Dawn Chapman
Q - You are a major patron to the horse community in Arizona, most recently as a sponsor of the new second covered arena at HorseShoe Park & Equestrian Center in Queen Creek. And, now are the naming sponsor of the main arena for your Chapman Dealerships. How do you make the time to take care of business and be competitive in show pen at the same time? A - My husband John who is co-CEO of Chapman Automotive Group with his brother Ted Chapman, they are very supportive of my career in cutting as well as making time to meet with community leaders. When there is a need to partner with local townships to support agricultural endeavors we are all very committed. Q - You won two NCHA World Championships in 2020 - that is a remarkable achievement. Can you share a few secrets to success? A - It starts with a plan, a dream. It all started in 2019 when I purchased Crispy Kreme, aka Donut, who was eligible for the $5000 Novice Class. Mike and I decided to show him lightly in 2019 and go for it in 2020. It’s a year long process, so we started planning/mapping out the schedule in Fall 2019. Our first show was in Tucson at the Pima County Fairgrounds on Jan 2! As for Little Jackson Cat, I had owned her at the time for a little over a year, and Mike wanted to show her in the Open and I would show her in the NonPro as well. Q - How did you find your two horses, Crispy Kreme and Little Jackson Cat? A - MWPH is made up of Mike Wood and Roper Curtis. They are both incredibly knowledgeable of horses all over the Nation competing in the major NCHA aged events. They watch horses and keep track of their progress throughout the year. When horses are aging out of these events, they start narrowing it down to horses they believe will make the transition to weekend cutting horses. It’s not always easy for horses to do this. It’s tough weekending because they compete every day of a 3,4, or 5 day show, and in my case, I also show them so it’s twice a day! Whole new world. Roper specifically has a knack for not only seeing those potential winners but also choosing horses for their different clients. Both LJC aka Jackie and Donut were found this way. Q - What makes Crispy Kreme and Little Jackson Cat special? A - Firstly, Jackie is truly one in a million. Her talent comes from a great foundation of training, but mostly her inherent cow sense. You can’t train that into the great ones. For Mike to be competitive in the Open, which is the highest level of this sport, he has to show the best horse with that extra something that separates them from the pack. It is very uncommon for an Open horse to compete in the NonPro as well. We did that very thing with this special mare all year. That is what made this year’s accomplishment so very unique! Mike finished first in the World and I finished 5th in my division. And let me tell you, Jackie was the only horse that showed in both divisions in the final 4 go-rounds in Fort Worth! Donut was a really nice aged event horse that Mike and Roper watched before I purchased him. He was primarily shown by an Amateur through the aged events. Super cowy, really cool style. The Year started out a bit rough with Donut and me, getting 0 out of
10 checks! It was incredibly frustrating especially since Mike was having stellar runs on him! Like any sport, so much of it is mental toughness, so you could say, I had lost it. Each time I walked to the herd on him, I choked. Eventually you get the breakthrough but it’s awful til then, and lonely! What’s so cool though, fellow competitors were so supportive and gave the best advice. I saw others go through it as well during this year and I returned the favor of offering a nudge of confidence and support. Q - What is it about competing on Cutting Horses that drives your interest in the sport? A - I began riding horses around 10 years old, typical horse crazy girl! I competed in barrels at gymkhanas and loved it. As I got older, the desire to try something different but still wanting to stay in the Western tradition led to cutting. It was a thrill I’d never experienced in any other discipline. The horsemanship was second to none. Mostly, it’s the people in this sport that make the difference for me. We truly are a family. Some of the most influential people I’ve met are those I’ve met in the pen, whether personally and even spiritually. It’s not uncommon to watch cows during the settling of the herd with Harvard professors, World renowned heart surgeons, movie producers, assistant trainers, and homemakers like me. The horses are the complete athlete, extraordinary all the way around. Q - You have been involved in Cutting for years serving at many levels including past- President of the Az Cutting Horse Association. What do you see as the challenges to the horse industry in the coming years? A - Thanks for asking, Tracy. Many of us grew up in an agricultural environment so we think things will continue. This is absolutely not the case! Elected officials decide it all. Many of these elected officials do not have the same views that you do. And they will fight against you. They will shut us down. Get involved, and don’t be afraid to state your opinion in a constructive way. Most importantly, as you become more educated, be bold and get into politics in your community. They are making decisions that affect you. Q - You are a successful business woman, and horsewoman, and now World Champion. A - What guidance can you share for the amateur or Non-Pros on what it takes to become a World Champion? Don’t be discouraged by the downturns in your journey!! Doesn’t matter if you are in a ‘prestigious’ barn or on your own, just reach out to trainers and ask for advice. They WILL help you. It’s better if you have shown and are giving your best in the pen. Q - Young woman in the horse business are proving themselves in more performance horse disciplines from roping, and working cow horse, to cutting and even reining. How does it feel to develop into a role model for these ladies by proving they too have a shot at becoming World Champions? A - Oh man....it’s just THE BEST!!! As a little girl, I loved horses more than anything in this World! Anyone has a shot at being the worlds best in cutting or in any other sport!! You can do it!! I have seen it with my own eyes!! I’m open to anyone who wants to talk about the sport, never hesitate to ask for help! You would be surprised.
JANUARY 2021
43
