Chippen In Style and Ryan Painter accept their accolades from AQHA President Ken Mumy of Metamora, Michigan.
Chippen In Style, a 6-year-old gelding by Chips Private Stock and out of Jay Stars Annie, sailed over the fences in senior hunter hack and then breezed through his rail work. Here, his exhibitor, Ryan Painter of Sun City, California, and his 14-year-old owner, Brittany Donald of Corpus Christi, Texas, talk about why he’s so easy to get along with:
Q: Tell me about your go. What was it like while you were out there riding? Ryan: The horse felt great. He walked in the ring and picked up a canter, a nice easy rhythm and cruised at both the jumps. He was pretty perfect. I couldn’t have asked for him to be any better, I don’t think. It’s fun to ride him.
Q: You don’t get to ride him very much, though? Ryan: No, he lives in Texas, and I live in California. I’ve only gotten to show him a couple of times this year. We qualified him early, and Jerry Erickson helped finish qualify him this summer, and then (the horse) went to the Congress, where I didn’t get to show him because I couldn’t be there for hunter hack, and then we came here.
Q: But even with that little practice, he did fine. Ryan: He stepped up to the plate tonight. He’s a great horse.
Q: Tell me about his personality. You said in the arena he’s the Energizer Bunny? Ryan: Oh, he can go all day. He’s never tired, but he always rises to the occasion. He doesn’t use it (as an excuse) to have a bad attitude. He’s really a nice horse.
Q: Who would you like to thank for this win? Ryan: His trainers, Reid Thomas; Jerry Erickson, who helped qualify him; there’s a local hunter barn in Corpus Christi that has done some training on him this summer. A lot of people have played a part in it.
Q: Brittany, how long have you had this horse? Brittany: I’ve had him for a little over a year. I show him in the English and a little bit of the western. I was reserve Congress champion in (13 and under) hunter under saddle this year with him.
Q: And you show him in western events, too? Brittany: He does trail and western riding.
Q: Tell me about his personality Brittany: He’s very sweet and he’s always willing to do whatever you ask him. Fun fact: His nickname, “Hercky,” is short for Hercules, and he got that moniker from Kendra Weis, his breeder and previous owner from Moberly, Missouri. Brittany says the food-motivated gelding likes all treats – “any food.”
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Chippen In Style Pedigree: Chips Private Stock x Jay Stars Annie x Diversified Exhibitor: Ryan Painter of Sun City, California Owner: Brittany Donald of Corpus Christi, Texas Trainer: Reid Thomas
Total class entries: 34 Purse: $18,934.60
World Champion Prizes: Custom-designed gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, neck wreath, gold medallion, Cripple Creek-logo jacket, world champion patch, Tex Tan product, Justin Boots
