Lori Bucholz started crying from the moment she realized she was at least in the top two in working hunter September 6 at the Bayer Select World Championship Show. As Annette Kimball’s name was called for reserve champion, Lori flung her arms around the neck of Larks Happy Days. On the way out of the arena, she met friend after friend with congratulations and even took a congratulatory phone call from Carol Harris, the horse’s previous owner and the owner of Rugged Lark, who sired “Fonzie.” As the phone call ended, Lori made time for an interview with the Journal while holding “Cracky,” the plastic squirrel that accompanies AQHA Professional Horseman Lainie DeBoer’s students. The interview had to be brief; Lori still had to prepare for her classes in hunter hack and pleasure driving.

Q: Congratulations. Would you walk us through your run?

Lori: I had to go first, which is always a little nerve-wracking. My trainer said, “Think about your pattern; think about what you’re doing.” Fortunately, we were off the right lead, which is my horse’s best lead off the first fence. I had a little tick to the first fence – not anything terrible – and the rest he just flowed down the lines for me and was really really good. He just came alive for me this afternoon. He was great.

Q: Tell us a little bit about the horse.

Lori: His registered name is Larks Happy Days. He’s a two-time world champion in the junior driving. He was reserve in the senior driving last year at the World Show and third in the amateur driving. He’s top 10 in a couple of the hunter events, and he’s just the Fonz. He’s one cool dude and he knows it. If he had thumbs, he would stick them up and say, “ehhhhh.”

Q: How does he adjust between the jumping and the pleasure driving?

Lori: He does. He’s just that smart. He’s that talented. He knows, and we have to say, “OK, this is your next event. This is what you’re doing” and he just goes in and does his job. He knows his job very well.

Q: What is next for the two of you?

Lori: I can’t think much beyond tonight and having a drink and dinner. After that, I’m not real sure.

Q: What did Mrs. Harris tell you?

Lori: She said she was so proud of us, and I can’t thank her enough for believing in us and believing in me and selling us Fonzie. We just love her and we thank her tremendously.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW ...
Lori and Larks Happy Days were the unanimous winner under all five judges. "That's an amazing honor. I thank the judges," she said.