By Delores Kuhlwein
It makes perfect sense that Brian & Angela Stanhope and Kaylee Swanigan are Clemson Tiger fans. College football fans are passionate, loyal, and enthusiastic; and tigers are fierce and courageous. It stands to reason that those qualities would pay off in the show ring. They certainly have for all three family members.
At the 2017 All American Quarter Horse Congress, the father-daughter duo of Brian Stanhope and Kaylee Swanigan won back-to-back titles in Showmanship. Brian won with Good To Be Here and Kaylee won with Ima Cool Lookin Man. Then, at the 2018 NSBA World, the mother-daughter team of Angela and Kaylee won with the same horse, Good as Expected, in Showmanship.
This dynamite team crosses over into three different divisions, and they all dominate in this particular event.
THE LINEUP
Brian Stanhope (aka Dad) – Shows Good To Be Here (aka Henry) in Select Showmanship and Horsemanship. This is their first year after having pointed out of Novice and they are holding their own, including winning a circuit championship in Showmanship at the Big A.
Angela Stanhope (aka Mom) – Shows Good As Expected in Select Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Trail. She, along with the rest of her family, show under the direction of Clint Ainsworth. She also has a new three-year-old that’s currently in training with Nick and Carmen Mayabb.
Kaylee (aka Daughter) – Shows Good As Expected (aka Jackson) in Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Trail. As of the September standings, she is leading the nation in Novice Showmanship and is in the Top 5 in both Horsemanship and Trail. Kaylee showed as a youth and then had about an eight-year break while attending college, starting a career, and getting married.
The Cheering Section: The Stanhope’s son, Jordan, is a computer engineer in Columbia, South Carolina. Their daughter, Meredith, recently finished her undergraduate degree and is working at Harvard College in Cambridge as she prepares her application for medical school. Kaylee’s husband, Mike, also her biggest fan, supports all three family members from the sidelines.
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