It’s Momma’s Turn! Elizabeth Brown and Absolute Best Asset Win Amateur Western Riding L2

By: Brittany Bevis

Today, it was momma’s turn for a little bit of the glory! Earlier in the show, trainer, Anthony Montes, rode Absolute Best Asset to win Senior L2 Western Riding. They also won the class last year. Two year ago, Elizabeth Brown’s daughter, Taylor, won Amateur L2 Equitation. This time, it was Elizabeth’s turn to ride “Axle” to a big win.

“Everybody has had their turn with him. Now, it’s my turn!”

Elizabeth started showing Axle at the Congress last year, so she’s had a full year to iron out any kinks in their performance. “I’ve gone through this whole year of getting all this together, and I figured it out,” she says. “For Axle, just because he’s so big and he has such big movement, he needs to keep his pace up. That’s something I’ve had to learn for me, being so small on such a big horse, because it feels like he’s moving too fast. Pace is the biggest thing with him, as is setting him up for the change and giving him the cue.”

Typically, Elizabeth isn’t nervous when she competes, but today she was feeling some anxiety creep in. “It was fun, but I was so nervous. Normally, I’m not nervous; but, when I got my first change, I knew it was all good. I thought, ‘Let’s do this!’ He felt ready and soft, like he was listening really well. I’ve struggled with this pattern in the past because of that first change and making sure that you get enough momentum.”

“I was running though all the little things I was coached on last night, like keeping straight. When I got my first change, I was like, ‘Ok, I’m good.’ I took a breath and really focused on riding the pattern the best I thought we could ride. Once we loped over that white pole, I was like, ‘Woo Hoo!’ That was good.”

Seven year ago, Elizabeth qualified to compete at the World Show with her daughter’s old horse, Just Hit Town. However, they missed the Trail finals by a half a point. This is her first win and she wants to go to Disneyland to celebrate! But first, she and Axle still have to compete in Amateur L2 Performance Halter, Trail, and Showmanship.