Ali Eidson/Gametime Sensation and Coleen Bull/Timeless Assets Are APHA World Champions in Equitation

By: Brittany Bevis

This afternoon at the 2017 APHA World Championship Show the Equitation classes saw two repeat World Champions crowned with Ali Eidson and Gametime Sensation taking the Classic Amateur title and Coleen Bull with Timeless Assets winning Masters Amateur.

Today’s win marked the fourth buckle earned in Equitation for Ali, but her first in the amateur division with her seven-year-old gelding, Gametime Sensation. Making the win even more special, Ali shared the spotlight with her good friend, Lana Markway (Wirsig), who was named the Reserve Champion with R Kid Rock. “We’ve been showing together for 20 years, so it was a really special moment to be out there with her,” Ali says.

This particular Equitation pattern included everything but the kitchen sink with a specific number of strides listed for certain maneuvers, hand galloping in two-point with a break down to the trot, dropping irons while two pointing and posting, square corners, and a forehand turn. Ali’s favorite part was the last line that included the two point trot without stirrups. “I ride English every time I go to the ranch, so practicing without irons is something I do a lot, in case something like this comes up. I was really excited to see it in the pattern.”

“There were a lot of challenging parts, and I really appreciated the pattern. I thought this was really going to show which riders put in the work and who had a truly great connection with their horse. It took a lot of leg strength and trust.”

Third place in the class was Andrea Nelson with Mr. Verifiable. Fourth was Kylee John with Krumsunized. Fifth was Madison Ketchum with Red Solo Cup.

Colleen Bull and Timeless Assets were named the World Champions in Masters Amateur Equitation for the fourth year in a row. Today, “Tucson” tied Slide Away Sally, who currently holds the record for the most World Championships earned by a horse in APHA history at 24. Interestingly enough, despite all her previous success in this class, Coleen says she gets most nervous for Equitation.

“I think it’s because I doubt my skills,” she says. “I don’t know if everybody else goes through this, but there is a little bit of panic when it comes to getting my diagonals. I get my diagonals all the time anywhere, unless I get in front of the judges, and then I get a little panicked. I’m absolutely most happy that this class is out of the way.”

While some competitors anxiously refresh the APHA website waiting for the World Show patterns to be posted online, Coleen has a different method of preparation. “We never really practice the pattern at home. I work on getting my legs strong and I work on all the parts and pieces. Also, Tucson is so smart that, if I practice too much, he will just do it by himself.”

“Before the World Show comes up, I sit at my desk at work and start watching old videos. It gets me excited, pumped, and into the right frame of mind. But, this year, I started to get a little sick to my stomach. I just didn’t think I could handle the stress. I said to myself, ‘Coleen, why does it have to be so stressful? Can’t you just relax and have fun with it?’ No. I’m a type A personality. But, I’ve had people say that if I didn’t get a little stressed and worked up that I probably wouldn’t perform as well, and there’s definitely that part to it.”

Now that Tucson is on the brink of earning his place in the record books, we wondered if Coleen was feeling any pressure. “It’s too much to even think about. Last year, it dawned on me that none of this is about me. All of this is about him. He was marked for greatness and I’m just the person who’s helping him get there.”

The Reserve World Champion in the class was Kelli Foster with A lot To Offer. Third was Brenda Ball with Got To Luv It. Fourth was Melissa Haberkorn with VR Kockyour Socksoff. Fifth was Paris Hughes with Fancy Favors.