Carly Veldman Parks and Scenery Win Equine Chronicle Color Classic 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure

By: Brittany Bevis

The Reserve Champion from the Equine Chronicle Color Classic last year returned victorious claiming her first Championship this evening at the 2014 Reichert Celebration. Carly Veldman Parks was in the saddle of Scenery for owners Tim and Cindy Snapp. In addition to a $4,070.40 winner’s check, Parks and “Gingersnap” also received a $1,060 Maiden Bonus, Reichert Celebration belt buckle, embroidered sheet, Equine Chronicle gift bag, ribbon neck wreath, and a year’s use of a Featherlite Trailer, courtesy of Gary and Tammy Raak.

If Gingersnap looks familiar, that might be because she is the fourth generation in a line that has been bred and raised by the Snapp family. The beautiful mare by A Scenic Impulse is out of Miss Hottie and is the granddaughter of Zipmiss. In addition to their talent in the pleasure pen, Cindy Snapp says all three mares have similar dispositions.

“The prettiness of her [reminds me of her mother,]” Cindy Snapp says. “They’re all really quiet, and they’re all real sweet and loving. We want our little boy to show her. He’s seven, so Dad can show her until he’s ready!”

Parks was definitely feeling the pressure coming into this evening’s performance, because she was well aware of the quality of horse she would be riding.

“I can’t believe it,” Parks says. “I just wanted to do her justice. I didn’t want to mess it up, because she’s so awesome. Wade has ridden both her grandmother and mother and loved them.”

Parks and Gingersnap will return to the show pen tomorrow night for the Equine Chronicle Color Classic 2-Year-Old Limited Western Pleasure.

“I definitely feel better now,” she says. “No matter what, it’s going to be absolutely incredible.”

This was a bittersweet win for Parks, who lost one of her biggest fans earlier this week.

“My grandfather actually passed away, and the viewing was on Thursday. He was sick and he knew he wasn’t doing well, so he told my mother not to let me come back home. It was hard, because I’m really close to my family, but he wanted me to be here. He knew how much I wanted to show this horse.”

Prior to the class, a calcutta was held to auction off the riders. Parks happened to be the highest selling rider at $1,500, purchased by Katie and JT Mitchell, who generously donated their portion of the winnings back to the Reichert Equine Foundation Scholarship Fund.

Equine Chronicle 2-Year-Old Color Classic Open Western Pleasure Results:

1- Carly Veldman Parks/Scenery- $4,070.40- additional $1,060 Maiden Bonus

2- Got Good Sensations/RJ King- $2,798.40

3- Good Timin Charlie/Tim Zuidema- $2,416.80- additional $795 Maiden Bonus

4- Shesa Fancy Loper/Alan Fisher- $1,272

5-Called Me Collect/Colt Andrews- $1,144.80- additional $530 Maiden Bonus

6- Our Sleepy Valentine/Travis Duit- $1,017.60

7- Sunday Funday/Jamie Zuidema

8- Lets Get Rocked/Pat Heeley- additional $265 Maiden Bonus

9- RSVP Platinum Only/Pat Odell

10-Goodilicious/Shannon Gillespie

11- The Sugar Daddy/ Laura Spell

12- Good Cruisin Machine/Scott Suggs

13- Only On A Sudden/Mackenzie Fallis

14- Ultimate Impulse/Katelyn Hood

15- Mr. Predestined/Meagan Gravelle