“She’s fun, but she makes you work for it. The challenge is good, and it makes it a lot sweeter when you do well. She’s so incredibly talented.”

“I’ve had a lot of good mares. I’ve had a lot of good horses. This is my absolute favorite. This is the best mare I’ve ever had.”

First up in Showmanship classes today, 15-year-old Bella Rosa led her 14-year-old gelding, One Dynamic Krymsun, aka “Reach,” to a big win in 12-14 Showmanship.

“Today, most of my family is here: my husband of 34 years who has supported me in all of this, Ricky Young, and my oldest daughter, who has shown horses with me all her life, and her three children.”

Jeffrey Johns showed the girls how to get it done this afternoon, making a surprise appearance in L1 Amateur Horsemanship with the 7-year-old gelding, It’s A Good Pleasure. For Jeff, who is typically a Western Riding and Trail specialist, competing in Horsemanship brings with it some unique challenges. Up until a month ago, he wasn’t even planning on competing in the class.

“I put my hand down, and he did his job. All the preparation was worth it.”

“Now, I know exactly how he’s supposed to stand, how to present him, and where he looks the best. He’s helped me learn Hotrod’s buttons.”

“It’s just good sportsmanship. It’s important.”

“I couldn’t watch the scores or any other rides after she went. It was very nerve-wracking!”

“My trainer, Tom Robertson, has definitely gotten my confidence up. When I first started, I was so nervous because they’re so big. He’s helped me to trust the horse, relax, and make it happen. He tells me to come at the young horses easy. Don’t try to fix something right away. You have to ease into it.”