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JUNIOR WORKING HUNTER KRUZEN TO A WIN. BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, JOURNAL EDITOR Gerri Leigh Pratt’s bay stallion The Krymsun Kruzer has been cruising through a great show season this year. At the All American Quarter Horse Congress alone he won the all-around. As a 2-year-old he won the GMC 2-Year-Old Snaffle Bit Futurity at the All American Quarter Horse Congress and was third in 2-year-old western pleasure at the 2006 AQHA World Championship Show. As a 4-year-old, he won the reserve world championship in junior pleasure driving. Now, at 5, he has his first world championship, in junior working hunter, placing first on all five judges’ cards. Out in the Super Barn, the Journal caught up with his trainer, AQHA Professional Horseman Vicky Holt, his hunter rider, AQHA Professional Horseman Linda Crothers, and his owner. Q. How long have you had him, Vicky? VICKY: As a 3-year-old he got qualified to come (to the World Show) and they decided not to bring him, and he came home with me. She sent him to me to see what I could do with him, first do the hunt seat. We got him qualified the first year in Florida in the hunter under saddle, and then I started with the trail and western riding and just added the driving. I just tried to do a little bit of everything to see what he was capable of. Q. What does he like best? VICKY: Oh, the hunters! Absolutely. He’s fabulous over the fences. He’s just gotten stronger every time (Linda) shows him and rides him. You see how much stronger he gets over his back, and his form -- it’s just gotten amazing. At Congress, we were all really excited. He never tells you no; he’s just so willing and just so great to be around. It’s been fun. Q. Tell us about your ride tonight? LINDA: It was awesome. It’s another one of those (where) I’m going around the jumps thinking, “Somebody please breathe! I’m going to pass out!” He was good. He’s all business. He walks into the ring and is like, “Here I am, watch me because I’m going to be good.” And he was; he’s great. Q. Is there anything about him that you have to manage, or things that he requires, personality-wise? LINDA: Vicky’s tender, loving care. VICKY: (Laughs.) I think there’s definitely a side to him that he doesn’t like to be treated harshly. He’ll tell you no if you get a little tough on him. We’ve worked pretty good together doing that. I kind of understand him and know how much you can prep him and go. He’s really willing if you just ask and take him slow on the green stuff. As soon as you show him what you want, he just does it. He’s pretty neat. LINDA: He’s really green on the jumps, so he’s stepped up to the table. He’s a good boy. Q. What does he have left this week? VICKY: Quite a bit. He’s got the junior (hunter) hack, the junior pleasure driving, performance (halter) stallions, the under saddle (prelims) and I have the (junior) western riding finals. Q. How do you manage a horse like that through all those events? VICKY: I love to ride, and I just work on each event, his weakest point, I’ll work a little stronger on that during the week. Just do a little bit of it all every day. And he’s so willing, he’s just been good. It’s been two years and he’s gotten stronger. It just seems like every time you get on him, he gets better, and I think that’s how he is in most all events. Trail is not his favorite event, but he does sometimes come through and can be amazing. Q. Where is he headed now? VICKY: Well, I hate that he’s leaving; we’ve already cried about that. He’s going to Mike Hay’s and stand there. And we haven’t decided what we’re going to do for next year’s events. As of right now, he’s going to Mike’s. LINDA: It’s awesome. (To Vicky,) Thank you. And Gerri Leigh, you are wonderful. VICKY: Yeah, thank you for finding me and trusting me to take your horse. Q. You have cut back your horse program? GERRI LEIGH: I have cut back a lot. I have three horses. I sold them all except for three. Q. What made you keep The Krymsun Kruzer? GERRI LEIGH: Because I love him to death. He’s a special horse. I kept my yearling stud colt (Secretz) because he’s magnificent. And I kept Kids Keeping Cool, a mare that I showed that was grand in amateur and open. I kept three horses because they make me smile. Q. You’ve been in the Quarter Horse business for so long. Does this horse stand out, looking back over the years? GERRI LEIGH: Yes. What I’ve decided he’s such a special horse, and he’s so cool. If somebody says I want to take him, and I trust them to be kind to him and love him, they can take him and do it. But I would never send him to anyone I don’t know. He’s such a kind horse, and I love him so much. WINNER STATS Horse name: The Krymsun Kruzer Total class entries: 15
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