Brad Kearns and his wife Valerie are the owners of Kearns Quarter Horses in Grayslake, Illinois. This World Champion competitor, trainer and coach has been riding and showing since he was a youngster in 4H, concentrating on Western Pleasure in his twenties before becoming interested in training, coaching and competing in All Around. He has seen changes in the competition, from the days when the pattern was revealed at the start of the class to today’s format which posts the pattern beforehand, offering competitors more time to learn the pattern by heart. He weighs in on the change, “I’ve been present for both, and there are benefits to today’s format. With the old format, riders who were later in the work order had the advantage of watching everyone else’s mistakes and seeing how the tricky parts were ridden. The ones who went earlier were the guinea pigs while the ones who went later had a bit of an advantage. By giving competitors the chance to learn the pattern before hand, it levels the playing field. Also, people work hard to make time in their lives to do this, and nobody wants to be embarrassed in the show pen, especially newer riders who are just learning. Giving people the chance to work on their pattern beforehand, it makes the competition much less stressful for everyone.”
Kearns, winner of the 2008 AQHA Senior Trail World Championship with a score of 231.5, knows all too well how radically the competition and intricacy of riding patterns has changed in the past twenty years. He says, “When I was a kid, our Quarter Horses went to shows and did just about every class.” He laughs and adds, “Maybe not well, but they really were what we think of when we think of the all around horse. Today, Quarter Horses are still incredibly versatile, but the level of competition and the intricacy of the patterns have developed through the years to where competition is a bit more specialized.”
Whether you are showing in the APHA, the NSBA or the AQHA, learning to tackle patterns with confidence is an integral part of the competition experience. The classes in which riders are required to execute a pattern vary widely, ranging from Showmanship at Halter to Jumping to Trail, Reining, English and Western Equitation. Knowing how to learn, recall and execute a pattern is the keystone to success in All Around. Kearns has this advice for competitors, “The AQHA rule book is a great source for pattern information. The respected maneuvers are listed for each aspect of All Around competition so you can learn and practice them on your own or with the help of a trainer.”
Kearns suggests that riders work on the various maneuvers individually in order to become confident with each movement before putting them together as a whole pattern. His sense of humor is evident when asked his opinion about the hardest part of riding a pattern, “The hardest part? The nerves. And the slow parts of the test, like going through gates or backing down chutes when you have the time to think, ‘Don’t mess this up!’ Often, when you are doing the maneuvers that require split second decisions, you are so focused you don’t have time for nerves.” He laughs and adds, ‘But we all have those days when it hasn’t gone as planned and it’s more like ‘Let’s just get this over with,’ Then you regroup for the next time.”
He becomes more serious, however, when he describes the difference between the makeup of a Champion ride and a mediocre effort, “Like any top athlete, the horses that succeed at the highest level of competition are the ones that can execute patterns in a smooth, seemingly effortless way. When you have the good fortune to ride a horse like that, you become one unit.” That level of communication doesn’t happen overnight, according to Kearns. He describes the partnership he developed with Mainstreet Cruiser his 2008 Senior Trail World Champion mount, “I worked with that horse for seven years. He was a phenomenal horse and I trusted him. There is no question that that horse helped me, because there were times when I just stayed out of his way and let him do his job. Competing on a horse like that is just an amazing experience.”
He offers this advice to anyone looking to break into the sport, “Find a reputable trainer, one who will work with you to help you learn, and help you find the right horse. At our training stable, we offer everything from lesson programs and local shows for people just getting into the sport, or those who want to keep it light, to helping riders find, train and compete horses at the National level. Some of our riders compete in Paint Horse and Appaloosa competition, so we help you find the right fit for your interests. It’s all about discovering what you enjoy and working toward excellence. When you’re learning and riding patterns, it’s important to remember that it’s all about striving for excellence. Not perfection, because that is virtually impossible, but excellence, which is something that comes from dedication and work, and when you get there, it’s extremely rewarding. That doesn’t happen overnight. Michael Phelps didn’t become a world class athlete overnight, so it’s important to find a trainer who will help you set your goals and help you reach them while enjoying the horses and the sport.” Brad and Valerie Kearns can be reached at Kearns Quarter Horses, Grayslake, IL. Telephone: (847)343-3497; email: bradkearns@aol.com.
