“We All Saddle Up The Same Way” – My AQHA Adventures with Steven Pelzer

EC Blog by: Steven Bryan Pelzer

I zipped up my suitcase in excitement, met up with my partner-in-crime Amy Brown (the SCQHA Queen), and we headed down the highway- Martinganza bound! We arrived at the show grounds in Williamston, NC, and I was in complete awe of how many trailers were there and the quality of horses present.

The show started and I began my thrilling adventure that is Martinganza. While watching horses in the warmup ring, I saw AQHA amateur Shannon Fisher, and we began talking about how this show has kept her very busy with all of the banding and braiding she does. Shannon continued by telling me that Martinganza was her first AQHA show with her husband/trainer Alan Fisher, which I thought was really awesome.

As the show unfolded, I made my way to the coliseum to watch Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle. Superb performances took place in the coliseum over the course of Martinganza. Talented trainers such as Jay and Kristy Starnes, Steve Reams, Ryan Painter, and Michael Colvin were showing on that day. As the show went on, we got to one of my favorite events, Reining! My great friend, Kim Brittenham, let me ride her sweet mare Buttercup around in the warm up arena to have some fun. As I was riding around, I noticed this woman riding a beautiful reining horse, while wearing very tall cowboy boots. Then, it clicked in my brain, that’s Josiane Gauthier! So I decided to muster up the courage to say hello. She was so kind and sweet to me. I was nervous and excited, but I’m glad I said hi, because it really made my night.

I knew Saturday was going be a long day. It was time for Halter and Showmanship. Talk about big numbers. This show hosted very nice sized Halter and Showmanship classes. As I walked around to see if anyone needed help with anything, I began chatting with Kristy Starnes. I was so nervous, because I didn’t want to ask any dumb questions and make her think I was a babbling star struck idiot. I managed to keep my cool, and we had a nice chat. I asked her how she felt about becoming the newest NSBA Million Dollar rider. She informed me that she was very excited about this awesome achievement.

As the Showmanship classes continued, I caught up with my dear friend Cindy Young. She was very busy getting her clients ready for their Showmanship patterns. Then, I noticed something that made me love her even more. Different people came up to Cindy and were asking her about the Showmanship pattern. She was so kind and very willing to answer each and every question people asked. In my humble opinion, I think that doing small acts of kindness is what makes horse showing so much fun.

As Showmanship classes came to an end, I headed back to the barn to catch up with Amy. As I walked down the aisle way, I saw Cathrin Gutmann. I had a lovely chat with her; she had just purchased a beautiful two-year-old filly. I asked her how she balanced horse showing here in the states with her life in Austria. She told me that the support of her family and her husband is how she is able to make things work.

As the show came to an end, I got the chance to chat with my friend and NCQHYA Vice President Hannah Warren. I asked Hannah what her plans were for this show season. She told me that she is going for gold this year at the AQHA Youth World Show as well as the NSBA World Show. After chatting with Hannah, I got to meet my Facebook friend Amy Smith. She is, by far, one of my favorite AQHA breeders; she is such a sweet person and was happy to answer all of my questions.

I never would’ve met these people unless I stepped outside of my comfort zone and spoke to them. I also realized that all of the people I met are a lot like you and I. We all started somewhere, and we all saddle up the same way. I had as much fun at the show as a spectator as a competitor does showing.