Huntin My Zipper Named 2013 NSBA Horse of the Year

By: Brittany Bevis

A very special congratulations goes out to one of our good friends, Rebekah Kazakevicius, following the announcement that her horse, Huntin My Zipper, has just been named the 2013 NSBA Horse of the Year. But that’s not all. The multi-talented gelding also won three NSBA year-end High Point awards in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle, and 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.

Huntin My Zipper, aka “Bob,” is a 4-year-old AQHA gelding by Hubba Hubba Huntin that achieved great success during the 2013 show season competing in both Open and Amateur hunter under saddle and western pleasure events as a 3-year-old. Kazakevicius believes Bob’s versatility is something that may have given him an edge over the competition for the Horse of The Year title.

“Versatility is one of the things AQHA and NSBA really stress, and he has all of the pieces to do all of the events, with his success in the hunter under saddle and being able to do the western pleasure,” she says. “Some of the horses that have won in the past were a little older. For him to be acknowledged with this award, at such a young age, is great.”

2013 was a busy year for the pair as they traveled with the Highpoint Performance Horse team cross country seeking qualification for the  AQHA Amateur World Show. Along the way, they scored multiple wins at major events like the Reichert Celebration, Quarter Horse Congress, and AQHA World Show.

“Definitely, at the Congress, it was unbelievable to win both the Limited 3-Year-Old Non-Pro and [3-Year-Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle],” she says. “I never dreamed of something like that. That was definitely unexpected. Then, we were Reserve in two classes there as well and placed well in the western pleasure at the Congress. It was a really good show.”

 

“The Congress and World Show are what everyone works hard for all year. For him to have such a successful Congress, especially as a three-year-old, was amazing.”

Other accolades achieved during 2013 included a fourth place finish in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle at the AQHA World Show and a third place finish in the Southern Belle division of the class. Earlier in the year, the duo placed third in the inaugural Western Pleasure Super Sires Limited Non-Pro Three-Year-Old Western Pleasure at the Reichert Celebration.

“The Super Sires class was definitely really fun to show in,” she says. “It really helped the sire’s offspring and the sires to push their names out there.”

This year, Kazakevicius and Bob will be expanding their repertoire to include additional events like equitation, trail, pleasure driving, and western riding.

“This year, I’m doing the Amateur Hunt Seat and Equitation,” she says. “It’s coming along very well. My first time was in Arizona. Jason [Martin] is showing him in the Junior Western Riding and Junior Trail, and Beth [Case] will show in Junior Hunter Under Saddle. Maybe, by the end of the year, we can do Pleasure Driving!”

Bob was bred, raised, and is currently trained by Charlie Cole and Jason Martin of Highpoint Performance Horses. Martin and Cole are among the many people Kazakevicius would like to thank for helping both she and Bob along the way.

“Sincerest thanks to the judges who recognized his talent, to my family for their continued support, and to the incredible team at Highpoint Performance Horses,” she says. “Without you, this wouldn’t have been possible.”