are very excited about him and Laurel is so happy with the Congress he just had,” Beth says.
We congratulate everyone on the amazing success they have had with JJ and wish them luck in the future.
Photos © Larry Williams, Jeff Kirkbride, Mallory Beinborn of Impulse Photography
