REGION THREE EXPERIENCE

ACHIEVING THE DREAM

BY ANDREA CAUDILL

From left to right: Josie Bretting riding CJ Sharp Chuter, Bella Bretting (in pink), Louise Vernon, Diane Foris, Paige Vernon (white shirt) and LeAnn Lulich riding Town Fiddler.

Louise Vernon, 63, stands in the aisleway of the horse barn at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, surrounded by friends and family, all hustling to get horses ready for an upcoming class. "My story isn't very interesting," she says dismissively, but was soon drowned out by the disagreement of her family. 

A horsewoman since she was 5, Louise's first experiences came riding her dad's work horses on weekends. When he decided his horses needed some rest, he swapped a load of hay for her first horse. "I learned to ride very defensively," she wryly notes of the blind steed she got in the deal.

She married and soon had four kids, and as they grew they all began to show. "I started to get discouraged over the judging," she says of their 4H experiences. "So I started learning what it was about." The Ashland, Wisconsin, resident soon held six judging cards with local open show circuits. Before long, she had grandkids, who also began riding. She currently has nine grandkids -- all of which ride -- and four of which attended the Regional Experience with her.

A few years ago, Louise suffered a heart attack. When she recovered, her husband asked her a question: "It's your time. What do you want to do with it?"

Her answer: I want to achieve my dream to show at an AQHA World Show.

In 2005, she partnered with CJ Sharp Chuter, a now 13-year-old son of Roping Chute that had qualified for the World Show in showmanship, horsemanship and equitation with his previous owners.

Since then, he and Louise have earned more than 58 points and the gelding has become an AQHA Champion. Last year, they showed at the Region 3 Experience, with five top-ten placings, including thirds in select western horsemanship and western horsemanship.

And it took a few years, but in August, Louise will finally achieve her dream: CJ Sharp Chuter will carry Louise into the pen at the 2008 Bayer Select World Show in Amarillo, Texas. The pair have qualified for trail, horsemanship and performance halter.

"All my grandkids will be there -- and half my neighborhood," she says.