Neiberger and Vandevelde Are Level 1 AQHA Central Showmanship Champions

By: Brittany Bevis

Competition is well underway here in Oklahoma City at the 2016 AQHA CENTRAL Level 1 Championship Show, and on the agenda for today is Showmanship and Halter.

Erika Vandevelde of Wisconsin traveled quite a ways to make it to the Level 1 Championships here in Oklahoma City, but judging from her performances thus far, it’s been well worth the trip. Of the four events Erika has competed in with her 8-year-old gelding, Pardon Me Girls, she has been named the Champion or Reserve Champion in every class!

She and “Flame” were named the Champions in 14-18 Equitation and Rookie Youth Equitation and were the Reserve Champions in 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle. Just a few moments ago, they claimed another Championship title in 14-18 Showmanship. Not a bad birthday present for the equestrienne who just turned 17 on Wednesday! After some rest and retail therapy at the trade show, Erika and Flame are looking to continue their sweep on Sunday in 14-18 Horsemanship and Rookie Youth Horsemanship.

Erika has been showing since she was ten years old, but this is her first trip to the Level 1 Championships and her second year showing Quarter Horses. She hopes to qualify for the AQHA Youth World Show next year. This team currently competes under the guidance of trainer Karla Friedli, who gave some helpful advice before they entered the pen. “She said to smile, trot fast, and make sure I hit my line going to the judge,” Erika says. “The most challenging part was coming out of the turn and making it straight enough to get to the judge. Flame is always good at his back and spin.”

Over in the Performance Arena, Lisa Neiberger led Credits For Heaven to win Select Showmanship in only their third time competing in the event. “I just started doing Showmanship about six weeks ago,” Lisa says. “We went to the Las Vegas Silver Dollar Circuit and won the circuit there. Then, we went to College Station about a week ago and won there. Now, I’m addicted to it! I love it. When you do well at something, it just makes you want to do even better and try even harder.”

Typically, Lisa and 18-year-old “Hatch” compete in classes like Horsemanship, Trail, and Western Riding, but she was a bit unsure about Showmanship. With a bit of gentle coaxing from her trainers, Robin and Jenny Frid, she’s come to love her new class. “Hatch is so good at it, and I thought if it helps build my confidence then I will do it! Before I went in, Jenny said to relax, take some deep breaths, and show like I’d been practicing.”

“He stayed right with me with the walk. Sometimes, if I get going a little fast, he will jig, but I could tell he was hooked on. I smooched to trot, and he stayed with me. Then, we stopped really good, and his back was straight. He stuck his pivot foot, which he’s always really good at. Then, when we walked up to the judge, he was right on.”

Later on in the show, Lisa will compete with Credits For Heaven in Select Horsemanship and Amateur Horsemanship with Willys So Good. She’s also qualified to compete at the Select World Championship Show later this year.

Congratulations everyone!

L1 Select Showmanship-

1- Credits For Heaven/Lisa Neiberger

2- Twilight Is Innocent/Sue Weller

3- Krymsun Dee Bar/Suzanne Barlow

4- UF Certainly A Priss/Carla Townsley

5- So Blazin Im Amazin/Koleen Herlocker

L1 14-18 Showmanship-

1- Pardon Me Girls/Erika Vandevelde

2- Eye On The Ball/Caroline Latture

3- Ima Struttin Solo/Delaney Dickens

4- Suddenlee Single/Sidney More

5- Zips Ultimatum/Danielle Sallaz