Showmanship Champions at APHA World Include Kylee John, Jessica Lampe, and Melissa Haberkorn

By: Brittany Bevis

Today’s Showmanship classes put on display the precision, poise, and polish of amateur competitors as they partnered with their equine counterparts to tackle some very challenging patterns.

First up, Jessica Lampe led Your Invited Too to win Novice Amateur Showmanship. The Reserve Champion was Carlee Christian with Real Me In. Third was Mary Schmid with A Subtle Impulse. Fourth was Holly Ebelberger with Good Directions. Fifth was Alicia Michel with Whitetrashmillionaire.

Kylee John joined her longtime partner, Krymsunized, to win Classic Amateur Showmanship. The Reserve Champion was Ali Eidson with Gametime Sensation. Third was Lana Markway with R Kid Rock. Fourth was Madison Ketchem with Red Solo Cup. Fifth was Megan Seehafer with All That I Got.

Kylee and Krymsunized have been a team for so long that they know each other inside and out. Kylee says her trusty gelding steps in when she makes a mistake, and she knows how to use his strengths to his benefit and how to minimize his weaknesses. One of this particular strengths was showed off to its best advantage in today’s finals pattern, which began with a back. “His back is definitely one of his strongest skills. I also liked our square corners,” Kylee says.

Kylee and Krymsunized have a previous World Championship in the youth division and have accumulated numerous Reserve World Champion titles in multiple events since then. However, this is Kylee’s first “big girl” title in the amateur division. But, thanks to a hesitant start in the preliminaries, this almost didn’t come to pass.

“I had a bobble in my preliminary pattern, so we were worried that I might not make it back to the finals,” Kylee says. “We didn’t want to get our hopes up. Then, I made it to the finals, and I was really just so exited to make it. Then, I was first to go. I felt like I knew I had to come out and set the bar high if I was going to be first.”

Kylee will be showing Krymsunized in Trail, Horsemanship, and Western Riding later on here at the show.

Sixth in Classic Amateur Showmanship was Leroy Poignant with Total Assets. Seventh was Missy Merwald with He’s Wiser. Eighth was Taylor Dixon with My Sensational Cookie. Ninth was Caitlin Tenewitz with One Lazy Cowboy. Tenth was Robyn Ewing with Top Hats Only.

In Masters Amateur Showmanship, Melissa Haberkorn was named the World Champion with VR Kockyour Socksoff for the fourth year in a row! “It’s insane! It just puts more pressure on me,” she says.

While Melissa might have been feeling the pressure, it certainly didn’t show. She even admits that she giggled a few times during the finals pattern. “I was thinking about a few things that had happened during prelims practice the night before, and I just started laughing to myself.”

During a very challenging pattern, Melissa feels Socks received bonus points for his square corners, swift backs, and strong stops. “I think my left turn was the best, and his square corners were just insane. He was right there with me.”

Melissa and Socks’ ability to come together as a team is likely what has led to their success in this partner-driver discipline over the years. They’ve been a team for nine years now and currently compete under the guidance of Carly Veldman Parks and Wade Parks. “She has shaped me. I was a diamond in the rough, and it’s 100% her and Wade. I can’t say anything more than that.”

It was a spectacular day for the Parks barn, because Kylee John is also one of their clients. We chatted with both Melissa and Kylee to find out what it is about this program that has the ability to produce so many Champions in this discipline. “We only do the elements of the pattern, and we only put it together maybe at the last minute,” Melissa says. “Socks is way too smart, so we can’t run through the whole pattern. Carly focuses on our confidence and proper position.” Kylee agrees, citing also style and presence as important aspects of a winning pattern in her trainer’s eyes.

The Reserve World Champion was Brenda Ball with Got To Luv It. Third was Coleen Bull with Timeless Assets. Fourth was Carol Timke with Dun N Country. Fifth was Pam Switzer with Zippos Redemption. Sixth was Susan Barker with Scenic Rio Norfleet. Seventh was Paris Hughes with Fancy Favors. Eighth was Shirley Kafesjian with Tramps Invitation. Ninth was Stacy Basinger with Spent The Night. Tenth was Holly Ebelberger with Good Directions.