Not Just a One Trick Pony: Three Elegant Chips Transforms from Show Horse to Rodeo Queen Horse

By Delores Kuhlwein

When the Valley family of Queen Creek, Arizona—Dad Sean, Mom Jessica, and daughter Addison– elected to market their youth show horse Three Elegant Chips, a 2007 bay tobiano mare by Three Chips and out of Elegance Two A Tee, they didn’t come to the decision lightly.

Addison had shown the mare in the youth all around, doing Western, English, Trail, and Showmanship, and “Lily” had truly become part of the family. “We kept this horse for years because we couldn’t see her ever leaving here. As Addison got more experience and needed to move up, Lily was just sitting. You could see she was depressed not having the attention,” explains Jessica.

So when they accepted that Lily needed another youth to partner with, they decided to start looking for a show home for her. Jessica says, “We got tons of calls for lesson horses to show homes. But Cashell Southwick and her daughter, Alaina, were just down the street. They came over to meet and ride Lily.”

The thing is – Alaina Southwick isn’t an all around competitor – they were looking for her rodeo queen and flag horse for rodeos.  Alaina says, “We have an incredible rodeo in our hometown of Queen Creek, Arizona, and I was introduced to Rodeo Queening two years ago.  I was honored to be crowned the Roots N’ Boots Queen Creek Pro Rodeo Senior Teen Queen and have held the title two years running.”

Alaina adds, “We needed something that could do an equitation pattern, handle the sights of a big rodeo and a loud crowd, and of course, trail ride, too. Her family had reluctantly decided they needed room in the barn for a new show horse and offered her as a kid-safe horse, and she lived just a few miles from us! We knew we had to meet her.”

“When they came to look at her the first time, I thought they were crazy,” Jessica, known for her easy laugh and sense of humor, quips. “They told us about the Queen events and everything that went into it. Parades, rodeos, flags, people everywhere. My heart sank, there was no way this horse could go from a quiet show arena, at the age of 18, to rodeo chaos. They came back the next day with a flag to see what Lily would do. Lily took to it like it was nothing. But I kept saying, ‘I can tell you what we know and beyond that I truly have no idea what she would do in that environment.’ We knew she hated cows and even the smell got her excited.”

But this wasn’t the first rodeo for the Southwicks, as the trite saying goes, and they knew what veteran show horses have to offer, including experience and heart, and the incredible willingness to begin a new career.

“Show horses have distinct advantages over other horses- trailering to shows, seeing new scary places, all the chaos of the show ring, and of course the push buttons make them a well-rounded, well-trained mount,” Alaina reveals. “My parents grew up showing Morgan and Arabian horses and so we have always had retired show horses in our barn. I guess you could say once you drive a Maserati you don’t want to drive a Prius, even if you are just riding for pleasure in the mountains of Arizona.”

True to the instincts the Southwicks had about her, the mare proved she would be perfect from the first ride. “Even though she had never been ridden out of the arena, she took to everything we asked of her easily,” says Alaina. So Lily became part of the Southwick family, and they promised the Valleys they would take it slowly.

They introduced her to traffic, trail riding, shagging cows, hot laps, rodeo chaps, carrying a flag, and the Rodeo life all within the first two months of having her. Lily, now truly a part of the Southwick family, known to them as “Millie,” took to all of it like the veteran she is.

“They were amazing,” explains Jessica. “They have taken Lily in less than a year all over Arizona. Alaina and Lily bonded and we couldn’t be happier with her new life. Lily is happy, healthy, and she gets all the attention. Addison and Alaina talk often and have become good friends.”

Millie’s travel schedule included her rodeo debut this year, and Alaina shares she has already proven herself to be an amazing partner.  “I have used Millie for all kinds of events this year: trail riding, cow shagging, parades, photoshoots, and of course, now multiple rodeos. Our favorite has been my rodeo, Roots n’ Boots Queen Creek, annually held in March. Not only because we represent it, but because of the values and tradition it holds.”

Most importantly, Alaina notes that she and her family love Millie more than words can describe. “We love her especially because she is such a special easy going girl and she is very dependable. I used to struggle a lot with confidence when it came to spending time in the arena, but ever since I met her, I have never doubted Millie’s ability to making my dreams come true.”

But Alaina says the situation was very unique, due to Millie.  She explains, “Millie is not just any horse. Not many trainers can say they turned a western pleasure horse into a pro rodeo horse overnight. In our circumstance, it only took a few months. But either way, it takes a very dedicated horse with a true heart to make it to the pro rodeo arena. Her life as a show horse, gentle child’s horse and her fantastic breeding is the foundation on which all of this has been built. We are grateful to have her.”

For the Valley family, who were reluctant to part with her, they couldn’t be happier with the transformation and the love their mare has found.  “It’s seriously amazing,” Jessica says.  “Show horses can be more than just bougie.”