Nineteen-year-old Natasha Blanchard of Lumberton, Texas was hoping to end her AQHYA World Show on a high note, and she definitely did just that. Blanchard and Only A Breeze were named AQHYA Reserve World Champions in western pleasure under the supervision of Rusty and Katie Green.
According to Natasha, “This win has been the highlight of my youth career.”
Natasha told us that she had a game plan for how she wanted to show “Abby” in the tough finals on Thursday. “My thought going into the finals was I’m just going to ride Abby like I have been taught and I’m not going to let my nerves get to me. My finals ride was amazing and it felt so good.”
The judges agreed. The team ended up with two firsts, two seconds, and a third taking home a silver trophy. They also won first place in the Level 2 division.
“I love everything about Abby,” Natasha said about the seven-year-old sorrel mare by Invitation Only. “She loves to show with her ears up and always gives me one hundred percent in the show ring.”
Susan Roberts of Capital Quarter Horses generously leased the multiple AQHA World Champion mare to Natasha to show in her final youth year. “I’m so proud of them both,” Susan told us after the class. “Abby has brought a lot of joy to my life, and I was glad to see someone else experience that as well. Natasha did a great job showing on and off the rail. Abby really is a once-in-a-lifetime horse and it was so much fun to see Natasha do well. I would like to say a huge thank you to the 
whole team, especially Katie (Green). She has worked tirelessly and put her heart into this team.”
When we asked Natasha’s father, Tommy Blanchard, if he was nervous watching Natasha in the finals, he said jokingly with a smile, “No I wasn’t nervous.” When his daughter came out after her ride, he gave Natasha a high five (pictured left) and said that he was “ecstatic” that she did so well. “I would just like to thank everyone for their love and support.”
Natasha said that she was really excited that she and her longtime friend, Deanna Green, both got trophies.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Natasha,” Deanna (pictured here) told us on Thursday. “She is such a hard-working, good-hearted person. I love that girl. I got a chance to get to know her whole family and I’ve never met such genuine people. What a blessing to have all of those people in my life.”
Natasha’s western pleasure trainer, Katie Green told us that she has watched Natasha show for years and she has admired her tenacity. “Being able to be apart of this journey with Natasha has been as much of a blessing for me as it has been for her. I couldn’t be more proud of all the accomplishments she has made along the way and today was just the most incredible day.”
Natasha also told us that she felt her mother, Darla, riding with her when she was showing. Darla passed away from cancer in December. “I knew she would be proud of me no matter how I placed.”
No truer words have ever been spoken.
Congratulations Natasha!
