Multiple World and Congress Champion Halter exhibitor Debby Brehm of Lincoln, Nebraska has decided to take on a new challenge this year–showing in the riding classes.
“I showed western pleasure back in the Stone Age,” Brehm says and laughs. “At least it seems that way–I have probably ridden in one or two pleasure classes total in the last fifteen to twenty years. I really haven’t had anything to show as I was focusing only on halter, and I was afraid of messing up my daughter, Morgan’s really good horses.”
Her daughter’s trainers, Jeff and Windy Allen of East Omaha, Nebraska, encouraged Debby to start showing again in the western pleasure. Debby’s daughter now has a futurity horse to show, so, there was an extra horse in the barn–a 2007 gorgeous red roan gelding named, Hes Good N Sultry (known as Carrot Top).
Brehm made her debut at this year’s Sun Country Circuit in the Novice Amateur Western Pleasure where she had three firsts, a third, a sixth, and a ninth. There was an average of 20 exhibitors in the class each time she showed. Debby’s placings were impressive, especially after such a long hiatus from the riding arena. Debby told GoHorseShow.com that she was really excited to hear her name called so many times.
“I am having fun riding and showing,” Brehm said. “I have always said that if the horse shows aren’t fun then there isn’t any point in doing them anymore.”
Brehm goes on to say, “Horses and horse shows are my hobby, and therefore I can laugh and have a good time whether I am showing halter, western pleasure, or watching Morgan compete in all of her classes. Carrot Top is so sweet to put up with me, and the running joke I have with Jeff and Windy is that they have job security fixing the horse after I am done riding him.”
Her trainers Jeff and Windy Allen love that Debby has decided to try something different that is out of her comfort zone. “So much has changed since the last time Debby showed in the pleasure,” Windy said on the phone to GoHorseShow.com. Windy and Jeff had just finished up showing at the Prairie Classic in Oklahoma City. “Debby did well at the Sun Country, and she also had two seconds and a third at the show that just finished in Oklahoma. She is starting to get the hang of it.”
Allen adds, “It is also another way for Debby and her daughter, Morgan, to bond and share some memories and experiences together. They are having a lot of fun together. Debby is also excited because she gets to shop for new show clothes.”
Eventually, Brehm would like to do some trail classes on her horse and show in the Select Western Pleasure. Her next major goal is to compete with Hes Good N Sultry in the Novice Western Pleasure at this year’s Congress.
Watch out for this team at the major shows this year. From the look of things– it appears Ms. Brehm will be making a name for herself in the riding arena as well.
Photos courtesy of Rebecca Anderson
