Blake Weis and Cool Cruzen Lady Repeat Win at AQHA World in Junior Western Riding

By: Brittany Bevis

Returning champions from last year, Blake Weis and Cool Cruzen Lady, came out on top once again in Junior Western Riding tonight at the 2018 AQHA World Show. Last year, the 4-year-old mare by VS Flatline and out of Suddenly A Cool Lady, nicknamed “Hazel,” broke the Junior Western Riding World Show record with a score of 232. This year, she improved upon her performance scoring a 235.

“This year, she’s a little more mature and a little more sure of her job,” Blake says. “That’s what I think the difference was in the two goes. She’s more to the point where I don’t have to help her. I can sit back and show. If I have bad timing, or a bad spot, she still does it. She’s not riding like a baby anymore.”

However, even Miss Hazel doesn’t get it right all the time. “This is the funny part. I showed her in Western Riding at the Congress, and it was this same pattern. She leapt over the pole. We jumped it! Today, I just wanted to get over the pole. My anxiety was really high. She’s such a great Trail horse that I didn’t even think about it [ever being a problem].”

Still, Hazel did win the 4-5-Year-Old Trail Stakes at the show. Luckily, in today’s pattern, the pole proved to be no match for Hazel and she sailed through the pattern with ease.

Hazel’s owner, Jane Humes, is equally as enthusiastic about the pretty, bay filly as her trainer. “She has a very consistent and beautiful topline, and her ears have really developed into having a more confident look this year. She’s very expressive and has a nice and even pace that’s very smooth, consistent, and effortless.”