November 8-23, 2013, Oklahoma City

Amateur Western Riding

Darcy Reeve defends her western riding title.

by Allison Grayson
The American Quarter Horse Journal

After a successful youth career and a winning start to her amateur career, Darcy Reeve was back to defend her amateur western riding title. For 2012, though, she was on a different horse.

“This one’s really special for me. I have another horse that we actually won the western riding on last year,” she said. “It was great to come back on a different horse and defend my title, so this is very special for me.”

In 2011, Darcy was world champion in western riding on A Certain Vino. At the 2012 AQHA World Championship Show, she took home the gold trophy with Ima Petite Classic, a 1999 black gelding by Petite Lord and out of the Jolly Van Bar mare Sheza Classic Kitty.

“He’s kinda always been right up there. We’ve been reserve here (and) we’ve been third,” she said. “(He just) never quite made it and he’s just one of those special horses that, no matter what, he wants to be good. He probably has the best feel I’ve ever been on.”

Although this is only her second year competing on the amateur circuit, Darcy is no stranger to the show ring.

“This is my sixth world championship,” she said. “(This is my) first one on a horse other than A Certain Vino, so this just feels amazing to be able to come and do it on another horse. Both of my horses have been so great to me, it feels great to do this again.”

Darcy and “Kramer” have been working extremely hard to prepare themselves for this AQHA World Championship Show. In fact, they really haven’t had much chance to rest before the show.

“A little over a week ago we were at the Congress. And after all that we did versatility,” she said. “We did amateur trail (and) we were reserve in that.”

“(We) won amateur western riding there, and I feel like he was just mentally prepared from there coming to here because there were only a couple days in between,” she said. “He was really good.”

There were many people whomDarcy wanted to thank.

“I have to thank all of my family. They’re so supportive,” she said.

“And of course my trainers, (AQHA Professional Horsemen) Charlie (Cole) and Jason (Martin),” she said. “And my pleasure trainers, Ty and Karen (Hornick), have always been so supportive, even if they don’t know what to tell me for other classes, they’re just always there to support me along with Charlie and Jason, so it’s great to have so much support.”

As far as celebrations after the last class of the day, Darcy plans to do a little relaxing before she gets ready for her next class.

“(I’ll) probably go to dinner… probably IHOP,” she said with a laugh. “And then get ready for the western pleasure finals tomorrow. I’m going in that with my other horse.”