AmateurProfile
8. Who has been you biggest inspiration as an ama-
teur owner & exhibitor either living or dead?
10 Questions
Inspiration from my family came from my grandmother
with J.J.
who bought me my first horse. She believed that horses
J.J. & Ramona would keep me out of trouble, teach me life lessons, help me
Caldwell are long assume a sense of responsibility, and ultimately accomplish
time Palomino, AQHA my goals. Today my mother is my inspiration and my part-
& APHA enthusiasts, ner with our horse operation. She travels and shows with me
owners, and amateur ex-
f Kirkbride
so I am never lonely, always well feed, and continually laugh-
hibitors. This mother-daughter team work to- ing. I am blessed that my mother and I have such a great re-
gether to accomplish their showing & breeding lationship.
goals. Everything from hauling & grooming to Our biggest inspiration is a woman named Rita
selecting which horse is shown ultimately falls on
J.J. celebrates a top 5
win with her mother,
Crundwell. She is just awesome and we love her ads. She
their shoulders. J.J. sat down with us and shared
Ramona, at the 2009
shows halter, rides english, western, jumps, and has a flour-
their experience(s) showing as amateurs and after
Palomino World
ishing stud business. She is an inspiration to all amateurs that
years of having their horses in full training, their
Championship Show
with hard work, smart thinking, and a good team you can
decision to move their horse operation home. Photo Courtesy J.J. Caldwell, by Jef WIN! My mother and I were fortunate enough to meet her
1. What breed or show circuits do you show on? hand, but then you also need to step away at times so you can get to know
this past year at the Reichert Celebration and purchased two
I primarily show our yellow horses on the PHBA your horse. I moved to Texas for college and hired yet another trainer who
beautiful yearling fillies from her operation.
circuit; however, we are showing the AQHA circuit in would take me to the next level. Stacey Sample of Stacey Sample Show
9. What are some of the short and long-term goals as
both the amateur and amateur select. We plan to show Horses was a great mentor, trainer, and friend who allowed me to get to a
an amateur exhibitor?
the NSBA circuit next year with about four budding 2- level of showing I never dreamed of. We stayed over 6 years at her barn be-
My short-term goals are to continue showing at local
year-old english/western prospects. fore moving to our show facility here in Whitesboro, in June of 2009.
PHBA/AQHA shows in halter and performance. Our long-
2. How many years have you owned and shown 4. What were some of the hurdles or concerns about going out on
term goals, which I share with my mother, are to continue to
horses? your own as a show barn and an exhibitor?
qualify for the AQHA world show in Open, Amateur, and
For over 20 years, my mother and I have owned It can and was a really scary idea to run a barn and show on your own.
Amateur Select events. We will be riding a lot during the next
horses. I showed "A" circuit jumpers/ hunters and even- Although I do still receive regular help and lessons from my trainer both at
few years in the NSBA sanctioned shows and will move over
ter's as a kid growing up. I developed a liking for dres- show and home, the decisions ultimately fall on my mother and I. Owning
to show some paints. We will continue to raise, train, show,
sage in high school and attempted a few hard shows! I your own farm and showing the horses that you have raised or bought is a
and sell our babies for years to come!
seemed to be the one who was at shows primarily but in rewarding experience. This is especially true if you are winning. If you are
10. What are your words of wisdom to share with our
2005 my mother acquired two beautiful PHBA confor- losing in a show pen and don't have a trainer you can talk to, you might sec-
readers?
mation horses and she has been on the road ever since! ond guess yourself. I love running my own barn and deciding who goes to
Just remember that there are many different ways to ride,
She plans to ride next year for the first time ever in the shows and who does not. It seems to allow for more flexibility and less stress
train, show, and raise horses. Pick a system that works for
"Select" events at both AQHA/PHBA/NSBA shows. at show time. I have really tried to show with my quality horses and leave
you and your horse. Stick with that system! Never stop ex-
3. Prior to setting up your own facility, were you
my quantity for another day!
ploring the horse world and continue to educate yourself in
always in a trainer’s barn? 5. What were some of the benefits of going out on your own?
regards to health/vet care, feeding programs, showing, and
Throughout my life, I have always had a trainer. It Being able to run my own show barn outside my home has allowed me
equine education. Lastly...I challenge everyone who owns
seemed the best option for my family and for the care of to maximize my time with the horses. I have been so blessed that all my
horses to volunteer at a therapeutic riding center. That will
the horses. While I was in high school, I moved into a horses are outside my back door and no longer driving over 200 miles just
change your life and the way you look at our equine friends.
boarding school in Kent, CT, in order to train under an to practice for a show. Your biggest hurdle with showing horses and own-
Thanks and happy trails, happy hearts, and clean hooves
Olympic trainer. While living there, my mother became ing is time! The other benefit for me is that because I get to be around my
for all. J.J. w
really involved with my horses and bought a beautiful show horses on a daily basis, I have really been able to understand them bet-
farm outside Little Rock, Arkansas. This farm allowed ter at a show. I can ride almost every day whether it is on the trail or in the
Barker Sweeps All-Arounds
us some flexibility with our horses so that they did not arena so my performance capabilities have improved. The most fun of being
at the ABRA World Show
have to stay at the trainers for long periods. All amateurs on your own is that you can make the rules... although with that said you now
The 22nd Annual A.B.R.A. World Championship Show
need a trainer to help with basics and lend a helping will have a 24-hour job.
kicked off July 29 offering five judges and five sets of points
6. What have been some of your most rewarding experiences as an
to Buckskin, Dun, Red Dun and Grulla competitors at Expo
J.J. at the
amateur?
Square in Tulsa, OK. Montana Silversmith Trophy Buckles
2009 Palomino
As an amateur, I have been able to travel from coast to coast showing
were awarded to all World Champion and Reserve World
World
my horses and have seen some beautiful country. I feel blessed to be able to
Champion winners with Trophy Saddles going to All-Around
Championship
Show
show all over the place and meet some amazing people who have enriched
and Reserve All-Around competitors.
my life. When you are on the show circuit, your family is a true blessing
Brittany Barker of Columbus, IN, had the show of a life-
and they keep me going when I am tired and driving my trailer at some crazy
time riding to the Open and Amateur All Around titles with
hour in the morning. As an amateur, I have received numerous national high
Bud Light Please. Riding to the Reserve Open All Around
points, won lots of circuit awards, trophies, awards, etc. I believe the most
was Terina Pike of Madison, WI, and Zippos Goldunrod and
rewarding experience however is that my life has been ultimately changed
the Reserve Amateur All Around was Kate Buffa of Silver
f Kirkbride
by a warm pink nose, a soft furry coat, and 4 legs of courage that show me
Lake, WI and Truly Chipped.
unconditional love on a daily basis.
Texas took home the Champion Amateur Select title
when Julie Dinse of Bandera rode her seasoned pro Roses
7. Any disappointments or unexpected events?
Moses to the title with wins in both the Amateur Select Trail
YES!! I have, just like any other horse owner, had some big disap-
and the Amateur Select Hunt Seat Equitation. Jill Cook of
pointments. To me a disappointment is not the loss of a class but the loss of
Fort Collins, CO, rode Don’t Touch My Zipper to the Re-
an equine’s life or its ability to perform. Through these catastrophic events,
serve.
I try to keep a positive attitude and learn from them so hopefully I can avoid
For more information and complete results, visit the
them in the future. Sometimes you just can't keep a horse from peril and you
Photo Courtesy J.J. Caldwell, by Jef
ABRA website at
www.americanbuckskin.org. w
18 SouthWest Horse Trader October 2009
just have to regroup with plan B.
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