AQHA Select World Blog With Brister Shum: So Close, Yet So Far Away…
EC Blog by: Brister Shum
Ever get the feeling that you’re so close, yet so far away? That seemed to be the theme for Day 4 at the AQHA Select World which brought prelims in Trail, Ranch Riding, and Reining. A huge class of 85 horses loped over, trotted through, and backed around Tim Kimura’s world class Trail pattern.
The course rode smoothly with 15 horses scoring 221.5 or higher to make it to the finals. Sixteen more horses rode in the Shootout with the top five scoring 221 or better to be invited to the finals, which will be held on Thursday.
One exhibitor, Suzanne Mayo of Franklin, TN., made it to the Shootout but was just three places shy of making it to the finals. I caught up with her to ask her thoughts on being so close but not making it all the way.
“I was just thrilled to be in the Shootout,” she says. “This is our first time showing in Trail at the World, and I was very pleased. We are still pretty green at Trail. Honestly, if I had made the finals, I don’t know what I would have done! That finals pattern is really tough!”
Trail Finalists:
- Patricia Clements/Potential Moneymaker
- Susan Johns/Heza Radical Zip
- Susan Knapp/Heavenly Mac
- Teresa Kohman/Im Pretty Lazy
- Claudia Brown/Zippos Gold N Sonnet
- Bonnie Elber/Zip Past The Jag
- Joanne Garnett/So Much Potential
- Ben Debrouwer/Good To Be Macho
- Charlene Johnson/Zippos Classic Dustr
- Linda O’Brien/Corporate Credit
- Katherine Tobin/More Radical
- Kim Allen/Zips Fancy Talk
- Bonnie Sheren/Dun In The Dark
- Carin Shuler/Good Trace
- Daniel Henson/Bud Light Please
- Diana Davidson/Mr After Shock
- Jenny Carlton/One Good Rip
- Michele Brickham/Endless Breeze
- Susan Johns/I Gotta Good Name
- Charlene Lane/Suddenly A Good Bar
The Select Jet: Nancy Boatwright, Cindy Rosson, Semmie Wicker, Suzanne Mayo, and Lisa Johnson.
Suzanne also had the pleasure of taking a private jet to Amarillo this year. She and four other Select exhibitors, Cindy Rosson, Nancy Boatwright, Semmie Wicker, and Lisa Johnson flew together in style aboard the “Select Jet.”
In the afternoon, Ranch Riding and Reining were also large with 57 entries in each class. At 4 pm, AQHA judge Beckey Schooler conducted the Showmanship Ride the Pattern clinic. She walked us through what judges will be looking for in each maneuver. See the AQHA website to view the pattern.
Hints included, “Execute the pattern to best show your horse. “When asked how fast we needed to run, (since we are Select and oxygen masks are prohibited) she said, “Run at the speed that looks best for you and your horse.” Great clinic…Great advice!
The day was topped off by a party hosted by Nutrena in the Coors VIP Club.
Headed off to sip my adult beverage! Enjoy!
Ranch Riding Finalists:
- Melissa Ann Miller/Roo Star
- Ellie Willoughby/Heza Whiz Kid
- Diane Petersen/Show Biz Jack
- Shelley Diede/CR Custom Remedy
- Ruth Dismuke-Blakely/Barbies Red Rooster
- Natalie Brown Baca/Doc Acres Reward
- Kimberly Laser/Stop O Mite
- Jim Bound/Bound To Cash Chex
- Dywan Lane/Docs Dry Cisco Tari
- Gary Lynn Olson/Kai Bar Fletch
- Lisa Freeman/VR Jack
- Gretchen Kurzweg Keller/The Smart Dude
- Charlene Morgan/SF Check Me Out
- Nonie Casselman-Reed/Zeena Lena
- Jim Bound/Bound For Pay Chex
Standing room only at Beckey Schooler’s Ride The Pattern Showmanship Clinic.
Reining Finalists:
- Anita Horn/Spookaroanie
- Catherine Brown-Swain/Very Cool Remedy
- Kirk George/Chexy Whiz
- Deah Hessian-Ruple/Irish Shine
- Kenneth Banks/Juarez Whiz
- Sheila Nash/KR Royal Tee
- Gary Lynn Olson/Kai Bar Fletch
- Mary Jane Scruggs/Roosters Jose
- Alison Brantley/Fletch Me If You Can
- Deah Hessian-Ruple/Teninolena Chex
- Morris Kulmer/Chics Dream
- Michael Garnett/Arc Smokin Gun
- Sue Zimbelman/Please To Meet You
- Kim Niven/Self Wrighteous
- Clay Dupray/Nimble Gun
- Dean Spence/Custom Banjo
- Jim Bound/Bound For Pay Chex
