Charlie Cole and Ima Petite Classic Score 242 to Win Senior Western Riding L3 and Claim New AQHA World Record

By: Brittany Bevis

With a ten point increase over his go-round run, Charlie Cole and Ima Petite Classic scored an impressive 242 to be named the World Champions in Senior Western Riding. This is the second time Charlie has won Senior Western Riding at the World Show; the first time was also with “Kramer” in 2013.

Kramer is a 16-year-old black gelding by Petite Lord and out of Sheza Classy Kitty. He is proudly owned by Lee Reeve and shown in amateur classes by Darcy Reeve. Just yesterday, Charlie and Kramer also placed ninth in Senior Trail.

After playing things a bit safe in the Western Riding go-round, Charlie was confident he and Kramer could improve upon their score of a 232 by making some small but important changes. “During the go-round, I got a pretty big score, but I thought I jogged real soggy to and over the pole,” he says. “My changes were really good; maybe he leaned on me during one. Today, my goal was to be better at the jog, and he was really good going over the log. Once I headed down the line, he was on target and really focused.”

Charlie and Kramer have been a team for about seven years now, and he feels very thankful that the Reeve family has given him the opportunity to form such a special bond with this horse.

“I’m so grateful to get to ride this horse,” he says. “It’s been a little bit of a bumpy road, because he’s quirky. He’s Kramer! But, at 16 now, I have a good rapport with this horse. He is pretty amazing.”

“He can be pretty tricky, so some of my rides here in the finals haven’t been my best rides. But, the year I won, he really laid it out there, and today he was on. I knew last night that he was ready. I came into the practice, literally practiced for five minutes, and I knew he was good. I told Jason [Martin], ‘My horse is perfect.’ I knew everything was there and it just needed to come together [in the class].”

Charlie and Kramer’s score of a 242 beats the high score they received in 2013 (240) making it the highest Western Riding score earned at the World Show. The highest Amateur Western Riding score on record at the World Show was a 237.5 earned by Kristen Glover and Vital Signs Are Good in 2005. The highest Junior Western Riding score on record is a tie with both Jason Martin with Potential Advantage and Robin Frid with Investing Wisely, both with a 230.5 in 2007 and 2002, respectively.

The Reserve Champion in Senior Western Riding L3 was Jason Martin with Heavenly Mac. Third place was Nancy Alto-Renfro with Elis A Sleepin. Fourth place was Nancy once again with Blazing Moonlite. Fifth place was Deanna Searles with Heza Radical Zip. Sixth place was Leslie Lange with The Immortal. Seventh place was Chad Evans with Mr Aftershock. Eighth place was Bruce Vickery with Strawberri Wine. Ninth pace was Taylor Searles with Al Be Sweet On You. Tenth place was Kellie Hinely with The Vital Invitation.