JUNIOR WESTERN RIDING CHAMPION

KRISTEN GLOVER AND VITALS SIGNS ARE TWICE GOLD

BY CANDACE DOBSON, FIELD EDITOR

Kristin Glover and Vital Signs Are Good swept the amateur and junior western riding. The pair set an unofficial World Show record when they scored a 237.5 in the amateur finals, and sealed the junior championship with a solid 229.

“There were a few things I would change if I could, but overall it felt good,” Glover said. “I was just really excited to be out there with everyone in the finals. The competition was really tough, and it was an honor for me to compete against the pros.”

Glover and Lucy manuever through western riding pattern 1.

Setting a world record and then returning the next week in an attempt to top it could add a little pressure to your run, but Glover said that she and Lucy just went out there trying to focus on tonight.

“I just wanted to do the best I could, and try not to think about trying to top our run we had last week. Just because we’ve done well in the past, doesn’t mean you can rely on that every time,” she said.

This is Lucy’s fifth world championship. Besides this year’s wins, the mare was the 2002 world champion in 2-year-old western pleasure, the 2003 world champion in amateur western pleasure and the 2004 world champion in junior western riding. Glover said her next adventure with Lucy will be in the horsemanship. 

Glover changed trainers since last year’s World Show, but her new trainer Leonard Berryhill, said that they really haven’t done anything different with Lucy.

“She’s just a great horse, and there is no sense in changing something that is already good,” he said. “Kristen is a great showman, and we all just make a great team.”

WINNER STATS Horse name: Vital Signs Are Good Pedigree: Zippos Mr Good Bar x Vitalism by An Awesome Mister Owner: James E./Debbie Glover, Bixby, Oklahoma Exhibitor: Kristen N. Glover, Bixby, Oklahoma Trainer: AQHA Professional Horseman Leonard Berryhill, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Breeder: Kristin T. Rinkenberger, Morton, Illinois Total Class Entries: 36 Purse: $15,732 World Champion Prizes: Gold trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, Cripple Creek jacket, Tex Tan AQHA spurs, Justin ostrich Tekno Crepe boots, Professional's Choice products, Nutrena feed, neck ribbon