So yes, this was probably the best ever AQHA World Show for Alberta.

Was this the best ever showing for Alberta at the 2009 AQHA World Show? Quite possibly.

Amateur Week started on Friday, Nov. 6 and this year Alberta was represented by Wendy Williams with Shiners Q Chex (aka “Q”) in Amateur Reining and Tracy Mills with Hot Obsession (aka “Suzy”) in Amateur Showmanship, Amateur Western Horsemanship and Amateur Trail. Both of these ladies and their equine partners gave their all, 110 per cent all the way. Although neither pair qualified for the final cut in their classes, they both had their pictures in the first slide show of the “Behind the Scenes” section on the AQHA World Show web page, Tracy’s being the very first picture from her Western Horsemanship class. Congratulations Wendy and Tracy on your success this year!

The first representation we had in the Open Week was Cindy Soderberg on Three D Western (aka “April” owned by Susan Walsh) in the Junior Trail preliminaries on Saturday, Nov. 14. Cindy had what looked to be a great trail pattern in a class of 40 plus competitors. Several of my Facebook pals and I watched the Junior Trail class via the live webcast and waited on pins and needles to hear if Cindy’s score was enough to make the cut to the finals. As they called the 15 qualifiers, Cindy and April were the last to qualify — they made it! Fantastic! The Junior Trail finals were set for first thing Wednesday, the 18th and again, many of us watched via the webcast and cheered for this great team. The final result was a very exciting and deserving 10th place finish!

In Performance Halter Mares, April (under the guidance of Sheldon Soderberg) finished 12th overall in what looked to be an incredibly tough class of mares. This gentle, loving horse has made Susan, Cindy, Sheldon and the rest of us who know her incredibly proud. Congratulations to all and way to go team!

To add to the excitement of the Junior Trail finals were two other Alberta owned horses, Hubba Hubba Huntin owned by Breanne Porter and In Princizziples Image owned by Nancy Sprague. Nancy’s horse earned the honour of Reserve World Champion in Junior Trail under the guidance of John Briggs. Congratulations Nancy!

Hubba Hubba Huntin (aka “Hubba”) had an incredible World Show, earning the Reserve World Championship in Amateur Performance Halter Stallions with Breanne, ninth overall in Junior Trail with Jason Martin, ninth overall in Junior Hunter Under Saddle with Lindsay Soderberg and third overall in Junior Western Riding with Jason Martin. Congratulations to Breanne, Karen, Alicia and the rest of their team on their fantastic year with Hubba!

“Gold” sprinkles to top off this fantastic World Show for Alberta. BR Cinderella Man (owned by Susanne Willows) under the guidance of Denny Hassett in Performance Halter Stallions was named World Champion. Congratulations to Sue and her support team on this most prestigious award.

In reining, congratulations are also extended to Lance and Samantha Griffin with Kachina Oak Olena finishing in the top 15 in Amateur Reining as well as Ken and Margaret Johnson, owners of Shiners Lena Dust who won the Open Junior Reining with Duane Latimer. Fantastic results!

So yes, this was probably the best ever AQHA World Show for Alberta. Congratulations to all of the exhibitors, their trainers, their families and support teams on your incredible successes. And thank you for making us so very proud of our fellow Albertans and your equine partners.