Stephanie Richardson and Kickin Axe In Levis Win 2013 AQHA World Show Amateur Horsemanship

By: Brittany Bevis

An exuberant Stephanie Richardson and Kickin Axe in Levis were named the World Champions in Amateur Horsemanship tonight at the 2013 AQHA World Show.

“Charles” is a chestnut gelding by Sudden Inclination and out of Lazy Levis that Richardson bred and raised in Wilsonville, Oregon.

“I bred him at home, and I still have his mother, so he is very special to me,” Richardson says. “I got to breed him, raise him, and train him.”

Richardson has been involved in the Quarter Horse industry since 1997. She currently competes under the guidance of Kristy McCann. In fact, Charles is by McCann’s stallion, Sudden Inclination. Prior to the finals this evening, Richardson and McCann discussed their approach for tackling a pattern that relied on only one cone as a visual marker.

“We had worked with the pattern previously, so I I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be,” she says. “It was a really good pattern. It had a lot of controlled steering in it, and that’s really good for him. Because he steers really well, I felt going in that it would be a good pattern for this horse.”

As Richardson made her victory lap around the arena with her arms outstretched it was apparent that this win has special meaning.

“This is my first World Championship title,” she says. “There are no words. I am so excited and so proud of Charles. He is an amazing horse. I’ve worked so hard for this. I wanted this forever. I didn’t want to leave the arena; I just wanted them to let me stay out there!”

“Everyone keeps asking [what I’m going to do to celebrate.] I’m in the moment. I’m in the present. I can’t even think that far. I will know when I get back to my stalls.”

Amateur Horsemanship-

1-Kickin Axe In Levis/Stephanie Richardson

2-Southwestern Gunman/Whitney Walquist-Vicars

3-Smooth And Chocolatey/Angela Wade

4-Javah Mon/Parris Rice

5-The Perfect Kryme/Nicole Barnes

6-Juicy Lil Joke/Rachel Haseman

7-Eyed Be In A Jam/Hayley Saul

8-Are You Charlie/Daniel Carlson

9-Willys So Good/Bryan Ambrose

10-Goodness Im Green/Tony Anderman