JUNIOR WESTERN PLEASURE

FOR THE FAMILY.

BY LARRI JO STARKEY, JOURNAL COPY EDITOR

A mare that keeps her family on top consistently did the same thing for her trainer.

Hope By Invitation, a 2001 daughter of Invitation Only, followed up last year’s reserve world championship in the junior western pleasure with a championship this year.

“She’s extremely talented, and she showed her talent tonight and showed it well,” trainer E.H. Pait said. “She told me before she showed that she was ready.”

E.H. Pait accepts congratulations from Walter Fletcher.

Owners Vickie and Jerry Strickland and their son, Denny, were happy to recite "Hope's" win statistics after the class. Jerry and Denny also show the mare in western pleasure.

“We won the junior this year and last year at the Congress and reserve last year at the World,” Vickie said. “Jerry was reserve on her at Select World this year, and Denny was third at the Youth World.”

As Vickie heard the countdown to the winner, her palms were sweating.

“It was pretty nerve-wracking,” Jerry said. “Last year, we were reserve, and you never know until they call that last number out. You hold your breath that you won’t be called out until the last minute. But today was the day.”

Next on Hope's to-do list will be another appearance at the Ford AQHYA World Championship Show with Denny aboard, and Jerry plans to show her in amateur classes.

In the meantime, the family will be happy to continue singing the mare’s praises.

“She’s a great mare,” Vickie said. “She’s a natural. I’ve never seen anything like her.”

“Perfect,” Jerry agreed. “And today it seemed like she was relaxed, and her ears were up. She just seemed like she was happy to be there.”