New Year, New Horse, New ASBDreams
Firsts are a powerful moment for an equestrian. From the first nuzzle of a muzzle to the first trip in the saddle, we all know that sparkle in the eye, beaming smile reaction that translates the magical impact horses have on our lives. From that first experience, our love and dedication to these magnificent animals grow, and we find ourselves navigating many firsts bigger than barn lessons with horses by our side.
Life with an American Saddlebred gives many their first lessons in communication, relationship development, responsibility, goal setting, decision-making, compassion, and self-confidence. With each New Year, a new horse, and a new season our American Saddlebreds give us the opportunity for new experiences and new goals in and out of the ring. We have the joy of seeing young children getting their first horse to help them grow in their riding abilities, seasoned competitors partnering with new elite equine athletes to chase the highest competitive goals and horse-crazy kids who have become horse-loving adults who now for the first time can have a horse of their own. Each of these and every scenario in between brings amazing American Saddlebreds into new families to make their mark and give wings to people's dreams.
To celebrate the new owners of American Saddlebreds and the impact of these new #ASBDreams on our members' lives, we are sharing the Saddlebred Stories submitted for our "Horse for the Holidays" & "New Year New Horse" feature!
Artic Night & Ava Cassidy
Ava Cassidy will be starting the New Year with a new partner and a new motivation in 2020. She underwent spinal fusion for scoliosis on December 9, but she's not going to let that stop her from her #asbdreams of being back in the show ring in 2020! Ava will have some extra help tackling her comeback goals with her new boy, Arctic Night aka Jack who was a Christmas and pre-surgery gift. Ava has been riding American Saddlebreds since third grade! Their ultimate dream for this team is making it to the World Championship Horse Show in the future!
Available In Blue & Hattie Steen
Hattie Steen was given Available In Blue for a Christmas surprise! Hattie started taking lessons at Blue Willow several years ago and last year leased a wonderful horse for her first year out of academy so she is excited to have her first show horse of her very own!
Bi Mi Unforgettable Spirit & Summer
Summer received Spirit as a Christmas gift his year. This horse and girl were meant to be a match and to say this horse’s name is perfect for our girl is an understatement.
Summer began riding when she was five years old and we quickly realized this was her passion. She begged to be at the barn any day that she could, and often spoke about when she would have her own horse, even though she knew it would be when she was older. We found Cape Cod Equestrian Center three years ago and Summer fell in love with the Saddlebred horse and riding. We were thrilled to find the team of instructors at Cape Cod and Summer began to flourish as a young rider.
In 2018, she made the Academy team and we were ecstatic to watch her at her first horse shows. Little did we know, this confident, young rider would soon face one of her biggest challenges. One evening in September, on their way home from soccer practice, Summer and her dad were involved in a motorcycle accident. Summer was thrown from the bike along a busy section of road. Thankfully, her only physical injuries were scrapes and bruises. She even tried to ride at her last Academy, show two days later! However, several months had gone by and Summer started demonstrating significant fear and lack of confidence while riding. When she was on the horse she began experiencing flashbacks of being thrown from the motorcycle. It was devastating for her and us to see her scared of something she loved so much.
We decided to give Summer a break from riding and put her in counseling for what she was experiencing. Slowly, she started asking to go back to Cape Cod to see the horses and “hang out”. This past summer she began riding again and since that time, has demonstrated an incredible confidence and renewed joy and energy for her passion of riding.
When the opportunity to obtain this horse came up, we knew it was meant to be! She and Spirit both deserve this chance to be the best team they can be.
CH Iza Diva & Darby Shaw Nigbor
Darby Shaw Nigbor received "Rae" for Christmas. Sadly, shortly after this life changing weekend for Darby the former owner that Rae was purchased from passed away unexpectedly. Darby, at the young age of 11 decided to honor the mare’s late owner and dedicate the 2020 show season with Rae to Leslie Shiely. The Nigbor family also has made a contribution to Saddlebred Rescue in Leslie's name as well!
Harley Rally & Stella Keith
Stella Keith officially received her new partner Harley Rally, “Riley”, right before Christmas! She was surprised by her trainer Cindy Zubrod in Kansas City with the offer to ‘show’ him in her 8 & under Championship and they won, with only having ridden him a couple times prior! We knew Stella trusted Riley, but didn’t tell her he’d be her new horse until December. Then- ??‘Surprise’ he’s your new partner for real! Stella is SO happy and in love with him! In 2020, Stella and Harley Rally are headed to the 9-10 Equitation division!
The Veldt Queen & Lea Kline LeBlanc
Gail Kline gave her daughter Lea Kline LeBlanc the Veldt Queen for a surprise Christmas gift. “Queenie” is by Doran’s Wild Temper and out of a Supreme Heir mare and was bred by Owen Weaver. Ever since Lea was a young girl, Gail remembers her love for riding a five-gaited American Saddlebred. They are so thrilled to welcome a horse into their equine family that will give Lea the opportunity to live that ASB Dream to “Rack On!”
My Momma Said & Isabella Miner
This is Isabella Miner and her new mount, “My Momma Said” (Maximus). She will ride him into the show ring in 2021 after spending this year showing academy with her other Saddlebred You Can’t Resist Me , “Mia”. She will be learning the ropes of riding performance on Maximus during the year though, and we are so excited to see where they will go!
Reedann’s Find It! And Salay Tompkins
Salay and her family had been looking for Salay’s new horse for 14 months! They believe they probably looked at over 20. While all were very nice, not one of them checked all of their boxes. When this horse came up for sale, they were all hoping she would be “the one!” Salay, who is only 11 years old, learned to respect the process and trust her trainer that one day they would find her the perfect horse but also learned not to get her hopes up after trying so many that weren’t right. Salay's parents and the entire Zubrod team pulled off surprising her during the horse camp over winter break. Salay is elated to FINALLY have found her new partner and teammate for 2020!
Reedann’s Heir To Glory & Maggie Keith
Maggie Keith was shocked with surprise when she received CH CH-Eq Reedann’s Heir to Glory this Christmas! Maggie has shown for 3 years, with her 12 and under walk & trot horse, Heir’s Wing Man. There have been ups and downs, but Maggie has persisted, and is over the moon with excitement to have ‘Reed’ as her new partner! Looking forward to Equitation in 2020!
Ro & Me’s Allakazam & Hailee Jump
Hailee Jump, has been riding American Saddlebreds for six years. After four years showing in academy her dream of owning and showing her own horse has come true. The dynamic duo of Hailee and Ro & Me’s Allakazam are ready to begin building memories together. Her goal for the 2020 season is to have fun doing what they do and she wouldn’t mind a ribbon or two along the way. Her long-term goal is to show him at Louisville in 2022.
Scandalite & Ava Rusinko
A special message from Scandalite’s breeder and former owner Kathleen Berger.
“I’m delighted to tell you about my precious Scandalite, who was purchased by Jill and Lee Rusinko of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada for their fourteen year old daughter Ava at Christmas time. I bred and raised “Scandy,” who was the last foal to be born to the mare I purchased for my daughter Morgan to show fifteen years ago. His dam, CHHollywood Scandal was a World’s Champion in her own right and by the great Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of Buck’s Cotton Tail (BHF). “Holly”later went on to capture the coveted Champion status which precedes her title. She was a wonderful mare, who despite injury went on to produce more exceptional produce like herself. Her daughter, Hollywood Graduate, produced Graduate Student, who was Reserve World’s Champion in the ASR National Three Year Old Futurity Three Gaited division. I was with “Holly” when “Scandy” was born, and enjoyed watching him grow from a beautiful baby by Tango’s Parting KIss to a talented three year old under Smith Lilly’s direction. He was my agent for Scandalite’s sale. I am not sure how many registered Saddlebreds there are in Canada, but Scandy will be a fine representative. He and Ava will have a chance to grow and mature in the show ring together, and it is with nothing but best wishes that I tell his story.
Sir Raymond Ross & Emma Huffstetler
Sir Raymond Ross was one American Saddlebred whose Christmas wish came true when he was part of making 11 year old Emma Huffstetler’s #ASBDreams coming true this Christmas with the help of her parents Derek and Tyler Huffstetler. “Ross” is all she could have ever dreamed of and more. Emma has been a lover of horses since she was very small. Her coach Carolyn Walker has fostered this love and made her into the beautiful rider she is today. Emma’s family is so thankful for everyone who helped make this dream a reality for her! These two are looking forward to a memorable 2020 show season together!
Star Salesman & Abbie Moulton
Abbie Moulton is one of those certified “barn rats” that lives to be at the barn. Abbie began riding at the age of four and has been dedicated ever since. She is at Wingswept Farm at least three days a week and is hands on helping and learning whatever she can. Last year was her first year showing out of academy as she leased the trusty Callaway’s Edelweiss to show as an 11 year old in walk & trot pleasure.
2020 was supposed to be a year to develop on the path to her own horse, with a lease already in the works for Abbie have Wingswept’s Vampirina for the season, but when Star Salesman came into the barn as a sales horse it brought an exciting change of plans! Abbie had been working for the past couple of years on the gaited lesson horse to learn how to ride those additional gears some of our special American Saddlebreds have. So when the five-gaited, “Brock” came into the barn it wasn’t even a week and Abbie got the chance to take him for a spin. Her hard work payed off and it was a match made in heaven. Brock was a “Star Salesman” and sold himself into the heart of Abbie and her family right away. Now the challenge was hiding the sweet surprise from her until Christmas.
It all worked out to perfection to reveal the gift of Abbie’s #ASBDreams during the Wingswept Farm Christmas Party. “Brock” came into the ring sporting one very special extra accessory than any other horse, a big bow! The look on Abbie’s face says it all, if that isn’t the face of a dream come true, we don’t know what is! Abbie and Brock look forward to competing in the juvenile five-gaited division in 2020!