Youth Showmanship exhibitors, Jacob Gigax and Michael Stupak, may be outnumbered by girls in most of the events at the Congress, but they outshined everyone in the NYATT Showmanship. These two boys favorite class is the Showmanship and it showed. They ended up winning Congress Champion and Reserve Congress Champion beating out over 120 other exhibitors.
Gigax, in addition to winning the trophy in the Team Tournament, was third in the 15-18 Showmanship while Stupak was the Reserve Champion in the NYATT and made the finals in the 15-18.
These two young men love horses and say they don’t mind showing with all girls. “They are all my friends,” Stupak says. “I just enjoy the competition and it really doesn’t matter who I show against.”
Gigax and his mare, Hf Lazy Lopin Diva, had three firsts and a second in his Congress Championship win. This 19 Year-old from Archbold, Ohio grew up with horses and rode on his grandparents’ farm. They bought him his first Quarter Horse. Gigax is not new to the Congress winner’s circle as he was also the 2009 Novice Youth 14-18 Horsemanship Champion, but his goal has always been to win the Showmanship.
“I was drawn instantly to the Showmanship, and I love the adrenaline rush of competing at the highest levels of competition,” Gigax told GoHorseShow at his stalls in the Gilligan barn. “I am a perfectionist, and I enjoy showing off my personality to the judges.”
Gigax shows under the guidance of Beckey Schooler and also competes in the Horsemanship and Performance Halter Mares. Jacob says that his mare definitely fits her name “Diva” and that she has this extra spark that helps him in the showmanship. Jacob and his mare are also currently leading the nation in the Showmanship.
While these boys definitely stand out because they are a rare commodity in the horse industry–especially in the pattern events, Reserve NYATT Showmanship Champion Michael Stupak of Wheeling, West Virginia also stands out because his bay gelding, The Outlaw Version (Boomer), has a long gorgeous mane. Seventeen year-old Stupak also says that he sets himself apart in the showmanship because he has a unique look.
“I show the showmanship like a boy and in a masculine way,” Stupak says. “I definitely don’t show like a girl. I also obviously standout because I have to compete against the sparkly outfits, but I enjoy the camaraderie with everyone.”
Stupak is under the supervision of Liz Flohr and Donnie Recchiuti and that the Congress is his favorite show because he loves the atmosphere and the intensity.
Michael also had a nice go in the 15-18 Showmanship, but his horse kicked at a fly in the finals and wound up a finalist. Stupak said that he enjoys working with Liz Flohr and says that she always tells him, “Don’t Suck!” and always lightens the mood.
Michael plans to continue showing Boomer in the Horsemanship and Showmanship and eventually would like to become a horse trainer and help other kids like himself succeed in the show arena.
GoHorseShow congratulates these young men and wish them good luck in the future.
