Click here to read the complete article 136 – November/December, 2016 BY ERICA GREATHOUSE The AQHA rulebook defines Showmanship as a class “designed to evaluate the exhibitor’s ability to execute, in concert with a well-groomed and well-conditioned horse, a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, […]

Halter is a conformation class where you track a horse into the pen, square him up, and present him to the judges. Simple, right? Not so fast.

Kirsten Thomsen’s performances bring the very essence of fierceness to mind, with an ownership and command of the ring unmatched by most. Yet, those who know the California amateur best understand that it’s the various facets of her personality, such as her loving and caring nature, that have formed the competitor she is today.