THREE FOR THE SHOW

Having a horse in the World’s Greatest Horseman Final is exciting for the owner, breeder, trainer and rider. But to have three horses from one breeder in the 15, or 16 in 2023, horse field, is quite an accomplishment, and that is what it felt like for Garth and Amanda Gardiner.

“We counted up in the World Show and there were 16 horses [we bred] showing. We’ve gone through the Snaffle Bit Futurity with [many horses we’ve bred] shown, but to make it through the snaffle bit, the hackamore, the two-rein and into the bridle, then to have that horse come here in the World’s Greatest and be shown is humbling,” said Amanda Gardiner.

Three horses the couple bred topped the 78-horse field to be in contention for one of the most coveted prizes: Bet He Sparks owned by K&L Phillips and shown by Clayton Edsall, Bet Hesa Boon owned by Beverly Servi and shown by Tyler Merrill, and Time For The Diamond owned by Rod Dowers and shown by Nick Dowers.

Of those three, 2010 stallion Time For The Diamond (One Time Pepto x Diamonds With Style x Playin Stylish) was the oldest in the field. The sorrel stallion won the 2013 Snaffle Bit Futurity®, was shown in the Derby-aged events and in the two-rein, but until Dowers took him into the pen in the preliminary rounds, had not earned NRCHA money in the bridle. In fact, the horse had not been in a show pen for five years. Now, he has more than $12,000 to his career earnings.

“It’s exciting and humbling to know those owners and those trainers believed in these horses to get to this point, then to have three of them in the Finals,” Gardiner said. “It’s an incredible accomplishment and so exciting.”