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AMATEUR WORKING COW HORSE KAREN STALLINGS AND 'ELVIS' PLAY IT COOL WITH FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WIN. BY KATIE HENDRICKSON, MARKETING INTERN Karen Stallings has shown NMSU Truckin Chex, aka "Elvis," in the amateur working cow horse many times. She even showed him in senior working cow horse last year after her husband, Kevin, hurt a rib when a horse fell on him in the junior working cow horse. However, Karen has never done better than reserve ... that is until this year when she and Elvis marked a 218 in the dry work and a 219 in the fence work to win their first world championship title. The Journal caught up with an elated Karen next to the makeup pen to ask about her and Elvis' winning run. Q: What was the best part of your performance tonight? Karen: Elvis is really great in the reining and I always have boggles and little pieces that I didn’t quite know how to fit together. This year’s been huge for me, getting those pieces together and a little bit more learning. It’s come together here and is so special to do here at this show. It’s the best reining run that I’ve ever done and it was so exciting. Q: Will you tell us a little about Elvis? Karen: Elvis, he has just been a blessing in our life. He is one of the few truly great horses out there. There are lots of really good ones and he is a great one. He’s been shown since he was 3 years old – he’s 10 now – and if we leave him at home, he gets upset. He wants to go. He loves his job. It’s easy for him. Knock on wood – he’s stayed so sound and this is such a grueling event. You do so much on him and I think it being so easy for him has helped with the soundness. Mentally, he’s amazing. He’s a freak – he’s so good-minded. He wants to go do it and loves to try hard and be a Superman. He’s awesome to have. He’s such a cool horse. Q: What other accomplishments do you have with him? Karen: We’ve been AQHA reserve world champions and also third. So I actually have a whole collection of the trophies now! Q: How is it to work so closely with your husband, Kevin, to train and compete? Karen: You know, it’s great. We have a very special relationship. I know there’re not many husbands and wives that can spend 24/7 together and still love each other (she jokes). He’s the one that keeps it together. I get frustrated trying to learn. I try so hard that I get in my own way. He’s stayed so patient with me, over and over again. He’s so supportive. It’s just amazingly special. We have just such a great relationship and I could have never done this without him. Not even close. Nobody else would have put up with me for sure. WINNER STATS Horse name: NMSU Truckin Chex Total class entries: 49
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