GoHorseShow caught up with Virginia Owen and One Lazy Investment at the Congress in Columbus, Ohio right after her trainer, Kenny Lakins won the Senior Western Pleasure for the third straight year. Owen, who will show in the 15-18 Western Pleasure on Tuesday, told us that the nine year-old gelding will pretty much be retired from the western pleasure after this year to concentrate on learning the all-around events.
Next year, Owen and Lazy plan to start showing in the horsemanship, western riding, trail, and equitation. Yes, equitation! “It makes me laugh thinking of Lazy in hunt seat attire, but I love the equitation, and it will be fun showing him in all of these new events,” Virginia says.
This gorgeous gelding is a true rockstar in our industry, and we asked Virginia her ten favorite things she loves about him.
Virginia’s 10 Favorite Things about Lazy
1) Lazy Loves the Show Pen – He knows when he is showing and he either is on or off – there is no in between. He has a little bit of edge of to him and when he is on – he is really crisp and fun to ride. He is a challenge to ride which I enjoy because he is not a push button horse. He also is really smart and knows when he is supposed to turn on his magic.
2) Best Personality – I was asked by GoHorseShow in another article who Lazy would be if he was a famous person, and I said Blake Shelton. He is funny, gorgeous, and talented. Women love him and he loves all the attention. He likes to get his neck rubbed and loves massages. He’s needy, but I believe all men are anyways. (laughs) He has a rock star presence with gorgeous coloring and markings.
3) Smooth Ride – When Lazy is on he feels like a smooth cadillac with a lit bit of kick behind. When he is really locked in, he doesn’t like to be messed with. He likes me to check in every once in awhile but that’s about it. I had to figure out how to sit on him and still look nice because he is so strong behind and rocks me forward.
4) Takes Care of Me – I love that Lazy doesn’t mind traffic in the pen. At the NSBA World Show, there was three of us side by side, and I was in the middle but it didn’t bother him at all. When I was younger, he would save me all the time in traffic, especially at places like the Congress.
5) Loves My Father and Kenny Lakins– He loves my dad, Peek Owen. They have a really tight relationship and he is always excited when he sees my father. Lazy likes to rub his nose on our knees. He has a forever home with us, and I joke with my dad that he will have to tote my children around in leadline and walk trot. Lazy also loves Kenny, and they respect each other. He is very special to Kenny since he has shown him since he was two years-old.
6) Athletic Talent – He has such athletic talent that it was easy for him to learn the trail, western riding, and pattern classes. We still have to nail down our spins, but he is fun to teach new events because he catches onto things really quickly. He knows his job and what he is supposed to do. It is exciting that I know that when I go into a pen that he makes me a contender. He has the talent to do well everytime we go in the pen, whether he behaves is another matter!
7) High Maintenance – When he comes home to my house, he has a huge stall and we take him trail riding a lot. He likes to be turned out for a few hours but then he stands at the gate because he is ready to go back inside. Lazy also doesn’t like the long stems in his alfalfa and he likes to pick them out. He likes to be pampered. He has mood swings which I think are really funny. He gets really grumpy when we have to ride late at night, and he definitely lets me know about it. He also likes to grunt a lot which just cracks me up – in the show pen, when I rub him. He’s so funny.
8) Adventure to Longe – At the time, it is not all that fun to longe Lazy, but when I think back on all the memories, it makes me laugh. We have to longe him for at least 45 minutes or he will be too fresh…but at the same time, there has to be two people there to make sure he goes around or he won’t move. He will basically stop and look at me like he is laughing at me if I try to longe him by myself. I always know when he needs to be longed more—if you still see the white in the corner of his left eye, that means he still needs to be longed a little bit longer.
9) Adventures in Bathing – I have to change clothes after I show before I ever give him a bath. He only likes warm water, and I will get a bath myself if I try and wash him with cold water. I get completely soaked. Also, he likes to play in the water and when I try to wash his face, he will curl up his lip and shake water all over me.
10) He Loves Selfies – He loves to pose for pictures. I take so many selfies with him that he automatically puts his ears up and knows what to do. He loves all the attention, and I love that he loves to take pictures with me all the time. It is a great bonding experience.
Thanks Virginia for sharing your thoughts about Lazy!
CLICK HERE to check out her ad in the October issue of GoMag
