Amateur Darcy Reeve and A Certain Vino have enjoyed success beyond measure and their list of accomplishments is awe-inspiring. At this year’s Congress, Vino won the Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturity and Amateur Western Pleasure with Darcy, and Senior Western Pleasure and Open Western Pleasure Maturity with Karen Hornick.
This eight year-old gelding by Certain Potential is a seven-time AQHA World Champion, 20 time Congress Champion, 22 time NSBA World Champion, NSBA Horse of the Year, AQHA Most Valuable Horse and has lifetime earnings of over $300,000.
Following yet another remarkable Congress, Darcy reflected back for GoHorseShow.com on the path that the two have taken dating back to 2005.
From Darcy:
Six years ago I got a phone call from my dad who was at the AQHA World Championship show, saying he had just bought me a two year-old named, A Certain Vino. I knew that we were searching for something, but I have to admit I was a little skeptical since he was only a two year-old. Little did I know that this two year old would be the one to lead me to accomplish my dreams.
It is next to impossible to pick my favorite moment with Vino, but one stands out in my mind. My first Congress with Vino was in 2007 when I showed him in the Open Non-Pro Maturity. People were comparing Vino to a very successful pleasure horse, who to this day, is still one of the very best. She was in that class along with countless other World and Congress Champions. So going in and winning that class was very special to me!
Not only is Vino incredible to show, but he is one of the most fun horses just to be around. He thinks that he is a king (it probably doesn’t help that we spoil him). He has a unlimited supply of hay offered to him, and countless peppermints a day! He likes to be able to see what’s going on, and visit the horses around him.
Vino has been an amazing partner for me the past few years. The things he has helped me accomplish is more than I ever dreamed of, and just when you think he is too tired or not quite himself, he pulls through and gives you 110% every time. He wants to win more than anyone.
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to ride and show Vino, and work with Karen Hornick, and Charlie Cole. They are the people who have made him who he is today.
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Darcy says that she plans to continue showing him and maybe add the horsemanship to their repertoire, but she says that her future plans with him are not set in stone. We wish her the best of luck and thank her for sharing her thoughts about owning this legendary show horse.
