Meet Our AQHA L1 Championship West Bloggers- Trace Thompson and Ericka Schaefer
Trace with Dreamin N Blue Jeans
The 2017 AQHA L1 Championship West kicks off today in Las Vegas, Nevada and will continue through April 23rd. Our EC bloggers, Trace Thompson and Ericka Schaefer, will be blogging throughout the week, so stay tuned to EquineChronicle.com for photos, results, and stories about all the action at South Point.
EC Blog #1
Hi, I’m Trace Thompson from Thompson Show Horses, an official Equine Chronicle Blogger for the AQHA L1 Championships in Las Vegas, so everyone please come and introduce yourself when you’re at the show! I’m looking forward to posting some cool pics, results, and stories.
I’m also excited to compete. I haven’t been able to ride since the Arizona Sun Circuit, due to a surgery, so this should be interesting, but I’m really looking forward to a fun show. I’ll be competing on my mare, Dreamin N Blue Jeans. We started showing together last year in Hunter Under Saddle as novices, so this is my first Novice Championships.
When I lived in Australia, I showed in all-around events. One of the horses was a stallion we bought from Guy Stoops in Texas. I also showed Halter horses for the last seven years, while living there, before moving to the USA with my husband, and trainer, John Thompson.
Trace and Texi at the 2016 EMO Western States Championships.
It’s been a while since I’ve been back in the saddle. I haven’t been able to ride since Arizona Sun Circuit, due to a operation in March to remove a bone tumor from my forehead. I’m currently suppose to be on light duties, so I have faith “Texi” will carry me through.
See ya’ll soon,
Trace
Ericka and Cookie. Photo courtesy of Haylee Brock.
Hello loyal Equine Chronicle readers! My name is Ericka Schaefer, and I will be blogging live from the AQHA Level 1 Championships West in Las Vegas!
Move in for Barn B began at noon on Monday, and Barn A exhibitors were able to begin moving in Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. While the past two days have been filled with the hustle and bustle of trainers and exhibitors settling horses into their temporary homes for the week, I’m actually writing this first blog from my home in Phoenix. To be completely truthful, I think I’m happier being at work for a couple extra days rather than dealing with the notorious South Point Barn A Line!
The infamous trailer line. Photo courtesy of Dr. Kelly Cummins.
Among those who moved in on Tuesday was my incredible trainer, Kristin Brock, and her partner Scott Graham from Cave Creek, AZ. I am truly honored to be their client and even more privileged to call them my friends.
Through a series of unfortunate events, 2017 is actually my third year in a row to qualify for the Level 1 Championships, but this will be my first time in attendance as an exhibitor. For the past several years, I’ve struggled to find the perfect show ring partner, but that all changed after coming under Kristin’s guidance. She and Scott had a mare in their barn that I rode several times in lessons, and there seemed to be a special connection forming even in those early rides. After a bit of finagling, a dash of luck, and a pinch of prayer, I purchased Ok Ima Good One, a 2004 bay mare, on September 1st, 2016.
Haylee Brock, Kristin Brock, Scott Graham, and my barn family at the 2015 L1 Championships.
The past seven months have been a flurry of qualifying and preparation, and it all culminates in the South Point arena. This week, Cookie and I will be competing in Level 1 Western Pleasure, Trail, and Horsemanship as well as Rookie Horsemanship. As with all exhibitors who are jogging (or trotting) down the rail this week, I’ve been having dreams of gold trophies and blue neck ribbons. More realistically, my goal is to walk away with clean, accurate patterns, and let the chips will fall where they may.
Today, the first Level 1 West Champions will be crowned as classes kick off with Halter, Showmanship, and Amateur Western Riding. The Ranch Riding and Hunt Seat Equitation Ride the Pattern clinics will also be held later in the day. Best of luck to my fellow competitors!
AQHA L1 Championship West Links:
