Tampa, Fla. – Dec. 31, 2021 – The 2021 Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit culminated a successful season with another record-breaking event showcasing the nation’s top Quarter Horses and riders from all over North America. Under the show management services of An Equine Production, more than 500 exhibitors and 20,000 entries competed in the renowned horse show at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center from December 27-31.
Competitors at the five-day event enjoyed beautiful weather and ideal conditions while earning significant year-end points and phenomenal awards. High Point winners in 15 divisions received sought-after Porta Cool Coolers and Reserve High Point received a comfortable sling chair. The overall third place in each division received a backpack, useful for riders of all ages.
Kim Burritt of Murfreesboro, Tennessee was the Select High Point Award Champion with her horse Do You Have A Winner. This was her first appearance at the Gold Coast, making it memorable by walking away with the Porto Cool cooler. Competing at the Gold Coast has been on her bucket list for years, and she felt that the time was right to compete this year.
The Youth 14-18 High Point Award Champion was Alexa Black of Springfield, Ohio riding Huntin A Hot Cowgirl. The 18-year-old was third in the division last year and was very happy that it all came together at the 2021 Gold Coast. The week was especially important for Black as she is nearing the end of her competing as a Youth rider.
Rachel Trebesh of Fairhope, Alabama also walked away with a coveted award after riding No Doubt I Shine to the Senior High Point Award Champion and Amateur High Point Reserve Champion. The pair moved up in the standings during Friday’s competition to close out the show. Trebesh spoke highly of her horse, noting how much he loves his job and enjoys competing.
A full list of the 2021 Circuit Awards can be viewed here.
For additional information on the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit, please visit flgoldcoastcircuit.com
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Kim Burritt (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) & Do You Have A Winner
Select High Point Award Champion
On competing at the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit:
“I have always wanted to come [to the Gold Coast]. My friends have been talking about the Gold Coast for several years and told me that I really needed to be here. This year we have been doing really well, so I thought now is probably a good time to give it a try and we won!”
On winning the High Point Award:
“I was so surprised. I did not expect to win. This was my first time here and my first time riding in the Select division, so I wasn’t sure how I would do. When I heard I won I was super excited and happy. My friends were happy that I won also because I received the Porto Cool Cooler – I guess I will be sharing it with them.”
On her horse Do You Have A Winner:
“I have had him for seven years, but this year has been our best. He’s a lot of fun to ride. He loves to work and loves to jump. He’s also got a lot of personality. He’s a busy body, he always wants to be in your business. He is also very mischievous. He’s such a nice horse.”
Alexa Black (Springfield, Ohio) & Huntin A Hot Cowgirl
Youth 14-18 High Point Award Champion
On winning the High Point Award:
“I had a pretty good show, so I was hoping that I would win High Point, but I was pretty proud of my placements all week. I was third in the division last year, so it was nice to move up. It is really special to win though, because 2022 is my last year showing Youth. It’s really sad that I am aging out next year because I have been showing my whole life. I will be going to school, so after my Youth years I won’t be able to show for a while. So, I am really happy I won.”
On her horse Huntin A Hot Cowgirl:
“Hunter is a tough horse, but he is really talented and fun to ride. So we keep working with him and he keeps getting better every show. He has several nicknames, Hunter, Jaws, because he likes to bite a lot and some of the girls in the barn have taken to calling him The Brown Hippo. My favorite class with him was the second round of Horsemanship because everything came together. It was so much better than it has been all year.”
Rachel Trebesh (Fairhope, Alabama) & No Doubt I Shine
Senior High Point Award Champion and Amateur High Point Reserve Champion
On winning two High Point Awards at the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit:
“I am so excited! I have only come to the Gold Coast one other time. These are some of the best riders and horses in the country and to win against them is amazing. Yesterday morning I told myself not to come up and look at the standings, but I looked anyway. I was winning the Amateur, but we were sitting third or fourth for the Open so it was a surprise. I had no idea, but we had some really good rides in Trail and he was really good in the Pleasure yesterday with Shawn [Hays]. He Halters really pretty, so that helps.”
On her horse No Doubt I Shine:
“My horse is awesome! Shawn [Hays] rode him in the Trail and Senior Pleasure and I rode him in the Amateur. He loves to do his job. He enjoys showing. I think that is part of what makes him so special. He is so fun and easy to ride. He is so natural.”
HIGH POINT WINNERS
Junior:
C – Strutin To The Blues – Rodger Call
R – Bestseatnthesouth – Gumz Farms Quarter Horses
3 – If It Aint Southern – Kristy Mckechnie
Senior:
C – No Doubt I Shine & Rachel Trebesh
R – Suddenly So Cool – Barbara Crawford
3 – Only N The Blu For U – Reese Braden
Level 1/Green:
C – My Moma Said So – Angela Wade
R – KM Best Dressed – Kathryn Mitchell
3 – Southern Decadence – Melissa Hendrix
Level 1 (Novice) Amateur:
C – Hot Hippie Chick & Abigail Graham
R – Essentially Good & Penni Himes
3 – Lazy Lopin Ranger & Julie Baker Parsons
Amateur:
C – Definately A First & Kaleena Weakly
R – No Doubt I Shine & Rachel Trebesh
3 – Check Required & Rebecca Figueroa
Select:
C – Do You Have A Winner & Kimberly Burritt
R – Investin A Goodbar & Scott Reinartz
3 – Strawberry Wine & Laina Banks
Level 1 (Novice) Youth:
C – Dark Knight Seeker & Haylee Martin
R – Imma American Made & Taylor Kennedy
3 – Its All About Khrome & Victoria Raleigh
Youth 13 & Under:
C – Shes Rockin My Dream & Isabella Buckley
R – Certainly On Sundi & Alyssa Kladny
3 – Two Good To Be True & Kenidee Thomas
Youth 14-18:
C – Huntin A Hot Cowgirl & Alexa Black
R – Too Blazin Cool & Alexia Tordoff
3 – Cash Included & Natasha Replogle
Small Fry:
C – Chilln Ona Dirt Road & Lilly Jones
R – Dangerously Famous & Alyvia Kladny
3 – Cool To Be Invited & Luci Colasante
Level 1 Amateur W/J:
C – Suddenly To Cool & Barbara Crawford
R –Cowgirls Do It Best & Tracy Morse
3 –Sweet And Semi Lazy & Morra Nevells
Level 1 Youth W/J:
C – Dangerously Famous & Alyvia Kladny
R – Cool To Be Invited & Luci Colasante
3 –Glade Im lopin & Skylar Steffey
Ranch Open:
C – A Busy Affair – Steve & Kathy Headley
R – Hava Cocktail On Me & Deborah Deschamps-Baker
3 – KR Sassy Steppin & Steve & Kathy Headley
Ranch Amateur:
C – See The Magic In Me & Kenneth Banks
R – Spot On My Jersey & Karen Johnson
3 – Lovies Lil Rey & Jeanie Pressler
Ranch Youth:
C – Huntin A Bluemoon & Lexie Mccallar
R – MWS Flashed N Chock & Sydney Sargent
3 – Gotta Be A Boon & Gracellyn Allen