What it Feels Like to be an AQHA Select World Show All-Around Champion!
Charlie gets a good scratch before heading into the pen to accept his awards.
EC Blog by: Linda Coakley
What an amazing journey! I was leading the all-around standings, and when Sarah from AQHA came and told me that I had won again, I couldn’t believe it! Kip was already headed home, but Ron caught him just before his plane took off and gave him the news. Our modern age technology is so amazing these days; within minutes I was getting congrats from all over the country via text and Facebook.
They presented Charlie and I with the 2014 AQHA Adequan Select World Show Farnam All-Around award in the arena, and it was streamed live! Charlie was very excited about the flower bouquet in the crinkly wrap; he really wanted to eat them! After the presentation, we had a photo taken, I was very happy that my friends, Connie Marvik and Deanna Searles, and of course, my husband, Ron, got to be part of that!
Larri Jo from AQHA asked to do an interview, and insisted that Ron be part of it. I really appreciated that, since he has been such a huge part of this journey, and I couldn’t do any of this without him. We had to do several takes, as Larri Jo, Ron, and Connie all laughed and fooled around! Of course, I was completely serious.
Kip Larson tries on an AQHA awards jacket for size!
The rest of the day was spent packing and saying goodbye to friends. Many thanks to Jim and Deanna Searles and all of the Circle S family for putting up with us again this year. The last day of the show is always bittersweet, because I only get to see some of these wonderful people here in Amarillo, but I know that we will see each other next year back here, or maybe at some other show! We spent the afternoon drinking wine with friends and relaxing for the first time in days! The next day, we hit the road back home to Washington.
I want to once again thank everyone who sent me well wishes and congratulations. It means so much to me that I can’t really express it! Thanks also to The Equine Chronicle for allowing me to write about my experience and for all they do for the horse industry! Lastly, I want to thank my daughter, Kaycee, my trainers Kip Larsen and Michael Davis of Larsen Performance Horses, and my husband and partner, Ron, for making this dream a reality.
Travel safely all and we’ll see you down the road, and as always, more later…
Linda
