Juliana Arora Joins New Partner, The Dark Impulse

By: Brittany Bevis

AQHA amateur competitor, Juliana Arora, has reason to celebrate because she recently joined forces with a new partner in The Dark Impulse, a 6-year-old mare by RL Best of Sudden and out of Dark Jasmine. “Joy” is perhaps best known for her 2018 win at the Hylton Maiden with Steve Reams and her 2018 Congress Championship in Maturity $10,000 Open Western Pleasure with Gil Galyean.

Up until this point, Joy has been owned and shown by Joanie Zelnio, and Juliana has followed her career since that time. “She’s a beautiful mare that’s so consistent and steady while being great-legged,” Juliana says. “We have been looking for the right fit for a new Western Pleasure horse for a while and, in Arizona, Gil came up with the idea to try her. I went up and rode her and that was that.”

Juliana says she’s forever grateful to Joanie Zelnio for the opportunity to own a horse like Joy, and she’s excited for the future. Back in 2015, Juliana rode Floating On Assets to win Novice Amateur Horsemanship at the Quarter Horse Congress, which was her proudest moment as an equestrian to date. Now, she’s looking forward to expanding her repertoire to Western Pleasure.

“I will be showing Joy in Western Pleasure, which I am excited to get back to, and she’s green in Western Riding, so I hope to add that. Really, I’m just excited to enjoy her and have some fun. She’s very sweet and great to get along with. I wish I could ride her every day. I cannot thank my mom and dad for supporting me, and Gil and Becky for not giving up. I’m still speechless about it.”

Be sure to watch for Juliana and Joy at the upcoming majors under the guidance of Gil Galyean. If you have exciting news to share, email B.Bevis@EquineChronicle.com for consideration.