Life Is Sweet With “The Cookie Lady” and He’s The Candy Man
By: Brittany Bevis
For AQHA amateur exhibitor, Samantha Ihde, life may not be just like a box of chocolates, but it certainly is sweet! Lately, this seasoned competitor and baker has been combining her talents in pastry and performance horses with some very delicious results.
Samantha’s business is Charlie & Me Bakery, a venture named after her grandfather and her first show horse, Charlie. It’s based in Southern California where she specializes in custom pastries like cakes, cookies, and cinnamon rolls. “My Grandpa, Charlie, was the one who got my mother and I into horses when he bought us riding lessons when I was three years old, so the name Charlie has a lot of meaning to me,” she says.
Samantha graduated from culinary school with her AA in Culinary Arts from The Art Institute. The degree program required her to cover a wide range of cuisines from Middle Eastern to Mexican while studying classical techniques, nutrition, and world cuisine.
“I can make all sorts of goodies- scones, cinnamon rolls, and cakes. I actually graduated in culinary arts and not baking and pastry, so I can cook just about anything. I’m currently a catering chef as my full-time job, so I will cater big weddings and birthday parties on the weekends that I’m not showing.”
At the recent Sun and Surf circuit, Samantha created a batch of special cookies decorated with the horse show’s logo! She also created a similar design for High Point Performance Horses.
“There is so much advertising in the horse world, and I knew I could make a great cookie, so I thought I would combine the two together! I’m just starting out, so the Sun and Surf circuit and Highpoint Performance Horses have been my only horse show clients. It’s quite a long process to make the cookies, but it’s special when you can bring someone’s logo to life in an edible treat!”
In fact, Gordon has contracted Samantha to make some special Equine Chronicle cookies for a few upcoming events, so be on the lookout!
Although the cookie venture is a new addition to Samantha’s life, she’s been showing horses since she was in diapers. She started competing at large circuits about four years ago when she joined Tonya Brown Quarter Horses after purchasing Moonlit Hotrodder, “Rodney,” from Justin Billings. She describes him as her once-in-a-lifetime horse. She also competes with her mother’s horse, Call Me Interested, in Novice Amateur Western Riding. For the past three years in a row, Samantha has placed in the Top 10 at the AQHA World Show in Amateur Western Pleasure and won a NSBA World Championship in the Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure Maturity last year.
But it is a partnership with a new horse that seems truly meant to be. Samantha recently purchased the 2015 AQHA stallion by Zippos Mr Good Bar who’s appropriately named, He’s The Candy Man. Scott Frye rode the sweet stallion to win the first ever 2-Year-Old Super Sale Stakes class at the 2017 All American Quarter Horse Congress. This year, Scott will be showing the stallion in Open 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure and Samantha will be showing him in Non Pro 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure.”
“My goal with the equestrian side of things is to continue the success I’m on, meet new people, and hopefully expand into all-around events. My goal with Charlie & Me Bakery is to continue to grow and make people happy with lots of sugar and butter!”
