Mother-Daughter Team Wins Same Class With Same Horse at L1 Championships

By: Brittany Bevis

With Mother’s Day weekend fast approaching our thoughts turn to our devoted horse show moms. They are our tireless cheerleaders, our personal grooms, our ringside psychologists. They sacrifice their time, energy, (and pocketbooks) to ensure we have the very best chance for success in the show pen, and in life.

Sometimes, Mom decides to pursue her passion and follow her dreams, and the roles of horse show mom and equestrian daughter are reversed. That was the case last week at the AQHA L1 Championship West in Las Vegas when Jacqueline and Adrianne Potwora made their way from Eugene, Oregon, to compete with their 2009 gelding, RidinOnMyCoatTails, aka “Red.”

Jacqueline was first up with Red in 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle, a class she won in unanimous fashion. Then, the very next day, Mom was named the Champion in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. It was the first time either of the ladies had won a Level 1 Championship title. The trio currently shows under the guidance of Shannon McCulloch-Bacon and has for many years.

“To have both of us win the same class, at the same show, with the same horse was just amazing,” Adrianne says. “It was so much fun. She had to be the show mom for the day, which she really didn’t like, but I think it made her appreciate me a little more! She had to clean my boots and longe my horse. Then, I won the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, and it was a really neat end to the show.”

The Potwora family purchased Red three years ago and, since then, Jacqueline and the gelding have gone on to be named Reserve Congress Champions in Hunt Seat Equitation and have other Top 5 finishes.

“Shannon had to do a little convincing to get me to buy him,” Adrianne says. “He was in Texas, and she was interested in going to look at him, because we didn’t have a horse for the Congress that year. Ultimately, it was the best decision for us, so I’ve learned from now on to trust Shannon’s judgement!

Adrianne also relies on Shannon’s expertise in other areas, including trying out new disciplines and navigating the treacherous waters that are the teenage years. “I truly believe it takes a village to raise a child, and Shannon is so good with the kids,” she says. “A trainer can say things to them that you could never say. Since we started showing together, our relationship has really blossomed, which you know, with a teenage daughter, things can be really difficult sometimes.”

“When she was younger, we tried everything. We made her do soccer. We made her do track and volleyball, but she never found her passion. I thought we would try the horse thing, but I kind of hated to share it with her in case she didn’t like the thing that’s so important to me. But we did it, and it’s been amazing. She has gained so much confidence in English events, and now she has an all-around Western horse.”

Jacqueline’s new partner for Western all-around events is Hot Time To Zip, aka “Hector,” who is currently expanding his repertoire to include Trail and Western Riding. At the L1 Championship Show, Jacqueline and Hector won Rookie Horsemanship and placed fourth in 14-18 Trail. However, with the acquisition of another horse, the decision was made that Red will have to find another home, so he’s now for sale.

“I’ve been promising my husband for the past two years that I would get down to one horse, and I keep delaying it. But, now I think reality has hit that I can only have one horse at these shows. It’s really hard to be a show mom and to show yourself. So, we’ve decided to sell Red. Jacqueline really wants to do all-around and get more confident in Western classes.”

Until that time comes, Jacqueline will continue to show Red and Hector at major upcoming events, including the NSBA World Show and All American Quarter Horse Congress. “We’re always out to end the year with a bang, and that normally happens on the road to the Congress, which is a long road coming from Oregon! At the Congress last year, she was Reserve in Hunt Seat Equitation, which is amazing when you consider her progression. When she started, she just wanted to do Western Pleasure, and then Shannon got her started in Showmanship and now English. It’s neat to see her evolve as a rider and a human being. Also, she’s never been to the Youth World, so we might go to watch this year. That’s definitely a goal of hers.”

As for Adrianne’s future in the show pen, she turns 50 next year and will be able to enter the Select ranks. “The great part for me is that I’m novice in every class, so I can be slow in trying to find a class that suits me. Shannon thinks I should try Trail with Hector. I’ve shown horses since I was a kid showing Appaloosas, but things are a lot different now… I have a lot to learn!”

No matter what happens later this year and in the years to come for this mother-daughter duo, they will always have the special memories made at the L1 Championships, when they won the same class, on the same horse, at the same show.

“Shannon had done so much work to get the horse to this point, really preparing him and getting him ready to show. After winning the day before with Jacqueline, there was higher expectations for me. But, I tried to put that out of my mind and do everything they told me to do. We got a lot of great looks and didn’t get stuck in a pack.”

“But, at the end of the day, Jacqueline did confess that she didn’t actually longe my horse that morning. He did seem a little fresh… but now I know why!”

But Adrianne holds no hard feelings. All’s well that ends well, and after all, she know better than anyone that it’s a lot of work being a horse show mom!