MORE GREAT NEWS: On Monday, Chelsea and Barbie and were Reserve in the Classic Amateur Sr Western Pleasure and ended the day with a win in the Classic Amateur Horsemanship! “It has been a whirlwind of a day, but I’m still filled with excitement!” Chelsea said.
UPDATE: Congrats to Chelsea on winning the 19-44 Amateur Equitation on Sunday at the APHA World Show. Bain shared with GoHorseShow.com her thoughts about winning her class.
“The pattern had a two track in it, so we focussed a lot on making sure we had that down. As I was doing the pattern everyone went crazy during that part, so that was exciting! Barbie made it really fun to show in the Equitation yesterday. It made me feel really good after my pattern because I could hear Sara Simons specifically cheering for me really loudly!”
As they called out the final placings Barbie got so excited, “I think it’s funny. I have always enjoyed showing in the Equitation, and we work really hard on it. I’m so proud of Barbie she was such a good girl. And winning the equitation feels like a huge accomplishment to me. I couldn’t be more excited!”
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With the APHA World Show getting ready to start in Fort Worth, Texas, GoHorseShow.com wanted to check in with top Amateur and aspiring singer, Chelsea Bain of Scottsdale, Arizona. This 20 year-old loves to perform both on stage and in the show ring. While she is already known in the horse world as a multiple APHA World Champion with Sensational Blonde, her new challenge is for people to take notice of her singing talents.
Bain just finished recording her demo which she describes as a mixture of country and rock. “Once it is finished and packaged I’ll finally be able to start handing it out. I love music, and I feel very fortunate that I have the opportunity to pursue my musical career,” says Chelsea, who will celebrate her 21st birthday during the APHA World Show. “My favorite non-equine related accomplishment would be finishing my demo. It has taken a long time and there have been a few hold ups. It hasn’t been easy, but I feel my music has come a long way through it all. I am very proud of it and excited to share it.”
This multi-talented lady recorded her songs in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Chris Omartian who is a well known Pop/Gospel Producer that has produced many musical acts like Pink and Hillary Duff. He is also the son of legendary pop producer Michael Omartian who co-produced the famous song, “We Are The World” with Quincy Jones and also produced many albums for superstar performers such as Rod Stewart, Whitney Houston, and the Jacksons. 
Bain’s voice coach is also close friends with Carrie Underwood’s guitar player, Chad Jeffers, and was able to get Chelsea tickets to a recent concert. She was also able to attend Underwood’s VIP party after the show (pictured left). “She is very nice and beautiful in person. It was really cool to meet her.”
There are five songs on Bain’s demo where she was also a co-writer on a few. Bain also plays the guitar and the piano, and her new challenge is to learn the harmonica–probably because Bob Dylan is one of her main musical influences along with the Eagles–Don Henley, Tom Petty, and Pink (Alecia Moore). Bain’s website is currently in the process of being finished, but GoHorseShow.com will inform everyone when her new songs will be available to listen to on her site. She is currently getting a band together where she plans to play some live and acoustic shows in several venues across the country.
While she is a newcomer to the music industry, she has been involved with showing horses since she was a teenager. “I have ridden horses since I was about four years-old. When I was 14, a friend got me involved in POA’s. I did that for about a year before my mom and I decided we wanted a Paint. It was all over after that, I was hooked for life,” she declared. “APHA shows are just fun. Everyone is always nice. It’s like one big party during the whole show. Call me biased, but I think Paints are the most beautiful animals.”
Bain’s trainer is Sara Simons of Simons Show Horses and she shows in the all-around events. At this year’s World Show, she will be showing in the Amateur 19-44 Showmanship, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Trail, Western Riding, and the Hunt Seat Equitation with her horse, Sensational Blonde. When asked to describe Barbie’s personality, Chelsea explains that she can tell that she loves to show. “She’s very funny and is the most comical horse I’ve ever owned. She loves Wheat Thins. I have always loved her name because it fits her personality to a T.”
Bain says about her trainer Sara Simons, “Hauling with the Simons is a blast, everyone has a nickname, and we all are like one big family. I actually just today tried typing in Sara’s nickname in the Facebook search bar, I caught myself and laughed hysterically. Don’t be mistaken, they have several nicknames for me too,” she fondly recalls. “Whether we are at a horse show or just riding at the barn it’s always fun, but everyone works really hard too. I have to thank the Simon’s, because they have taught me so much responsibility. They taught me how to work hard and earn everything you receive. At the horse shows, we focus really hard, but then we always make time to let loose a bit.”
Her favorite horse show memory involves the time when she won the 2005 14-18 Showmanship at the APHA World Show with Zippos Redemption. “I had no idea I had won. The Simons knew I had won because at the Paint shows we line up for all five judges, and the Simons added the points up. At the time I wasn’t sure how all that worked. I’ll never forget Andrea Simons leaning over the rail, getting me all excited throwing her hands up like ‘what did you get?!’ When they didn’t call me for third place I started to cry, and once I finally realized I had won I lost it completely. That’s definitely a moment I won’t ever forget, and even today if you ask Andrea Simons about it she will instantly start cracking up.”
Bain says that her best-loved class is the Western Pleasure. “It’s always very prestigious, and glamorous, and the outfits are amazing. I think it’s fun to show in because it is a rail class, and, in my opinion, not a high pressure class like the Trail and Western Riding. I also love watching it because it displays what we all look for in a great horse.”
Times are changing for Bain, and it is getting harder for her to attend as many horse shows as she did when she first started showing. The future goals she has with her nine year-old mare is to go to as many horse shows as she can, and to just enjoy the experience. Bain continues her thoughts by saying that she loves the horse industry because of the people. “I haven’t been in the industry as long as some, but I feel like I’ve grown up in it. When I first got into the Paints, I was just a kid, and now that I’m growing up; it has turned into a sentimental thing. I know that I’ll always have my extended family here in the horse show industry and that is really comforting.”
Bain concludes by telling us what she will remember and take away from showing horses. “If I had to pick one, it would be what showing horses has helped me become. All the ribbons and buckles are amazing and thrilling, but the lessons, experiences and friends are what I am going to cherish for a lifetime.”
