[Special thanks to Beth Lindsay for her excellent, real-time reporting! We couldn’t get the news out fast enough! See more updates and final scores on the WZC page!]
The Oregon Horse Center in Eugene is packed with talent and excitement for the Western Zone Championship this past weekend.
Seasoned Working Equitation riders and fans know it’s not over till the speed round is over.!
Kelly and Relic
Here are highlights from riders at the top of the leaderboard as of Saturday afternoon. The show ended on Saturday evening, with an optional cattle trial on Sunday.
L7/Masters
Saturday, leading the Masters class is Kelly Krambs of Paso Robles, CA and her Danish Warmblood, who is 3/4 Thoroughbred.
“Relic came back to me about 7 years ago as a rehab horse after being declared unrideable. I spent a long time just getting his brain back. I’m proud to say now that we’re riding at Masters,” shared Krambs.
“He’s 22 and just in the last year or so we finally can get clean changes. We don’t always get them in competition, but mentally he is with me, getting through it, and and handling it quite well.”
Krambs believe the sport itself has actually been very good for her horse. “It’s like dressage with purpose,” she said.
L5/Intermediate B
Despite a back injury, Mary Young lead the Intermediate B open division. She is riding Robin Bond’s Kiger Zapata KCA, a mustang gathered from the wild in Oregon and hand-picked by Bond and fellow Working Equitation competitor and judge Susan Watkins specifically for Working Equitation.
“I’m proud of Z. He’s my adopted baby right now while Robin recovers from surgery,” she said.
She continued: “He’s the bestest little redhead and he’s just a blast to ride. It’s a privilege to be part of the team riding for Robin.”
Kiger Zapata KCA is the first US wild mustang in the world to make it on the leaderboard WAWE with Kimberlee Barker catch-riding him in the WAWE International Competition happening concurrently with the USAWE Western Zone Championships.
The crowd was privileged to watch six Masters riders in the WAWE International Competition, the first international competition held in the U.S. and the largest number of riders competing at the highest level here.
Sara Mackenzie from Washington State lead the L5 amateur division. Mackenzie brought “George” Golden Knight, an 8-year-old RSPI/Quarter Horse, up the levels herself. She’s never even ridden a horse with changes, so she said she’s particularly proud of how far they’ve come.
“We had our best ease of handling ever. Everything came together and we earned a 64.250,” she beamed.
Intermediate B/L5
12-year-old Maverick Wright of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, is the only youth rider in the country who shows at Intermediate B. Wright is a professional who rides Maple Lane Kero, also know as “Peach,” a Welsh Cob gelding owned by Susan Krook.
With three 9s and seven 8s – scores that would make adult amateurs green with envy – the pair earned a 66.75 in Ease of Handling.
With a goal of representing the United States at the Working Equitation Youth World Championship in 2027, Maverick loves the challenge of the sport and appreciates the diversity of skills needed to succeed. He is honing his dressage skills in national competitions, including this year’s Festival of Champions in Chicago.
Heather Higgins of Tacoma, Washington and her 10-year-old Lusitano mare, Ilumina do Coracao, are riding in their first Regional Championships in amateur division of Novice A.
Novice A
Originally from Texas, Higgins grew up with working horses and later switched to dressage. Her mare didn’t love that but found the sweet spot after stumbling into Working Equitation.
Of Ilumina, Higgins said, “She thinks this is the coolest thing ever and she eats it up. She’s a smart mare so she wants to know what’s coming next and how to do each obstacle. She also loves to be told that she did a great job. I’m tremendously proud of her.”
Intro/L1
At the Introductory level, Heather Longshore led the open division in dressage with a score of 66.66 and sealed the deal in Ease of Handling with a 74.265.
Longshore, of Aurora, Oregon, rides Halay, a nine- year-old mustang gelding rounded up from the Paisley Desert herd in her home state. She notes, “It’s pretty clear he was a working horse on the range. He’s covered in battle scars from other stallions and wild animals.”
She continues, “He wasn’t the easiest horse to start. The first six months were torture for both of us. He’s been under saddle for a year and a half now. It wasn’t until the last six months that we’ve been able to start working well together, getting some soft connection and willingness from him. I’m super proud with what he’s given me this weekend.”
special thanks to photographers Brooke Nguyendo and Diana Inch!