“What mattered more than a pretty face, a shiny show saddle, or in Speedy’s case, a forelock extension, is that all of the superficiality was gone and the sole reason I was out there was to ride, bond, and succeed with my equine partner.”

Gamblers are notoriously superstitious, and many athletes, including equestrians, share that same trait. I trekked through the barn aisles and practice pens today to find out if any of the horse trainers or fellow competitors had any lucky charms, superstitions, or rituals prior to showing.

“As a competitor, I had the typical showtime butterflies. I’m not sure if anyone else experiences this, but there were points in my pattern that I wasn’t sure if I might just pass out right then and there.”

“The expert at anything was once a beginner.” -Helen Hayes The AQHA Level 1 Championship shows are the embodiment and celebration of this sentiment for the largest equine breed registry in the world.