Congratulations to the Wake Family on the Purchase of KM Vested In Bo

By Delores Kuhlwein

Amateur Jessica Wake of Hudson, Ohio, had been in the program of Spencer and Kim Zimmerman of Ultimate Equine for three years, watching a horse in their barn, KM Vested in Bo, win multiple World Championships with Abbey Zawisza and pack the Zimmerman’s three-year-old daughter while riding quite beautifully. So her admiration only continued to grow.

But the family wasn’t really in the market for a horse, so when the Zimmerman’s texted Jessica and asked her to call, she got the surprise of her life when she did– the Zawiszas were selling “Bo” and offering the 2009 Sorrel overo AQHA/APHA/PtHA gelding to the Wake family first. The gelding is by RL Best of Sudden and out of Vested Vixen.

“I don’t know what we did, but I’m so grateful they reached out to us first,” says Jessica.  “He’s such an amazing horse, and with my kids’ interest beginning to spark for showing, too, we knew it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. He’s the perfect family horse.”

When it was time to announce to her two girls that Bo would be the family’s horse, Jessica put a “bow” on Bo and told the girls they were buying him, and they involved his owner, Abbey Zawisza, in the informal ceremony.

Gemma, who is six, will be seven in December, and Avri is eight, and they’ll be showing him as well, says Jessica. “But Bo is mommy’s horse.”

Since patterns are Bo’s forte’ and they’re Jessica’s favorite as well, they’ll begin in Horsemanship in the Rookie division, adding all-around events like Equitation and Western Riding.  Jessica has been riding since she was five years old, but sticking to more local shows and 4-H.

They also have future sights set on the All American Quarter Horse Congress, either this year or next. “It’s always been a childhood dream of mine to show at Congress, so he’s making my childhood dreams come true,” explains Jessica.

As for Abbey Zawisza, she knew it only made sense for Bo to be sold as she leaves for a new journey this week at the University of Georgia and their equestrian team.
But the transition wasn’t easy.  “He means the world to me and it has been extremely hard,” she admits, explaining that Bo has been her horse for several years.

What made the difference for her as she prepares to leave, Abbey says, was knowing the Wake family would give Bo the best home she could ask for.  “After talking more to Jessica and helping her kids learn to ride him, it has been the greatest thing ever. It was very hard, but once I kind of took time to think everything through and realize how great of a situation it was, I was so happy for them and for Bo.”

Jessica echoes that same happiness at the very mention of Bo’s name.  “I am beyond blessed and excited to for my kids to have such a wonderful horse,” she concludes.  “I’m still like – pinch me! This isn’t real.”