AQHA L1 Championship West Blog- Conquering Showmanship Jitters With Kina Tavary

EC Blog

By: Kina Tavary

Hello to all my fellow Equine Chronicle readers! I’d like to first introduce myself. My name is Kina Tavary of Las Vegas, NV. and I compete on my horse, Pass The Black Gold, in Level 1 all-around events under the guidance of Genny Miller Performance Horses. I am very honored to be one of your Level 1 Championship West bloggers and to relay all of the results, activity, and excitement from this amazing show in my favorite town (I might be a bit biased), and my favorite Equestrian complex.

Day 1 of the competition was Wednesday. As always, the nerves were running high. The bling was a blinging and the smell of Show Sheen lingered in the air. After all, this morning began with Showmanship. Showmanship is one of my favorite classes and one of my horses’ least favorite classes, go figure. I love that this class honors our horses, and we get to shine them up and show them off. As a competitor, I had the typical showtime butterflies. I’m not sure if anyone else experiences this, but there were points in my pattern that I wasn’t sure if I might just pass out right then and there.

“Speedy” and I ended up as finalists in the Level 1 Amateur Showmanship, and I was thrilled with my medallion. I was eighth in the order of go of 37; so, once my pattern was complete, Speedy went back to his stall and I sat down in the stands and watched the rest of my class. From a spectators point of view, I have to say I was very impressed with the presentation of the majority of the horses. It looked like everyone went the extra mile to glam their horses and themselves up.

Lena Barry, the class champion, had a beautiful go, and I wasn’t surprised that she walked away with a sash around the neck of her horse, Red Hot Options, and a trophy in hand. I, on the other hand, had to collect my medallion without a horse as Speedy was back in his stall comfortably with his bag of hay and lick it toy. Embarrassingly, I ran with my new horse, Casper the Ghost from the far end of the arena. It was pretty comical and a bit awkward. Lol!

I asked Speedy if he minded that he wasn’t there for the awards presentation, and he let me know that he was fine with it and would like to retire from Showmanship altogether. I hope to be back next year with his brother (by owner) my buckskin Gelding, RRD Who Invited You, aka Murphy, in Showmanship.

Congratulations to all of you lucky and talented Showmanship Queens and Kings who walked away with a trophy. I’m proud of each and everyone exhibitor for getting up bright and early and giving it your all.

I hope you enjoyed my Day 1 blog. I’m currently sitting in the stands enjoying my favorite view, a packed and competitive warm up pen.

To be continued…