8/17 Winners at NSBA World Include Boatwright, Andrie, Zuidema, Beaton, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

Action at today’s NSBA World Show started off with a double win for Erin Shapiro Boatwright and I’m Willy Good Today, who won both the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle AND Maturity Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle.

“Drake” is a five-year-old gelding that Erin purchased in November, sight unseen, from Sandra Morgan. “He’s been really successful with Sandra, and she was kind enough to let him come live with us and join our family. I really needed a horse that would just do his job, after having a baby and trying to juggle everything. Drake is a really great show horse. He’s so fun and it makes your whole body happy when you ride him.”

Erin appreciates that Drake is a seasoned show horse that’s dialed in with his training, thanks to Keith Miller, so she’s able to fly in and show successfully, since she lives halfway across the country.

“He locked in really well the whole time. I showed him for the first time at the Gold Coast and have only shown him a handful of times since then. Every time, we work on a new aspect. Also, he lives in North Carolina with Keith, and I live in California, so I don’t get to ride him that much.”

Reserve in the Maturity Non Pro was Al Fool Ya and Haley Hartman. Third was A Certain Sundi and Alessandra Erhle.

Winning the Color BCF 4-6-year-old Non Pro Western Pleasure and completing her hat trick this year of Western Pleasure classes was Dakota Andrie with Never Have I Ever. We chatted with Dakota after she won a World Championship title at the APHA Youth World Show last month and the AQHA Youth World Show last week.

“Madonna” is a 4-year-old mare that has helped Dakota achieve much success of the past few years at every major horse show they attend as a team. This pair is currently under the guidance of Sara Simons and is looking forward to starting Western Riding, Horsemanship, and Trail next year.

“She listened to everything I asked her today,” Dakota says. “She was really good, and I couldn’t have asked for a better ride. She’s really soft when you lope her, but you have to keep kicking her, because she likes to go slow and sometimes stop. She doesn’t really like to go fast.”

Dakota and Madonna have been on the road quite a bit already this year, and she explains the recovery regimen that helps keep the mare’s legs fresh. “After each of the big shows, she gets a few days off. Every day at the show, she goes in the saltwater spa, so her legs always feel fresh. Also, we started cryotherapy with her. She likes her spa days.”

Reserve was Lazy Sunday and Rick Smith. Third was Whileuweresleeping and Alexis Sage Miller.

Winning a competitive Green Western Pleasure was Madefourit and Katy Jo Zuidema. Reserve was The Cooki Monster and Andy Cochran. Third was Ima Golden Machine and Aaron Moses. Fourth was She’s So Southern and Kristy Starnes. Fifth was Who Said I’m Lazy and Karen Hornick.

Shayley Beaton rode My Momma Said So to win Junior Trail for owner, Angela Wade. Reserve was Alternative Facts and Chad Evans. Third was Not Dun Lopin and Blake Weis. Fourth was IB Real Lazy and Melissa Jones. Fifth was Nothin But Nett and Deanna Searles.

Shayley has only competed with Angela’s 4-year-old mare named “Sally” once before, and it was last weekend. “I’m a catch rider for Michael [Colvin] this week. This is the first show I’ve shown her at and the second time I’ve shown her. I’m incredibly proud of the way Sally stepped up and performed for me today.”

“I decided to ride like I practiced, keep our jets cool, and stay smart. I didn’t really know what would happen. I showed her at the NSBA Show Your Colors Show, so this is my second time being in a pen with her. She was fabulous.”

Although this is a new partnership with this horse, Shayley has quite a bit of experience in the Trail discipline. “I’ve worked for Searidge Farms since April. It’s kind of a new transition, but I’m very familiar with Trail. Judd and Jennifer Paul are very responsible for that. They taught me a lot about the technical side of the class, and I’m a very technical person, so it was something that grew on me very fast.”

“In this pattern, I really wanted to focus on the back through and the gate having the same step all the way around the corner and staying soft and slow. I was able to turn and come out of the gate really well, so I made the lope-overs. I was successful getting my correct feet coming in both of the trot-overs, which made me have a really good spot for the second lope-overs. That was my nervous spot, because I missed it with my first horse.”

Shayley was 56th out of 65 horses, and although she was at the end of the draw, she decided not to look at any of the previous scores and just focus on her own ride. “I scored a 241.5. That’s the biggest score I’ve ever had, so I was very happy.”