AMATEUR HUNTER UNDER SADDLE

WINSTON'S EIGHTH.

BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, FIELD EDITOR

It’s been a great Bank of America Amateur Week at the 2006 AQHA World Championship Show for Kristin Martin of Canal Winchester, Ohio.

She and her multi-titled bay gelding, A Certified Edition, won the world championship in amateur pleasure driving on November 8, and capped the week off with one in amateur hunter under saddle on November 10. “Winchester” already had several world titles and top-10 World Show performances in both classes.

Listen in on the Journal’s conversation with her just after the win:

How many world championships does Winston have now?

Kristin Martin and A Certified Edition win the world championship in amateur hunter under saddle.

This makes No. 8 for Winston and No. 6 for me. I never would have ever thought that was possible in my entire life.

Do you have a special game plan going into this class?

Not really, I just ride every class like it’s out in the warm-up pen. I don’t do anything special; I don’t try to change anything. I try to do everything just the same and just go in and go show.

Is he fun to ride?

He’s super fun and every year he gets more and more fun to show, too. When I first got him, he wasn’t exactly easy to show, it was a little tough. So it’s super fun to show now because I get to go out there and just cruise around and look pretty.

What was tough?

He wasn’t real broke and hadn’t been shown a lot. He was really green and didn’t know what was expected of him. Now we’ve really clicked as a team.

What’s up next at the World Show?

We show in the senior (pleasure) driving and the senior hunter under saddle, and I’m showing him. I do not have a trainer. He lives at home; he’s lived at home for two-and-a-half years now. I get help from my friends, Jay and Kristi Starnes and Brian and Darla Lee, but that’s about it.

How often do you ride?

I’ll ride probably four or five times a week, but some of those times we’ll just be out in the field galloping. I don’t try to take anything too seriously. He’s 9 now, so he knows what his job is. It’s not like I need to go out and train on him. He knows what’s expected of him. I just go out and cruise him around and gallop, do some lead changes and have fun.

Is he going to live with you forever?

Yes. Eventually, when he’s done and he’s not really competitive anymore, he’s going to live out in my field and be my pasture pony and yard art and just look pretty for the rest of his life, because he’s earned it for sure.

Tell us about your family.

My mom and dad (Sue and Fred Mazzarini) come with me. My mom helps me a lot, she’s a huge supporter of me and is always there helping me. She’s my “eyes,” basically. Because I’m always the one riding him, she’s the one telling me what he looks like so I know how to fix it.

My dad hasn’t been able to come as much until last year. Last December, he actually had a stroke. He hasn’t been able to go back to work so he’s been able to travel with us a lot more, which has been a lot of fun. It’s really nice to have him here, too.

My husband (Chris) couldn’t make it because his cousin was getting married this weekend. So he missed both the driving and the hunt seat, and he’s not going to be able to come at all this year! But he got to watch it on the Internet.

I also have a brother, Richard, and sister-in-law, Megan; they own the farm where my horse lives, Quarterdale Farm in Canal Winchester (Ohio).

Is there anything else you want to say about this win?

Some horses are just destined for greatness, and I’m just lucky to be a part of this horse’s life. I don’t think I’m any better of a rider than any of the other 14 exhibitors that were in the pen. I’m just blessed with a very exceptionally talented and awesome horse.