Rear Admiral Shanahan Pilots Sirtain Kinda Dream to Masters Amateur Jr. HUS Win at 2013 APHA World

By: Brittany Bevis

During her day job, Rear Admiral Christina Shanahan manages all of the US Navy medicine facilities east of the Mississippi and Europe. But today, she turned in her stethoscope for stirrups in the Masters Amateur Junior Hunter Under Saddle at the 2013 APHA World Show.

Her partner for the class was Sirtain Kinda Dream, aka “CC,” a 3-year-old mare by A Dream Remembered and out of a Ready Robin-bred mare. The pair was named the World Champions with Darcy Krause and Ultimate Loper coming in Reserve.

“CC is out of a mare from Arizona that’s owned by Ken Hobbs,” she says. “He has been with me every step of the way. He is the type of breeder that calls me after every show to see how I’ve done. The first call I got after I just won the World today was from him.”

“CC’s younger half sister is here for the Yearling Longe Line, and she is really talented. They are very similar. They look exactly alike. She is owned by Morgan Illic.”

Although Shanahan doesn’t get to compete very much, the World Show is just her sixth show this year, she relishes every moment she can spend with CC and her trainers, Tim and Shannon Gillespie.

“I just got promoted to Rear Admiral,” she says. “I’m in the Navy Nurse Corps. I have two job titles. One is Deputy Commander of Navy Medicine East, which is all of the Navy medicine facilities east of the Mississippi and Europe, and [the other is] Deputy Director of the Nurse Corps.”

“I’m very nervous about next year, because I just got promoted October 1st. I don’t know if I will be able to show much next year, and she is so talented…”

Here at the World Show, Shanahan will also be competing in Masters Amateur Showmanship. Her trainer, Shannon Gillespie, will show the mare in 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure. Assistant trainer, Raelyn, will show in Novice Horse Limited Rider 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure. Shanahan credits the Gillespie Show Horses team with helping her to achieve success despite her demanding work schedule.

“Like everyone else in the horse industry, I’ve probably been through four or five horse trainers,” she says. “When I found Tim and Shannon, it was a perfect fit. I’m so busy, but yet I’m so passionate about this. When I’m stressed, this is my stress release. I can’t imagine going without it.”

“They have the ability to hone in on your weaknesses, train to your weaknesses, and maximize your time spent in the saddle to get the maximum output. Other people aren’t as perceptive. They know it doesn’t look right, but they don’t know what’s wrong.”

Shanahan also commends her mount, the good-natured CC, for her gentle disposition, eye-catching looks, and talent.

“We call her Nicole Kidman because she is a redhead, and she acts like Nicole,” Shanahan says. “She’s very reserved, quiet, contemplative, and serious. It’s funny because we have others in the barn that are more like Brad Pitt or Kid Rock!”

Masters Amateur Junior Hunter Under Saddle-

1-Sirtain Kinda Dream/Christina Shanahan

2-Ultimate Loper/Darcy Krause

3-Im Real Sensational/Linda Rice

4-Sugarloaf Sweet Taboo/Kathryn Schexnayder

5-I Want That One/Tracy Hull

6-Skippin Thru Time/Janet Bruxer

7-His Assets Are Frozen/Cindy Snapp

8-Never Say Too Fancy/Leona Martz

Intermediate-

1-Ultimate Loper/Darcy Krause

2- Skippin Thru Time/Janet Bruxer