New Year, New Teams!

By: Brittany Bevis

The beginning of each show season is a hopeful and exciting time, full of possibilities. And there’s nothing more exciting than starting the New Year with a new horse!

We checked in with a few of our friends, who have new equine partners for the 2017 show season, to see how things are going in the New Year. Check out Part 1 of New Year, New Teams.

Team #1: Alex Chavez and Chex Me I’m Cute

Purchased- At the 2017 Florida Gulf Coast in Tampa, Florida

Stats- 2004, Zippo Pine Chex mare; AQHA World Champion in Junior Trail with Bruce Vickery; Reserve NSBA World Champion in Senior Trail, and Congress Champion in Senior Trail with Brad Ost

“Blondi is a proven Trail horse, and I thought she would be the perfect horse for Alex to learn how to do Trail with,” says trainer, Troy Lehn. “Alex will be showing Blondi in Novice Amateur and Amateur Trail, and I’ll be showing her in Senior Trail. We made our debut at the Fox Lea Farm Winter Circuit in Venice, Florida this week. Alex won the Novice Amateur Trail on both cards, and I was 2nd, 3rd, and 5th out of 74 in Senior Trail. We are excited for what the future hold with this great mare!”

Team #2: Lisa Neiberger and No Question I’m Lazy

Purchased– At the NSBA World Championship Show in August 2016

Stats– 5-year-old gelding by Lazy Loper and out of My Invested Machine

“I’ve always loved this horse when Kaleena Weakly owned him,” Lisa says. “She had a lot of success with him. Jethro’s success started as a 2-year-old when he was the Reserve Congress Southern Belle Champion. He’s also had a lot of success in Open Trail classes with Jason Gilliam and in Amateur Trail with Kaleena. I plan on showing him in Horsemanship, Trail, Showmanship, and WesternPleasure and I’m starting Equitation in the near future.”

“My first horse show with Jethro was at the Congress, and we were Reserve High Point All Around Select! Also, the Florida Gold Coast and Gulf Coast shows were a success! We qualified in Trail and Horsemanship.”

Team #3: Breda Kennedy and Inspirado

Purchased– At the 2017 Florida Gulf Coast show in Tampa, Florida

Stats– Aged stallion by De Renzo and out of MBJ Mini Obvious; 5-time World Champion; 6-time Quarter Horse Congress Champion

“Breda will be showing ‘Pedro’ in Amateur Performance Halter Stallions, and he will be shown in Aged Stallions,” Scott Kennedy says. “Their first show will be at the end of the month in Perry, GA. My wife has had about 13 surgeries over the past 10 to 12 years, and Pedro is so well-behaved, to be a stud. He’s a horse that she can show without getting hurt.”

“He will be staying with Todd Grant and standing for the 2017 breeding season. To tell the truth, we weren’t planning on buying a horse. One day, Todd and I were sitting at the stalls, and he asked what I thought if he could get Angie [Watts-Schmeck] to sell Pedro to Breda. I said I thought she’d like that, but we didn’t know if Angie would part with him. We kicked around the idea a bit… We weren’t originally thinking about buying a breeding stallion, but we’re going to be marketing him and trying to breed some mares to him. He’s structurally sound, balanced, and good legged. I think he can really help the Halter industry.”

Team #4: Cheryl Mullikin and Don’t Skip George

Purchased– July 2016

Stats– Gelding by Don’t Skip Zip and out of Ingalill

“Since I’m just starting to compete in Horsemanship, Trail, and Showmanship, I wanted to find a horse that already knew how to do those events, and he did pretty well in them,” Cheryl says. “I haven’t done Showmanship yet, but the Florida Gold/Gulf Coast Show in Tampa was our first show doing Trail and Horsemanship. I was very pleased with our first goes in both events. Then, we showed at the Fox Lea Farm Winter Circuit in Venice. We received second place under all three judges in Trail, and, in Horsemanship, we got first place under all three judges.”

“A special, big thank you to Reid Thomas for helping me. Alyssa, Eric, and Sarah have also helped along the way! We had a crash course one weekend in December; that was the first time I got to practice with George. I’m very happy with our progress so far, but we still have a lot to learn!”

Team #5: Natalia DeVencenty and Hot Lady Born Lopin

Purchased- January 2016

Stats- 8-year-old bay mare by Blazing Hot and out of Born Lopin; AQHA Reserve World Champion and multiple NSBA World Champion.

“My first show with Dixie will be at the Prairie Classic in February,” Natalia says. “We will be competing in Trail, Western Riding, and possibly Horsemanship. I have always admired and loved Dixie. She is very talented and I can’t wait to get to know her!”

Stay tuned for Part 2 in this series when we chat with four more new teams!