Sarah Smith had an “awesome” time at the Ford AQHYA World Championship Show – her grandson, Cooper, won a world championship with the 2-year-old mare JR Zips Kid.
And now Sarah’s had an equally awesome Bayer Select World Championship Show – she led the same mare to another world championship in 2-year-old mares.
“Everybody told me she was a nice 2-year-old mare,” Sarah said after the win, with a big smile on her face. “I was just hoping to do a good job; she’s a nice mare.”
From Kechi, Kansas, Sarah’s son is AQHA Professional Horseman Jason Smith of Whitesboro, Texas, who also owns the mare. Sarah said that Jason is the key to getting a good performance out of the mare.
“He gets her ready, and she’s very well broke, and she’s happy at what she does,” she said. “That makes it easier to get her ears up and keep her focus.
“She is a typical 2-year-old, she has a short attention span,” Sarah added. “It’s just like having a 2-year-old child.”
This is Sarah’s fourth Select world championship in halter. She’s also watched Jason, Jason’s wife, Julie, and grandson, Cooper, win world championships. So, is it harder to watch or show?
“Watch,” she said, with no hesitation. “Because when you’re in there you’re doing it, and you’re focused on things. When you’re watching them, and you’re looking at all their competitors, it makes you more nervous thinking, ‘Oh, that’s really a nice horse.’
“But when you’re in there, you’re so focused on yourself. Until you get done and you’re standing on the wall – then you look around and go, ‘Oh my! There are some really nice horses in here.’ Then you get a little nervous.
“And I don’t get nervous watching Jason and Julie show, but when the grandkids show, I get nervous.”
What are her plans right now, on the heels of this world championship?
“I have an aged gelding to show this afternoon, and I would like to win another world championship,” she said.
