Chris Lagerblade rode her 17-plus hand palomino gelding Zee Yellow Jacket, aka “Jack,” to the 2008 Select world championship in hunter under saddle, proving once again that color has nothing to do with ability to win in under saddle. Jack won the 2007 junior hunter under saddle at the 2007 AQHA World Championship Show with Beth Case at the reins. As AQHA Executive Committee Member Dick Monahan went to put the winner’s neck wreath around Jack’s neck, the laidback gelding rubbed his head along Dick’s back, wanting a scratch.

Q. What’s it like to ride this horse?

Chris: He’s awesome. He has a very slow stride, big stride. My old horse that was here earlier in the week, The Prime Candidate, he goes the same way; I like the way both of them go, it’s why I picked him out.

Q. Tell us about his personality.

Chris: He has the personality of a Golden Retriever, the work ethic of a sheepdog, and we treat him like a Poodle. He’s very spoiled, but I like them that way.

Q. What are the plans for him now?

Chris: He’s going to the (AQHA World Championship Show) in the driving and western riding and the hunt seat. He won the (junior hunter under saddle) there last year. So we’re adding the western riding and the driving this year. And hopefully I’ll be doing those next year.

Zee Yellow Jacket and Chris Lagerblade of Phoenix won the hunter under saddle at the 2008 Bayer Select World Championship Show.

Q. Tell us how you got him?

Chris: I picked him out as a baby, and he was out of a friend of mine’s mare, we keep our mares together out in Arizona. When I saw him I just had to have him. He struck me as one who when he grew up he’d be a good hunt seat horse. I’ve had him since he was about three months old.

Q. You’ve been showing a long time; how did you get into showing?

Chris: My great-grandfather showed cutting horses, and I used to ride his older horses. He’d sit around with his friends, get a horse that would cut without a bridle on, and he’d put me on the horse, and all his friends would be over there, and he’d take me out to the middle of the pen, take the bridle off the horse, and all his friends would think he was neat because his horse could cut with this little kid on it. And that’s where I learned to stay on.

Q. How did you get into English events?

Chris: I just liked the way the horses looked, the way they go, their stride. It was my favorite way of going.

Q. Who would you like to especially thank?

Chris: My husband (Mark) for understanding why, on Labor Day weekend, we are at a horse show instead of Las Vegas or something. And Beth Case (my trainer). When he was 2, not many trainers would take him because he’s a palomino. I asked several trainers. And she agreed to take him and has done a wonderful job. I owe it all to her and to the horse.

Fun Fact: Chris’ old horse, The Prime Candidate, aka “Brownie,” also showed at the 2008 Bayer Select World Championship Show at age 20 with his current owner, Helen Poland. “Brownie” has carried many riders to titles since his first, a reserve world championship in junior hunter under saddle back in 1992.