July 6-10, 2021
Evergreen Equestrian Park
14405 179th Ave SE, Monroe, WA 98272
By SARAH JAYNE JOHNSON
By SARAH JAYNE JOHNSON
In her final year as a youth rider, Sabina Berglund is looking forward to soaking in every last second before launching into full adulthood. Part of that includes making sure she enjoys every ride and every show along the way with Stachowski Farm and her family.
Competing with Sabina this year is her exceptional four-legged soul mate, EA Apollomalu (Troy) in Arabian Equitation, Show Hack and Country Pleasure Driving; Noble Bey CRF (Ace) in Arabian English Pleasure and Pleasure Driving; and MJM Hit Man (Hitman) in Half-Arabian Equitation, Country Pleasure and Show Hack.
Reminiscing on her previous years and most beloved memories from Youth Nationals, Sabina shares, “There are two memories that really stick out to me. My first year competing at Youth was in 2018. Despite not having any expectations except to go in, have fun, and get the feeling of how competitive it was, Troy and I ended up coming out with a reserve championship in the Arabian Country Choice and I couldn’t have been more excited! Getting a set of national roses with your heart horse is truly an incredible feeling. And in 2019, Ace and I showed in the Arabian English Pleasure JOTR and won that class after only being together since February. That class was such a rush, and I’ll never forget how much fun it was!”
Sabina’s journey into horses is a little different from most. Like most young children, she always loved and had a fascination for horses, however, her passion did not come to the forefront until she visited her grandparents in the Czech Republic. Every summer, they would take her to see the breathtaking carriage horses that lived close by, and it was just about as close to love at first sight as a person could get. “They (grandparents) were the first ones to notice that deep love,” says Sabina, “it just took my parents a little longer to realize it. But once I started taking riding lessons, I was hooked! My mom thought it would be a few lessons and we’d move on to the next thing, but that clearly never happened! It’s been an incredible journey so far and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.”
Beyond the show arena, Sabina is just as talented. In November 2018, she graduated high school early and worked on her prerequisite courses for veterinary school. Despite the challenges of being one of the youngest in her classes, she’s excelling. Her goal is to graduate vet school with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, specializing in sports medicine, followed up with a surgical residency to become an equine orthopedic surgeon. Her final goal? Own her own hospital one day. She credits her future career goals and aspirations in life to the lessons she’s learned as an equestrian. Horses consistently have been her motivation in many life tracks, but now are her focus and drive for her personal and career goals.
Until then, Sabina’s short-term goals after graduating from Youth Nationals, include becoming the best rider she can be. “I really want to work on finessing my skills and becoming a better rider in general,” she says. “There is so much to learn, and each trainer I work with is just so incredible at helping me expand my knowledge on these amazing horses. Working with multiple breeds has definitely helped that, and I can’t wait to really step it up to get ready for the amateur divisions.”
Miss Berglund made sure to emphasize a thank you for those who have supported her throughout her career. First and foremost, her parents who have supported her every step of the way. Peter and Susan Witte for giving her the solid foundation in our industry, Josh Shino for helping her gain her confidence in the show arena, Jody LaSalle for her support in and out of the arena, and Nestor Gonzales for his help this year prepping Miss Berglund and her horses for Youth Nationals.
July 1-4, 2021
Lexington Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington, KY 40511
June 22-27, 2021
World Equestrian Center
4095 OH-730, Wilmington, OH 45177
By CATHERINE COLE FERANDELLI
Joe and Kim Orr squeezed each other’s hands, nervously anticipating the results of the judges’ deliberations. In a European-like setting of emerald grass rimmed with picturesque VIP tents, the 2021 Arabian Breeders World Cup Supreme Senior Mare Championship winner was about to be named. Their dark bay beauty, Jasminia AS (Soul Of Marwan AS x Jasmine Love), a product of the Arabian Soul breeding program in Mexico, had won the championship for her age group but was the youngest of the senior contenders. The caliber of mares was exceptional, with the title completely up for grabs.
“We were expecting and hoping to get the Bronze,” Joe confides. “When they didn’t call her name we thought, ‘uh-oh.’ It was a sinking feeling as the Silver, too, went to another horse. Then, when she was called out for the Gold, we were elated! It was thrilling to win against such exceptional mares!” Those present saw Joe and Kim leap to their feet, their joy evident and infectious. As Supreme Champion, Jasminia earned the coveted silk saddle donated by the King of Morocco and a spectacular bronze by cherished friend Carol Fensholt Nierenberg that Joe treasures even more.
“The World Cup show committee deserves praise for pulling off this event in such a short time,” Joe continues. “COVID forced the change from Las Vegas to the outside setting at the Polo Field in Scottsdale, and it was perfection. That, and the incredible trophies offered separate the World Cup from other shows.” Having originally selected Jasminia as the entry into the Arabian world for a friend (for whom she won two Scottsdale championships), Joe and Kim consider themselves lucky to reap the rewards of her ownership.
They were staggered by over 300 messages of congratulations from all over the world, celebrating Jasminia and the talents of her handler, renowned horseman Rodolfo Guzzo. “He believed in Jasminia as a young filly and saw her potential when other trainers didn’t,” says Joe. As the only trainer in her undefeated career, Guzzo deeply appreciates Jasminia’s outstanding qualities. “She is a special horse,” he explains. “Very lovely, and very kind. She is super-feminine and elegant, and her movement! Always, when she comes into the arena, she is charismatic and full of trot, that is really the charm. She has a clean throat, pretty face, a super length of neck, great body, and upright tail, and that fantastic movement. Plus, her dark bay color makes a difference. In my opinion, the whole package is incredible.”
When Jasminia first arrived in his care three years earlier, Guzzo assigned his son the job of conditioning the filly. The victim of an accident that robbed him of all but 25% vision in one eye, Rodolphino has a special way of communicating with horses through touch and an open-hearted attention that is fully reciprocated. “There is no filter there,” says Guzzo. “It’s the most authentic love and passion, and for him, Jasminia is ‘The Horse.’ To see my son’s happiness and emotion when she won was worth everything. Joe and Kim respect what he has done for her. I really appreciate that.”
For now, Jasminia will take a hiatus from the show ring to spend time in the Orrs pastures in Washington. “Three people have already purchased embryos from her, and we have bred her to Aria Rakeem,” Joe explains. “Kim and I love the lifestyle and the grounding from the animals. We are in this for the fun of it, and Jasminia will be having some spa years at the ranch before returning to competition. We can’t wait to bring her home. She is, simply, a Rose City Arabian.”
May 19-23, 2021
Del Mar Fairgrounds
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014
http://www.aharegionone.com/R1_championship_show.html
Join us for the 2021 Spotlight Stallion Service Auction at the World Equestrian Center on Wednesday, 5/5/21!
May 5-9, 2021
World Equestrian Center
1390 NW 80th Ave. Ocala, FL 34482
