Ellen Francisco almost didn’t make it to the 2007 Bayer Select World Championship Show.
“Three weeks ago I had a kidney stone, and I had surgery a week ago Monday, (August 20),” she explained. “When I went in to see the doctor, I said, ‘I’m just letting you know that I’ve got to get to the (Bayer Select World) a week from Sunday.’
“So, we did it!”
Not only did she make it to the show, but she won the Select world championship in trail with her bay gelding, Eras Spectacular Zip. It’s the first world championship for both of them.
“I’m feeling really great, and I’m glad (the kidney stone) happened then and not here,” she added with a laugh. “I still can’t believe it.”
The win with “Zip” is extra special for Ellen.
“I raised him, I saw him come into the world, and this is a thrill,” she said, tearing up. “He’s 18 years old, and he’s just getting better with age. Hopefully I am, too.
“I’ve been showing him seriously probably for about six or seven years,” she continued. “He was shown by an open rider for a number of years, and I was competing in cutting, so I missed out on a lot of great years showing him.
“But then I came back to start riding him seriously, and learning how to ride him. He’s taught me a lot.”
The finals pattern was a typical Tim Kimura challenge, including a sidepass over a raised pole, a diagonal lopeover, a diagonal trot over, an intricate jog serpentine and several tight turns.
“Staying on course, getting all my strides and all my spots, that’s always my biggest challenge,” she said. “But he’s a great horse.
“(AQHA Pro Horseman) Shawn Hayes is my trainer now and has elevated me to a whole new level. It feels great. It just all fell into place (today).”
Ellen named a long list of friends to thank, at the top of which was her former trainer, Tim Whitney, who “worked with this horse for many years.”
“I want to thank my husband, (Kent), for being so supportive all these years, telling me to just go show,” she said.
“I’m a real estate agent in Malibu, California; that keeps me busy,” Ellen said. “Riding is my passion; it keeps me sane.”
