Photos courtesy of Gordon Downey
First time was definitely a charm for AQHA Professional Horsewoman, Whitney Lagace, and Hot Rockin Potential, who took home the title of 2010 AQHA World Champion in Junior Trail this evening. In her first trip ever to the AQHA World Show, Lagace and “Sonny” bested a field of 43 entries for the win.
We spoke with both Lagace, and Sonny’s owner, Elizabeth Rinder, after the class to get their reaction to this very exciting win.
“I dreamt that he won last night, but I didn’t want to say anything so we didn’t jinx it,” Rinder. “I dreamt about him taking the winning lap and everything, but I didn’t say anything about it because I thought maybe my dream will come true, but that never happens.”
It just goes to show that you should never say never.
“I’ve shown him in youth trail this year, but we really decided to focus on the Junior Trail right now,” she says. “Next year, we are really going to push hard for the youth trail classes. I liked the course a lot, it was very challenging. It was a really good course. I especially liked the back up on the bridge.”
Not only does Rinder have premonition-like dreams, she apparently has very good timing as well, because she arrived in the arena just in time to watch her horse compete.
“I actually got to the arena right before he came in,” she says. “I didn’t get to watch any other goes because when I came in, they were at the end of the go before his. I watched him and then brought him back to his stalls.”
“I would like to thank Whitney, because I’ve been with her for years and years,” she says. “I’m thrilled with everything. This horse has come along really well and I’m excited to show him more. I also definitely have to thank my parents, because they’ve given everything they have for me to do this. They have been so supportive and have been right there to help me every step of the way.”
“Everyone at barn has been very supportive too, calling and texting throughout the show to wish us good luck. Everyone was at the barn tonight watching on the computer in Connecticut.”
This was also a very special win for trainer, Whitney Lagace, because this is her first time to attend the AQHA World Show.
“This is the first time I have ever been to the Open AQHA World Show and it has been a good one, a really good one,” Lagace says. “It was definitely a very good course that was interesting. It was kind of set up for him. It was his type of course. We had a lot of fun on it.”
“I was absolutely thrilled. His head was in the right place, and he wasn’t looky. The two little mistakes were my fault, and hopefully he’ll forgive me. I couldn’t of asked anything more of him. He was extremely well-behaved and was a ton of fun to show. We bought him two years ago, as a three-year-old. He has won a lot of circuit championships at major shows, but this is definitely his highlight title.”
