My Favorite Trophy

By: Brittany Bevis

Every equestrian has a special trophy that means just a little more than all the others. Maybe it was earned with a special horse that’s no longer here. It could be a trophy from a major win that was the culmination of a lifetime of hard work. Perhaps it wasn’t from a notable win at all, but the circumstances surrounding the event made it even more meaningful than a big title.

We reached out to our Equine Chronicle readers to get the stories behind their favorite trophies. Scroll below to see what they had to say.

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Hollie Wedemeyer– “It was my first time ever going to the NSBA World, my first year showing Longe Line, and even more more meaningful with a filly I bred and raised. I’d said I’d be so thrilled to be in the Top 10. They got down to the Top 5 and hadn’t called us, so I very much assumed we hadn’t placed. I was just happy to be showing at that level and said, ‘It’s ok. Maybe next time!’ My husband was standing on the rail, and we started making supper plans and talking pizza orders, when they called my number as Reserve World Champion in the Non Pro Western Longe Line. Such an amazing feeling!”

Rosemary Smith– “Our heart horse, known as All The Girls Dig Me, aka ‘Roman,’ brought us to our first NSBA World Show. We left with three massive trophies and ribbons; but, most importantly, we left with a lifetime worth of amazing memories. We bought this horse as a 2 turning 3-year-old for my daughter, Haley. He’s the kindest, most quiet, and sweetest giant anyone will meet. Our plan was to go down to Tulsa, test out some new waters, and see how we would fit in at the NSBA World Show against some of the toughest Quarter and Paint horses in the country. Roman did what he always did. He delivered 110% and left his heart out there in the pen for my daughter. He rode for 5 1/2 hours straight, picking up wins in Novice Youth, 14-18 Youth, and Color Youth Hunter Under Saddle. If we would of asked him to, I know he would of given us 5 1/2 hours more, because that’s who he is. Tears come to our eyes as we write this, because he means the world to my daughter and I. This photo represents years of hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and faith. Trophy or not, we’re grateful and blessed with the memories this industry and horse has given us. We’ve been blessed by adding more World titles and #1 in the nation titles from this magnificent boy.”

Michele Stanmar– “I showed Miss Diamond Oil, a ’74 AQHA filly to many judges, but LA Labinski put her Grand Champion every time he judged her!”

Emma Stamps Dale- “My whole life I dreamed of showing horses. I worked many shows at the gate and watched everyone going in and out. I prayed one day I too would get to experience it. At age 27, my dream came true! My very first Novice Championship show on board Toast the Goodtimes, aka ‘Gilbert!’ We secured second in Rookie Trail and received our first trophy together! I remember listening to the placings so closely. It’s as if time stood still! That same week we secured multiple top placings, but it wasn’t about the placings. It was about the fulfillment of that dream! This horse and Taryn Morgan Kratzschmar pushed me to reach for a higher level. And this wouldn’t have been possible without my hubby Lance Dale. I look forward to the Dixie National next weekend with my new horse Knox!”

Kimberly Roark– “I grew up right outside of Oklahoma City, and my parents always took me to the World Show to watch. I quickly became fascinated with the Hunt Seat horses of all types and talked my roper father into Hunt Seat lessons – on his rope horse. I kept trying for years to show Hunt Seat on the failed rope horses and barrel horses, slowly moving up from open shows and 4H to novice AQHA. But the goal was always to win one of those beautiful neck ribbons and globes of my own. The first was accomplished with my now trainer, who I met doing 4-H way back before Barn 6 became the Performance Arena. We won L2 Junior Working Hunter with Al Ways Couture. The second was this year in Amateur Pleasure Driving with Zip Up My Blumers. Growing up watching this show and wanting to be one of those ladies, doing well at the AQHA World Show, has held more sentimental value than any other show.”

Ellexxah Maxwell– “Winning the first Congress Championship in Amateur Ranch Rail.”

Kelsey Marriott– “I was lucky enough to have some amazing accomplishments, but I think my favorites were winning Showmanship and Trail at the Arizona Fall Championship. I was so in sync with my horse during those patterns that I scored so well. It truly warmed my heart seeing all the time put in paid off. We won the All Around at the Novice Championships earlier that year and to see it still all stay together and not just see it as a fluke was a great feeling!”

Whitney Vicars– “My first World Championship with Southwestern Gunman in Amateur Horsemanship in 2012. He was my first one to get to show that we, as a family, bred, raised, and trained! His mother was my very first horse, and this win made her a World Champion producer! Such a special win.”

Michelle Speck– “My first championship trophy last year as a novice in Trail.”

Taylor Wheaton– “My first Congress bronze in 2019 with my gelding, Will Be In Touch. As a DIY amateur, I never expected this, but my horse truly helped make this dream come true! A special thank you to Nicole Beal for her guidance with helping us put on the finishing touches!”

Beverly Koke– “Although my horse has won many trophies that were a first, the one that stands out is winning a Congress trophy 45 years after my first one.”

Matthew Siefker- “Winning at the Congress in Novice Horsemanship and being the Reserve Novice All Around Youth my first year showing at the Congress and first year showing AQHA with a horse that I bought on Craigslist for $2,000. Truly a magical year and owe it all to Grace ZipsInThe Rein.”

Michael D. Espenlaub- “1979- 18-year-old me won Senior Pleasure at the Congress. When we moved a couple a months ago, it rode in the front seat with the seatbelt on!”

Nancy Kunkel– “This trophy was awarded to me this year from AQHA for being a 50-year-breeder. It makes my heart happy knowing that horses that I have raised have made people happy for over 50 years.”

Dave Davis– “First time I showed a horse! Lake Benton, MN. Judge: John Barber, 1st out of 100 plus horses in 18 and under Western Pleasure. I was 12! And I was hooked!”

Rachael Landman– “My mare was 14 the first year either of us had ever shown in APHA. I bought her as a 3-year-old to be my high school barrel horse. Instead, she won me my first APHA World Championship in Jumpers. It’s the highest title the two of us won. I’ve had her for over twenty years.”

Shannon Diemart– “Not the most prestigious trophy, and it wasn’t for a big win. However, the story behind it still brings a smile to my face. I had long admired Cowboy Bronze trophies and really wanted to win one. So I was thrilled when I got one at a year-end banquet. I drove home to KS from OK, cradling it in my lap, thinking about where I was going to display it. The horse I won it with was very special to my grandma. She was with me when I tried him out, and I bought him on her birthday. He fell for her and would doze at the horse shows with his head in her lap. Anyway, she was crazy for him and always said he was her horse. So I decided to stop by her house on my way home to show her what ‘her’ horse won. She held it, told me how beautiful it was, and then said ‘Now where should I sit it?’ She finally decided on a table near her recliner so she ‘could see it all the time.’ My mom felt terrible and wanted to tell grandma that I hadn’t planned to give it to her to keep, but grandma was so happy that I couldn’t do that to her. So for the next year I would visit my trophy whenever I went to her house. She passed away in 2005, and then the trophy joined my others. It still makes me smile though to think about how she stole my trophy and how happy it made her.”

Lisa Hamilton- “AQHA Novice Championship World show at South Point in 2014 is where I earned a very special Reserve Championship on my 25-year-old gelding, Creepy Junior.”

Kimmi Roestel– “We bought him when he was 12. Now, at 22, he’s retired and in my backyard and the reason I bought my house. I live life for him. I’m from a small town and had some big time dreams that he made come true for a do-it-yourself youth. Top 10 at Level 1 East, we went to the Congress, and an all around trophy. These awards will forever hold a special place in my heart. I’ll tell my kids about him and keep them displayed. He’s held every secret, dried every tear, and has been there for every moment of my life. The things I would do to just show him one more time.”

Emiley Roebuck– “The following is what I wrote at the time. Since then, we made it to World Show with him AND his son! I had never won a trophy. I’d left the arena upon having my name called. I didn’t realize I needed to pick up the trophy on exit. I didn’t know how to win. So I messed up the whole lineup and it was a great laugh. The smile in the image says it all. It’s incredibly symbolic to me. That trophy was the beginning of a journey and friendship that hasn’t stopped yet, and it will always be cherished and there is still nothing that means more. ‘4th in the state of Tennessee feels like champion of the world to my heart. My deepest thank you to Kristina Laska Webber for believing in me and for producing and training one of the finest animals I’ve ever had the pleasure of riding. I have been blessed, honored, and privileged to grace the back of PNC Te Camouflage Kid and now the backs of his children. Thank you Laska for trusting me with your most precious things. Not bad for a couple of amateurs, especially when one of us is just a old washed up Hunter Jumper riding a Reining stallion that’s way more trained than I am. There’s a still small voice in my heart that has been saying… and has continued to say…. maybe we really do have what it takes. I can’t wait to see what adventures await us next, but nothing will ever mean as much as this first trophy!”

Marion Welsh– “Having my daughter smile over her first ever all around AQHA and Grand Champion gelding trophies.”

Dawn Koffel-Allison– “I didn’t win it but my mare was the super star in EWD Western Pleasure.”

Carri Hansen– “It wasn’t just one award for me with my absolute favorite gelding of all time. Kids Big Star took me to my first World Show in 2016. We won our first buckle. We returned in 2018 and won two more. And during our final appearance together in 2019 we won another. Unfortunately, I lost him in 2020, but my friend and talented photographer, Corrin Hunt, captured this photo for us when we did a goodbye session with May. It’s his halter he wore his whole career from yearling to 5 years old and his ribbons and buckles. WC and three time RWC. It will forever be one of my favorite photos, because it comes with so many memories of what the incredible horse did for me in the industry.”

Cheyenne Engelman– “2016- My first and only year showing a saddle horse at the county fair. I believe it was a field of four horses in the Walk/Trot Horsemanship class. I was so nervous, I threw up every day of the fair. Longn To Be Good gave me a flawless ride, and we walked out with the Grand Champion trophy and ribbon. The lady handing it to me was scared I would drop it, because I was shaking so bad from excitement. I’m pretty sure I cried. My mare then had a little spook in our other class, and we didn’t place, but her horsemanship ride at fair is one of my fondest memories. I think that’s the last trophy I’ve won, and the only one I’ve won in a class. I have since sold near everything in this photo- the shirt, the saddle, the pad, the mare… but the trophy still sits on my bookshelf as a reminder of simpler times when my biggest problem was who would drive me to the barn that day.”

Grace Curson– “Last year was our first World Show. I told me husband I wanted to just do good enough to put it on a trophy cooler. We placed 5th in Novice Western Pleasure. Once I got to the awards, I realized what I was receiving and I yelled, ‘YES! I get a cooler!’ I pumped my arm in the air, which caused a bit of laughter from the crowd and our group. It’s special to be because it was our first World Show, and my horse had a horrific accident as a weanling and broke her neck. She shouldn’t be alive, let alone sound enough to show at a World Show level. The whole experience was wonderful, and I’m blessed with every year I get with her.”

Kylee Wiseman– “My first ever globe. I fell asleep holding it.”