On The Cover – Livvie & All But Sudden
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by Brittany Bevis
AQHA youth competitor Livvie and All But Sudden, aka “Stevie,” have proven they’re a force to be reckoned with in the all-around arena. During their career, the pair has accumulated multiple Congress and NSBA World Champion titles, Youth World Show top ten finishes, and Congress All-Around Champion and Reserve Champion accolades. Already in 2015, they’ve won circuit championships and High Point Youth 14-18 All Around titles at the Redbud Spectacular and Las Vegas Silver Dollar Circuit.
But Livvie didn’t start out at the top. Like many equestrians before her, she began at a young age by taking riding lessons alongside her older sister Liza, under the guidance of their first instructor Sam Gorbette.
“I was lucky enough to get my first horse when I was eight,” Livvie says. “Amazing Lark was a 16.1 hand, 17-year-old saint of a horse. He was very talented and versatile, with points in 11 events. I will never forget my very first horse show. Amazing was standing in the aisle, and I turned to put my hat in the tack stall. He turned and ran out of the barn. By the time we caught him, he’d had an exciting run around the show grounds!”
This talented equestrienne has come a long way since then. She now competes under the guidance of Charlie Cole and Jason Martin of Highpoint Performance Horses with her once-in-a-lifetime horse, All But Sudden.
“Charlie calls him Stevie Wonder, because he gives his all for all three of his riders,” she says. “Stevie proved that at last year’s Congress by winning trophies in Senior Western Riding with Charlie, Amateur Western Riding with my Dad, and Trail and Horsemanship with me, as well as Novice Youth All-Around and 15-18 Reserve All-Around. He’s definitely Stevie Wonder!”
“He’s extremely talented and athletic, but it’s his attitude that sets him apart. Stevie never says no!” Livvie says with a smile.
One of Livvie’s favorite moments with Stevie took place at the 2013 Congress, when the team tried out a brand new event.
“I’d never even loped through a Western Riding line in my life until the month before that Congress,” she says. “Charlie and Jason worked with us a bit that September and told us to late enter…we were showing at the Congress! I went in with no expectations and had a really nice go. We ended up Reserve Congress Champions in my first Western Riding class ever. I was beyond excited!
Some of the most helpful advice she’s received from her trainers focuses on two important aspects of competition: preparation and confidence.
“Jason reminds me that they’re my eyes on the ground, but the test in the arena is all up to me,” she says. “They’ve taught me how to prepare my horse for different events, and they’ve taught me how to present him in the pen. The rest is up to me! Charlie reminds me that if I’ve prepared my best and gone in and given it my best, I’ve done all I can. Their lessons translate beyond the horse show world to real life. Their confidence in me, both in and out of the arena, has helped me grow as a rider and as a person.”
This fall, Livvie will rely on that advice when she embarks on a new journey at Southern Methodist University, where she will compete on the equestrian team. Although she will be far away from her home in Green Bay, Wisconsin, it will be the first time in many years that she’s lived in the same state as her horse.
“Though I will be far from home, I will be close to my Highpoint horse show family, and they make me feel right at home wherever we are!”
This summer, Livvie and Stevie are focused on turning in winning performances at the AQHA Youth World Show, NSBA World Show, and Congress in multiple events. As she continues her successful show career, Livvie has many people she would like to thank…
“I’d like to say thank you to all of my horse show friends and family as well as the trainers, coaches, and caregivers who have helped my family and me with our horses over the years. Mostly, thank you to Amazing, Laverne, Stevie, and all of those wonderful horses out there who let us all continue to do what we love!”
