 |
| Carla Wennberg was honored as the Professional's Choice AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year at the 2009 AQHA Convention. |
BY BRITTANIA CASSIDAY, JOURNAL INTERN
A horse crazy girl who wore lucky socks to show in, AQHA Pro Horseman and Judge Carla Wennberg developed a strong youth showing career into a professional one as a coach, trainer and judge respected across the country. Currently a coach at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, North Carolina, Carla was named the Professional’s Choice AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year at the 2009 AQHA Convention, and she is still all about horses.
Nothing could keep Carla from a horse show as a youth. Click to hear her tell one story of her horse-crazy dedication.
AQHJ: Give us an example of how horse crazy you were as a girl.
Carla: My mom said when I got my tonsils taken out when I was 3, horses were all I would talk about. They put these armbands on me with other animals (on them), and I would rip them off because I wanted a horse (on mine). From when I was very little, horses were all I wanted to do. And now that I’m 50 – I hate to even say that – I still have a one-track mind: It’s all about horses.
AQHJ: What was the best thing about growing up with horses?
Carla: I think for me they have always been my best friends. It was companionship, and I think that is what a lot of kids are looking for. In these equine programs that I teach, we hook a lot of students by having such a big horse program. When their studies are tough, tests are hard or they are feeling homesick, they come to the barn and spend a lot of time with the horses. That is what it was for me too.
AQHJ: What is your favorite thing about showing?
Carla: I was always and still am as a judge, a pattern class girl. I love the showmanship, horsemanship and equitation. I’m all about patterns; I love the technology of them. As a youth, I liked judges who really gave you something challenging, that made you go through a thought process. I am like that today as a judge. I always try to think, “Now what do I want to see? What challenge do I want out of this pattern?”
People work so hard to get that relationship and trust factor with the horse to do the pattern work correctly and perfect it. To have a good pattern horse, you don’t have to have a $50,000 or $100,000 horse. You need one that’s a good mover, very trainable, trusting and kind. It takes homework to develop a good product. That’s why I have always loved it; you could work at it and make your horse better and better.
AQHJ: What does this award mean to you?
Carla: It was a bit of a surprise, but a very welcomed surprise. This is really something that I am very proud of because it is voted on by your peers. For us in this business, it is very, very important that your peers appreciate what you have contributed to the industry.
I am absolutely a product of AQHA. I made my way through youth, and then I wanted to be a judge. All my progression is through AQHA as a professional. I kind of made my hobby my profession. I have taught for 19 years in equine programs at colleges. It’s really been great to be a product of all that AQHA has to offer. I’m very proud of that, and all of the places it has taken me and all the people that I work with in judging. They are such close friends. It is a lifestyle instead of a job.
AQHJ: What is the best or most rewarding part of your job as a coach?
Carla: I had a student who never had shown western until this year, and she has won almost every time out. Learning how to do the pattern work, the rail work, how to dress properly, the winning is just the icing on the cake. It’s not the cake, it’s just the icing, because the cake is what they have been working towards as individuals. To see all those elements come to together, that's rewarding.
AQHJ: And what has been most rewarding as a judge?
Carla: Judging the (AQHA World Championship Show). I have been lucky to do many, and I absolutely get as emotional as the people winning. I just get so excited for them. Even though you are very critical in your thinking, and your thought process all the way through is very professional, when you get to the end, and you walk upstairs and see who wins, it’s very rewarding.
I love our World Show and I love how we mentally prepare as judges. There is no better testing ground for yourself, seeing your confidence level as a judge and your mental preparedness to be at that level. It is very, very rewarding.
|
| Click to hear Carla tell one story of her determination to go show. |
