EC Photo of the Day- Then and Now- Victoria Coombs

“I started showing horses when I was seven on a little buckskin mare named Nan at local schooling shows every now and then. A couple years later, I was introduced to the AQHA circuit in 2017. I started watching the Youth World live stream in 2018. I was on the computer nonstop during the day watching all the classes and admiring not only the talented riders and their horses, but also the arena and facility that they were showing at. My dream was to show in that arena some day, but I never thought it would happen because of how big of a goal I had set for myself at that time. So I put that in the back of my head, but still had strived for it every time I came to the barn.”

“Around April 2020, it had been announced that both Level 1 Championships were going to be at the World Show for the year of 2020. That inspired me to try hard and accomplish the goal that I had set for myself around two years prior, but I still didn’t think that the dream was going to come true. Fast forward to June 2020, when we had made the decision to show at the AQHYA World Show for my final 13 & Under year. From June to late July I had strived for perfection at all of my lessons just to make sure that I would be ready for my first World Show!”

“When I arrived in the Jim Norick Arena, I was stunned. It was beautiful facility and that’s when I had realized that my dream had come true, and it was time to set my next goal. I went and decided to set yet another big goal knowing that I had the potential to reach that goal as well. The goal that I had set was to get a globe! I know that sounds like an insane goal for your first World Show, but I figured that it could still be a goal of mine even if I didn’t accomplish it. I could still set it for next year.”

“My horse and I’s best event has always been Trail ever since we became a pair in March of 2019, so I had a certain need to get the globe in Trail, so it could be special to me because of how hard I try in Trail. The night of August 3rd was the day before I showed in L3 13 & Under Trail. My practice went rough, and I had spent around 3-4 hours on the course memorizing every maneuver and making sure it was perfect. Even though that night had been a struggle, I still had faith in myself to get through a clean pattern.”

“When Trail day came, I was prepared. I went in my class and had a phenomenal go, which not only made me leave the arenas with tears of joy, but also my family and my trainers. I had just completed my best pattern to this day. When it came to the awards ceremony, I was expecting to at least be in the Top 10. I heard others names being called thinking mine was going to be next. Every time a placing went by, I looked over at my mom and my trainers breathing a sigh of relief. When they got down to third place, they announced my name- Victoria Coombs. In that moment, I had accomplished my goal. I was able to get a bronze globe at my first World Show. Never will I forget August 4th, 2020! It was the best day of my AQHA career thus far!”

If you have a great Then and Now photo and story to share, email B.Bevis@EquineChronicle.com.