By: Brittany Bevis
Beth Case was in the irons of Look N Hott, aka “JJ,” for owner Laurel Champlin this afternoon during the Senior Hunter Under Saddle at the 2014 All American Quarter Horse Congress. According to Champlin, this was one of JJ’s best rides to date.
“I thought he was beautiful,” she says. “He was slow-legged and Beth stayed on the rail; she did what the judges asked, even though she got covered up at times. I think she showed him off when she needed to. She tries to plan it so [other horses] pass her in the corners so she can [ride] pretty along the rail. Also, we always try to get him in places where he can use his ears, because that’s really what makes him so pretty.”
7-year-old JJ and Champlin were named the Select World Champions in Hunter Under Saddle earlier in August, and they’re currently working on adding some additional events to their repertoire.
“He’s learning how to do Western Riding now,” she says. “We’re really going to aim for it next year. We’re doing the Horsemanship here, and we might do the Showmanship. He’s really kind of good at it!”
Last night, Champlin and JJ qualified to return for the finals of the Non Pro Open Hunter Under Saddle Maturity, and Nancy Sue Ryan piloted the big, bay gelding to qualify for the Open Hunter Under Saddle Maturity finals later this week.
“He’s been the best horse to have and own,” she says. “I was sitting in the stands and I told Susan, when I watch him and he looks really soft and really good, sometimes I just can’t believe I really own a horse like that.”
Laurel Champlin and Susan Wilson are video blogging for The Equine Chronicle from the All American Quarter Horse Congress this year. Click here to watch their videos from Day 1 and Day 2.
Senior Hunter Under Saddle-
1- Look N Hott/Beth Case
2-Air Ride Equipped/Keith Miller
3-Willys On The Green/Rosie Sheffer
4-BMQ The Jig Is Up/Shannon Gillespie
5- Beautiful Maiden/Katy Jo Zuidema