On The Cover: Natalie Vargo and She Had Me At Hello
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By Brittany Bevis
There stands a tearful Tom Cruise, confessing his undying love, only to be interrupted by Renee Zellweger, who utters one of the most romantic movie lines, “You had me at hello.” It’s not only a touching scene, but also the inspiration behind the name of the Congress and World Champion earning mare known as She Had Me At Hello. However, for AQHA youth competitor Natalie Vargo it wasn’t exactly love at first sight with the show partner she calls “Georgie.”
“We’ve actually had her since she was a weanling, but we never really planned that I would show her,” Natalie says. “However, Georgie is named after my grandmother, Georgia Vogt, so her name is special to me.”
As an accomplished Hunt Seat rider with three World Championships- one in Equitation and two in Hunter Hack- and two Congress Championships- one in Equitation and one in Hunter Hack, it’s obvious that Natalie was already set on her discipline of choice. A Western All-Around mount didn’t really fit into her riding style. However, when her current trainers, Carly and Wade Parks, first received Georgie in training with the intention of preparing her for sale, they thought she might be something special.
“She’s six years old now and had bounced around through a few different trainers. Kenny and Ashley Lakins had her for Western Pleasure, and then we sent her to Carly and Wade. Carly was insistent that I show her. Once I did, that was it. She was my new horse.”
18-year-old Natalie began showing Georgie in March of 2019. They started with Trail and progressed to adding Horsemanship, Performance Halter, and Western Riding.
