All decked out in shimmering gold, T. Sharnai Thompson broke down in tears when it was announced she and her mother’s 4-year-old mare, Sleepin In The Rain, were the 2009 amateur western pleasure world champions.
It was the third gold trophy for the 22-year-old at the 2009 AQHA World Championship Show, winning two more in amateur pleasure driving and hunter under saddle on Hot Ones Only.
The three-time youth world champion had four back-to-back finals on November 9 – the amateur pleasure driving with her 3-year-old stallion, Hot Ones Only, and the amateur western pleasure, amateur western riding and horsemanship with Sleepin In The Rain.
That’s a lot of tack and wardrobe changes. But at the end of the busy day, one moment stood out in her mind as extra special … and it wasn’t anything golden.
“I’d have to say that the third in the western riding was a really big accomplishment for me; behind Harley D Zip and Majestic Scotch, who are the greatest western riders ever, and I was right there behind them on my little 4-year-old mare,” Sharnai said of the bronze finish. “That was really exciting. Really exciting.”
Click here for more coverage from November 10.
