It took 17-year-old Rebekah Kazakevicius of Ocala, Florida, a long time to find “her” horse. But when she finally did, she knew exactly what she wanted to call him: “Nemo.”

Kazakevicius, who qualified for the AQHYA World Championship Show in western pleasure and hunter under saddle, won the youth 14-18 hunter under saddle class at the All American Quarter Horse Congress this year with Nemo, registered as Cool Assets. 

Sue Ellen Vickery rode Cool Assets to his first junior hunter under saddle world championship.

But until recently, no one knew Cool Assets was an English horse.

“We actually got him to market as a western all-around horse,” explained trainer Sue Ellen Vickery. “We had him for two weeks and went to a show. Bruce, my husband, wanted me to just hop on the night before we started showing and see if I could get him to long trot. The next day I won (in hunter under saddle) and have been winning ever since.”

Vickery rode Nemo to a world championship in junior hunter under saddle. It was a first for both she and the horse.

“It was the dream of a lifetime,” she said after the class. “I have been reserve here I think five times. I win the prelims and then I’m always the bridesmaid. But not today.”

Vickery said that Nemo’s success comes from his versatility.

“I think what makes him stand out is that he is such a natural mover,” she said. “Everything is easy for him, so he’s just out there having a good time. He’s very easy to deal with. He really doesn’t want to do anything wrong. He’s just always there and willing to please and do his job.”

Kazakevicius is hoping to expand Nemo’s range of classes even more.

“We are going to start adding events,” Vickery said. “Obviously he does the pleasure, has the under saddle. We’re going to add the trail, western riding and driving and possibly some fence classes.”

WINNER STATS Horse name: Cool Assets Owner: Cindy Kazakevicius, Ocala, Florida Exhibitor: Sue Ellen Vickery, Pickerington, Ohio Breeder: Tim Delf, Blue Grass, Iowa Pedigree: Investment Asset x Goodbars Glamourgirl by Zippos Mr Good Bar Total Class Entries: 44 Purse: $19,228 World Champion Prizes: Gold trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, Cripple Creek jacket, WeatherBeeta product, Justin ostrich Tekno Crepe boots, Professional's Choice products, Nutrena feed, neck ribbon