AQHA L1 Championship WEST Blog: “A Dream Realized” with Kina Tavary

EC Blog

By: Kina Tavary

Day 3… what a day! Per usual, as with any horse show, the day began before the sun was up. I found myself dusting blush across my cheeks and fighting with my false eyelashes to stay in place. As soon as I got myself in order, I rushed out the door and made my way to the horse show. Thankfully, for me, South Point is a mere 5 miles away from my home on the Las Vegas strip. After entering the barn, I noted that everyone was either in Hunt Seat apparel or riding a long-maned, beautiful Reiner. Totally similar, right? In my opinion, it’s so exciting to see different events exhibited in the same place and at the same time, unless of course you’re a novice English rider and a fast Reining horse is heading your way about to slide. That’s always a little traumatic…With that being said, everyone was very cordial and understanding of one another in the warm up pen. Everyone understood that we’re all in this horse show warm up flurry together.

My first event started with L1 Hunt Seat Equitation. Let me tell you, I was thoroughly convinced my trainer was trying to kill me. Ok, maybe she wasn’t trying to kill me, she was just trying to “strengthen” my leg in the form of a crazy thing called a two point. For us novice amateurs, this particular act can be a bit tricky. I’m happy to report, that per usual, she was right. Two pointing and sitting two strides then posting one and vice-versa tremendously helped my leg positioning and strength. I was very pleased with my pattern. Truthfully, I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t make the finals, but I was satisfied to walk away with a clean, precise pattern, which was my goal.

In the world of horse showing you have to find a positive in everything, because it’s truly so unpredictable. If you don’t do that then you, as I like to say, “disrupt your flow.” Then, your whole day goes sideways. Trust me, I’ve been there! I let the English Equitation pattern go and let out a loud “BOOYAH, you can do it!” (In my head, of course). Then, I got my mind focused on my next, and one of my strongest events, Western Pleasure. Speedy has become increasingly stronger in this class, and I knew that I had to do my best to sit tall, confident and proud.

For those of you who don’t know, at the L1 Championship Show, you’re instructed to enter down the center of the arena at a jog versus on the rail. The feeling of being able to ride the horse I’m so proud of down a center of judges was a thrill that sincerely can’t be met. I couldn’t help but smile. This is the moment we all wait for. It’s a moment to shine. It’s a moment where our hard work pays off. It’s a moment where, as a duo, we get our five seconds of fame. Speedy was, in my opinion, amazing during our first go. Fortunately, we made it back to the finals. At this point, I cried. We were second to enter the ring in the finals, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking, “Heck yeah, let’s do this,” or “I’m having deja vu. I just did this class. Get me out of here and take me back to my stall Mom!”

Because I was second to go, I was able to watch my competition enter. At this point, my mind began to play games on me. I was thinking things like, “Look at that jog! Oh, check out that rhythm. Oh goodness, she sits so well!” Before you knew it, we were off. This time, we entered at a walk. It was during that walk when Speedy decided that the fresh poop in front of him was more important than competing in the finals. I just chuckled and kept moving.

There were points when I was beyond confident, and then there were points when I was unsure. I guess that’s the name of the game. Speedy and I sat in line waiting anxiously for the results. Everyone in line was so polite, especially the beautiful girl to the left of me, Crystal Attebury, on her horse A Smooth Machine. As the finalists dwindled down and the top ten placings began, I was just so happy to be there, but Speedy was not. He was like, “Hey Mom, where is everyone else going? Aren’t we going with them?” There is a special place where I itch him that calms him down, so there was no better time to pull out my secret weapon but then. Suddenly, the announcer was already calling out Top 5, and already I was so proud/anxious.

At last, we were in the final two. When the announcer called out “Reserve Champion, number 295, Pass the Black Gold and Kina Tavary,” I burst into tears. This was my dream. I got a trophy, and a beautiful silver trophy at that! We did it! We made it! I just can’t express the emotion and excitement that ran through my veins. It’s literally indescribable. The eyelashes I worked so hard to put on in the morning suddenly didn’t matter as they ran off of my face. What mattered more than a pretty face, a shiny show saddle, or in Speedy’s case, a forelock extension, is that all of the superficiality was gone and the sole reason I was out there was to ride, bond, and succeed with my equine partner.

I’m so happy that as one of your Equine Chronicle L1 Championship WEST bloggers I have had the experience of walking away with a trophy. I wish everyone the same experience, because for me, it was one of the best moments of my life and truly unforgettable. Congratulations to the class champion, Cassie Riggert and Born Blazed!