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2-YEAR-OLD WESTERN PLEASURE CERTAINLY INSPIRED'S WIN BRINGS JOY TO HER OWNERS DURING A DIFFICULT TIME. BY TONYA RATLIFF-GARRISON, JOURNAL FIELD EDITOR The horses might have only been youngsters, but there were already some big names in the 2-year-old western pleasure finals on November 18. There was Rode Rageous, the sorrel gelding who won the 2009 Reichert Celebration and the Breeders Classic Futurity 2-year-old open western pleasure title at the National Snaffle Bit Association World Championship Show, and One N Only, who was the reserve Reichert Celebration champion. In the arena were also several blue-blooded offspring: Born Blazed out of Born Lopin, One Hot Moonlight out of Zippo By Moonlight whose dam is Ima Blister Bug, and VS Code Red, whose mother is the legendary mare Vital Signs Are Good. In the field as well was Certainly Inspired, the unanimous 2009 All American Quarter Horse Congress Masters western champion. And when it came down to the last horse standing, it was the pretty brown mare Certainly Inspired, who was placed first by all five judges. The Journal caught up with owners Steven and Susan Thompson to ask them about their mare. Q. Congratulations! Tell me about Certainly Inspired. SUSAN: She’s a very special horse. She’s out of a mare, Weretalkinradical, both Rusty (Green) and I showed, so we know the mom real well. And we’re fortunate to have this one. She’s just a dream horse. She’s just so compact. So pretty and we love her. We love her. Q. When she won the Masters last month, did you have high hopes for her here? SUSAN: You have hopes but you just don’t know because she was going to be in there with a lot of horses that had shown all year. We didn’t know what they were going to look like next to her. It was such a good class, it was scary. We were hoping and we were happy with the horse no matter what she did because we love the horse but this sure did make it icing on the cake. Q. There were a lot of top names out there. STEVEN: We thought we had a really good horse and Rusty called back in March and told us, “Boy, you’ve got a special horse here. This might be the best horse I’ve ever ridden.” So we knew we had a good horse and Rusty has done a tremendous job. SUSAN: We’ve been with him for years and he’s like family. He’s so talented. He did a great job with her. He’s kind to the horses and makes them stand up and do what they are supposed to do. Q. Is she a lot like her dam? STEVEN: Yes. We just visited her mother Monday and it was so amazing how much she looks like her mother. It’s just tremendous. We’re real excited about her mother. She produced a Congress champion last year and of course we won the Congress again this year. I think we’ve got her mother figured out, and I think we’re going to have a great broodmare. SUSAN: Definitely Certain Potential is going to be on her list next year. And the plans for this horse too is next year our daughter Andrea Thompson, who rode Potential Diva, is going to move on and start showing this horse. We’re so excited to see that partnership get started. STEVEN: In the last month we’ve had the high of winning the Congress and then our mare died. SUSAN: Potential Diva (2008 senior western pleasure world champion) died, so it’s been a hard time but that’s the horse business, there are highs and lows. (To read a letter from the Thompsons' daughter, Andrea, about Potential Diva, go to gohorseshow.com.) STEVEN: We still, just every time we think about her, we cry. Q. I know Potential Diva’s death was so unexpected for the two of you. SUSAN: It was. Even though this horse won’t replace “Diva,” it’s giving our daughter some excitement this year to look forward to a new partnership and we think it’s going to be a great team. Q. Do you eventually see Certainly Inspired moving into western riding or trail? SUSAN: We really feel like she has a great front-end for western riding. That’s in the future but we’re looking that direction maybe. STEVEN: Rusty already has her changing leads. She’ll change leads really well. We mainly focus on pleasure. So next year we’ll do the futurities as a 3, and then we’ll come back as a 4 and we will come back to the World as an amateur and a junior. SUSAN: She has a long career ahead of her. STEVEN: Of course we breed and raise as well so we’re going to flush an embryo out of her next year. We’ve already made plans for that and will breed her to Blazing Hot. We’re excited about that. Q. Who would the two of you like to thank? SUSAN: So many people. We have so many people in our barn that supported us all year. Rusty and Katy for sure. They’ve been solid. They’ve been there for us especially during this hard time too. Katy has been wonderful to both of us. STEVEN: We want to thank AQHA and especially the sponsors. Not only Richland Ranch for sponsoring the 2-year-old pleasure class but also the corporate sponsors. SUSAN: And the judges and everybody out there who applauded and supported us all year. Rich and Kelly Perry helped to start the horse and got her ready for Rusty. So they had something to do with it too. Everybody here has been so supportive and given us good wishes. STEVEN: And not only that but we really appreciate … we’ve had so many people come up to us about Potential Diva and it means a lot giving us condolences. We really appreciate that. It’s really meant a lot to us and our daughter. I’m in the funeral business and I deal with death everyday and I tell you this was like losing a part of our family. She was so special. SUSAN: It has been a tough couple of weeks but this has given us a lot of hope. A lot to be thankful for too. We’ve been fortunate in this business to be involved with a lot of good people that treat us well. Rusty has always gotten as great horses, sometimes sight unseen. He’ll call us and say he’s got this horse. We just want to thank all of them. FUN FACT WINNER STATS Horse name: Certainly Inspired Total class entries: 38
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