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AMATEUR 3-YEAR-OLD MARES A FAMILY AFFAIR. BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, JOURNAL EDITOR Gayle Hamlin-Steidel has wanted a world championship since she was a girl. Now retired with her husband, Ken, she finally got a special mare back in December of 2008 - Miss Miraculous. Her granddaughter, Kelly, showed and qualified "Missy" for the 2009 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show, and she won the youth world championship in 3-year-old mares. On November 13 it was Gayle's turn to lead the mare for a shot at a world championship, and she won, placing first on three out of five judges' cards. Ken and Kelly joined her in the arena for the awards presentation, and joined her in the Super Barn for her winning run interview with the Journal. Q: Congratulations! Tell me what this means for you. GAYLE: It’s a dream come true. He (nodding to husband, Ken) talked me into trying for it, otherwise I wouldn’t have. Kelly went, and she won hers. I thought, this is going to be tough! I was very nervous. It means the world to me. I’ve worked on this since I was 14 years old. Q: Have you always shown halter? GAYLE: I’ve always shown halter, but I didn’t show for about 20 years. Ken convinced me to try for a world champion. We called Steve (Ferguson), and he found us "Missy." And it worked. Q: What made you want to try this again after 20 years? GAYLE: You know, you have that drive. I just can’t get away from them. I never will be away from them. We’re into it now! Q: How did it feel watching your grandmother in the arena with the horse you won with at the Ford Youth World? KELLY: I can’t believe she came out and did it. I’m happy for her. It was breathtaking. Q: How did you find this mare? GAYLE: We talked to Steve Ferguson last November after the World Show and asked him to find us a mare. He looked around for quite a while then called me and said, “I found your mare.” And he did! He’s a doll. Q: What do you like best about this mare? GAYLE: I like her disposition. She’s just a sweetheart. She’s calm and easy to show. She’s the kind of Quarter Horse I like – big and bulky. Remember, I started a long time ago when they were like that, so that’s the kind I still like. Q: What are your plans for her? GAYLE: We’re going to take her home and pull an embryo or two. We’re going to show her a little bit. (Ken) would like to show her in the Select next year. And Steve’s going to show her at the open. We’ll see what happens. Q: Tell me more about you guys. GAYLE: I’m originally from California. He’s from everywhere -- Las Vegas. We met in tennis lessons. He’s never been on horses in his life. He said, “I’d like a world championship. Let’s go.” He just loves them. This little one’s (Kelly) been doing it since she was 5 years old. I think we’ll be in it for a long time. I want to thank AQHA for doing such a wonderful job. It’s a great show, they put a lot into it and we support them all the way. Fun Fact: A smiling candid shot of Kelly Hamlin and Miss Miraculous from the Ford Youth World graced the cover of the October 2009 issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal. WINNER STATS Horse name: Miss Miraculous Total class entries: 16
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