2 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 3
4 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 5
6 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 7
8 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 9
10 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 11
12 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 13
Kara Flentje On The Ride of a Lifetime...
Amateur Kara Flentje is AQHA World Show bound with her exceptional two-yearold gelding Easy Peazy. The two-year-old gelding is by Easy on the Eyez and out of the mare TreatMeLikeALady and was bred by Marissa McLeod. “Bradly” has been a standout from the start according to Flentje, who purchased the gelding as a yearling from Kevin Griner. “Anthony Leier posted a video of Bradly on social media, and I contacted him immediately as I knew right away there was something special about him,” says Flentje. “I was very persistent with Anthony and Kevin and am very grateful Kevin finally agreed to sell him. I just knew he was going to be a great one.” And great he’s been. The young horse has already earned numerous accolades. During his yearling year Griner showed Bradly at The Premier in Kentucky, and then Flentje took the line before the NSBA World Show where Bradly won the Limited Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line with Flentje, which was her first NSBA World Championship. He also took home the bronze award in the Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line and in the Open Hunter Longe line. At the 2022 All American Quarter Horse Congress Easy Peazy won the Open Hunter Yearling Longe Line Stakes with Anthony Leier and made another of Flentje’s life-long dreams come true when they won the Congress Championship in the Non-Pro Hunter Yearling Longe Line Stakes. “After having such a phenomenal year in the Longe Line, we were so excited to get him started under saddle,” says Flentje. Adding, “He’s just so exotic. He can trot and canter exceptional both ways, which is hard to find.” Many know Bradly for his physical attributes, particularly his long neck, which has earned him the nickname Long Neck, or Little Foot, from The Land Before Time Movies. Flentje recalls trainer Beth Case saying, “His neck is so long. This could be really good or really bad.” Luckily for both Case and Flentje it proved to be very, very good.
14 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 15
“He’s got a really cool look,” says Case. “He uses that long neck the way he should. I told Kara it could go either way and it definitely went the right way.” Case also appreciates the gelding’s easy-going personality. “Once he figured everything out, he’s been super easy,” Case says. “He was very easy at The Congress.” “He’s easy peasy, just like his name,” says Flentje. It’s likely why she fell so in love with him early on. “He’s been my heart horse for a while now. He just has such a great personality. He’s one of those horses that wants to be friends with everyone. I think of him like those people you meet who are just high on life,” she says. At the 2023 Congress, Flentje and Case had great success with Bradly. Case and Bradly brought home a Congress Championship in the highly competitive Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle and Reserve Championship in the Two-Year-Old Maiden Open Hunter Under Saddle. Flentje and Bradly won the Two-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Stakes, were Reserve Champions in the TwoYear-Old Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle and took home the fourthplace award in the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. The long list of accolades makes Bradly a four-time Congress champion and two-time Reserve Congress champion as a two-year-old. An impressive feat for any horse. Flentje credits the horse’s easygoing demeanor with his success. “He really pulled through,” she says. “His first go’s in the maiden were the tenth of October and he didn’t finish showing until the final days of the show. He’d been there for over two weeks and still loved his job. But that’s just his personality. When he’s in the cross ties he always wants a treat and or attention. In the line-up he kept turning his head to make friends with the horse next to him.” Flentje and Case are now gearing up to take Easy Peazy to the AQHA World Show where Case will show him in the Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle Stakes. Easy On The Eyez stallion owner Sarah Rosciti of North Scituate, Rhode Island is not surprised by Bradly’s laidback personality or the way he’s taken to his job. “The Easy On The Eyez babies have been really trainable with great minds,” says Rosciti, who trained and showed Easy On The Eyez herself. “The fact that I was able to train and show him myself as a non-pro is really a testament to his mind. And now we see that getting passed along to his babies,” she says. Rosciti is thrilled with the success Bradly has had thus far. “He’s really exceptional,” she says. “He carries himself so nicely and it just sets him 16 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
apart in the pen. I think that’s one of the reasons he’s able to go to the world show as a two-year-old.” Rosciti follows each of Anakin’s foals that are born and knew that Bradly was special from the beginning. “It was the mare’s first baby. He was a gorgeous red colt with lots of chrome. He was Anakin’s first NSBA World Champion and first Congress Champion in the under-saddle classes. “It was an amazing moment,” says Rosciti “We had high expectations and were hopeful that he’d be as successful in the Hunter Under Saddle horse as he was in the Longe Line. We were absolutely thrilled when he won the Level 1 at the Congress. It was an enormous, talented class,” says Rosciti. More than anything, Rosciti is thrilled that Bradly has proven to be a solid non-pro mount. “I kept telling Kara, he looks so fun to show. It’s great to see him in excel in both the open and non-pro arenas,” Rosciti shares.
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 17
As a breeder, that’s her greatest hope. “Our highest priority when we started breeding Anakin was to produce horses people wanted to ride. We wanted horses that were easy for non-pros and trainers, horses they would want to take to the horse show,” she says, adding, “Anakin was that for me.” Seeing Bradly’s success has been rewarding for Rosciti, but knowing how much Flentje loves and enjoys him has been the icing on the cake. “Of course, we love to see them win,” says Rosciti. “But we get tons of photos and videos of people just enjoying their horses, and that’s what it’s all about for us as breeders.” Flentje’s journey on the AQHA circuit didn’t begin until her amateur years in the early 2000’s. “I grew up showing 4-H and did local circuits in Wisconsin,” says Flentje. “My mom taught me my foundation of horses; my first horse was an Arabian.” Eventually she began riding with Troy Moon and ventured into the world of quarter horses. After a few years and a stint working for Glenn Wells as an assistant trainer, where she learned a lot, she missed the one-on-one connection with her horse. After taking a few years off, Flentje began riding as an Amateur in AQHA and has been sociated with respectable barns such as Brad Kearns and Vickery Performance Horses, where she focused on the pattern classes. Flentje states, “she learned so many finetuning tricks.” In 2018 Flentje was Reserve World Champion in Amateur Equitation. Soon after, she set her sights on the Hunter Under Saddle. “Beth Case has always been someone I’ve aspired to ride with,” Flentje says. “I thought it would be so cool to ride with her, but I was only doing the Equitation at that point.” When Flentje purchased Bradly, she knew she would send him to Case since he was a hunt seat prospect. She describes Case as a perfect fit for both her and Bradly. “She’s amazing. She’s a good, calming coach and good for my head, but she’s also a friend. Beth is someone who loves the horse and the person. I admit I was intimidated by her until I was with her. But, she’s one of the most caring and nicest people I know.” When she’s not on the road with her horses, Flentje, who lives in Madison, Wisconsin, enjoys spending time with her family— husband Ben and their teenage daughter Ellie, whom they recently adopted through a host-toadopt program. Flentje first learned of the program through a friend and shares, “When I heard our daughter’s story, I couldn’t let her go back. The adoption wasn’t really planned, it just happened.” Flentje adds, “She knew no English coming here and had never been to a formal school,” says Flentje.
18 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
Ellie(Kara’s daughter)
Ben, Kara & Ellie
Unfortunately, she had no schooling in Colombia and was far behind in life. Right now, she’s learning the language and how to go to school. She’s figuring out how to be a kid, because she has never had that chance.” Looking to the future, Flentje has high hopes for her up and coming Easy On The Eyez babies. “I have Bradly’s half sister and brother that are both Easy On The Eyez weanlings,” Flentje says. “They both have that exotic, great movement just like Bradly. They’re just phenomenal legged. Easy On The Eyez has thrown so many great ones already as a young stallion.” Flentje plans to show one of the yearlings next year in Longe Line. As for Bradly, Flentje says they will focus on the three-year-old futurities in both the open and non-pro. As they look to the World Show, both Case and Flentje are hopeful given Bradly’s steady performance at the Congress. For Flentje, it all comes down to Easy Peazy’s incredible mind and heart. “He has a heart of gold and so much try. For a two-year-old, he’s one in a million.” Article Written by: Elizabeth Arnold
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 19
20 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 21
22 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 23
24 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 25
26 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 27
“The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, provided access to critical resources that has allowed me to develop novel rehabilitative solutions for equine athletes. The reality is that orthopedic injuries we see in actively competing horses inspires us to investigate and validate strategies to propel the industry into new frontiers with fresh perspective. The support of the foundation is integral to helping clinician-scientists such as myself achieve these goals and augment the level of care we are able to provide.” -Sherry Johnson
Donate to fund the best equine research. 28 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
GRAYSON-JOCKEY CLUB RESEARCH FOUNDATION
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 29
30 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 31
32 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 33
34 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 35
36 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 37
38 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 39
40 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 41
42 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 43
44 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 45
46 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 47
48 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 49
50 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 51
52 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 53
54 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
ima platinum dream unbridle your dreams
Susan Phillips and Ben and Julie Wolff have joined forces with a particular goal in mind—to create a breeding program that will produce strong and capable all-around horses. Their mission is shaped around three talented stallions: Im A Platinum Dream, Unbridle Your Dreams, and Al Call You Later. Im A Platinum Dream Im A Platinum Dream, a 2010 16.2 gray stallion by Huntin for Chocolate out of Ima Bodacious Dream, has sired several World Champions and Reserve Congress Champions from a limited number of registered foals. The Corrival ranch team describes him as a once in a lifetime horse. Sadly, Im A Platinum Dream was laid to rest due to an injury in late summer. Breedings to the talented stallion are still available through ICSI and he is still paid into the Premier Sires program. His athletic and attractive foals boast lifetime earnings of $82,000. Unbridle Your Dreams
al call you later
Unbridle Your Dreams, or Special, is a 2018 stallion by Im A Platinum Dream out of the mare Wild Gypsy Soule who is by Certain Potential. Corrival Ranch purchased the stallion from Dale Livingston. The 16-hand gray stallion has shown tremendous talent
Ben & Julie Wolff and Susie Phillips at the Grand Opening of Corrival Ranch in Texas
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 55
across multiple events—a fact evidenced by his strong showing in the return of The All-American Quarter Horse Congress Open Versatility Stakes where he took home the reserve championship. Special was ridden by Scott Jones in Hunter Under Saddle and Pole Bending and Stephanie Armellini in Western Pleasure and Ranch Riding. “He takes everything we throw at him and excels at every new event,” says Phillips. In the versatility, Special won the Hunter Under Saddle portion, finished second in Western Pleasure, fifth in Ranch Riding, and sixth in Pole Bending. He finished second by one, one hundredth of a point.
Julie Wolff shared, “The Versatility was a fantastic class. I think it showcased what an all-around horse Special really is what he can produce from an all-around perspective. He’s shown the Hunter Under Saddle and Trail, but in the Versatility, he took second in the Western Pleasure. He had a blast in the Poles. You could tell he was having fun and it worked to highlight his all-around nature. And that’s our goal, to create good, all-around horses.” Special, who is in training with Stephanie Armellini of Anthony, Florida, is qualified for the AQHA World Show in Junior Trail, Level 1 Trail and Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle, as well as the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle with Susan Phillips. “He is absolutely the kindest stallion I’ve ever had opportunity to show,” says Phillips. “I show 56 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
unbridle your dreams
him in the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and he very sensitive to his rider and what you’re doing. He’s very empathetic to his riders,” she adds. Phillips and Special were Reserve Champions in the $2500 Limited Horse Limited Rider Hunter Under Saddle at The Premier earlier this year. She says, “He enjoys showing. He always has his ears up and has a great ring presence. I can count on him to be there for me.” Special has only been competing in Trail for a short time but has shown incredible aptitude for the event. At The Premier in Kentucky, which was only his second showing in Trail, Aremllini and Special were top five in Junior Trail. At the NSBA World Show, Special was top ten in the BCF 4-6 -Year-Old Limited Hunter Under Saddle and Green Hunter Saddle and placed 5 th in the Green Junior Trail Limited and top ten in the 4 & 5-Year-Old Limited Open Trail. Phillips credits Special’s exceptional good nature with his willingness to take on and excel at new events. “He really is a puppy dog,” says Phillips. “He’s the epitome of good minded. Personality wise, he’s the type of stallion you could ride bareback with a halter and lead rope.” That kind personality and trainable mind is exactly what the Corrival Ranch team hopes Special will pass on to his foals. “I’m hoping he passes along his do-it-yourself amateur personality,” says Phillips. Last year, Special bred approximately 25 mares. Already, his owners see that he is stamping his foals with his kindness, athletic ability and conformation. “They are all as kind and as brave and conformationally beautiful as he is. It’s exciting to see that he’s really stamping his foals and proving himself to be a sire,” Phillips shares. For the 2024 breeding season, Special will be standing with Mike and Jan Hay at Pilot Knob Quarter Horses. The expectations for Unbridle Your Dreams’ future are high. But the team at PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 57
Corrival Ranch have no doubt he can live up to them. “I don’t believe there’s another stallion that can create the ultimate all-around horse that can go on to be strong in so many events. I know that’s a big order, but I’ve got big hopes,” says Phillips. Al Call You Later Al Call You Later or Claude is a 2019, AQHA/APHA 16.2 bay stallion by Allocate Your Assets out of Jazz in the Park who is by Sonnys Hot Jazz. “From the moment I saw him I wanted to buy him,” says Phillips. Trainer Scott Jones advised Phillips to let him ride the horse
for a few weeks. According to Phillips, it wasn’t long before Jones called back and said, “We need to have him.” Claude has amassed an impressive list of accolades, including a bronze award at the NSBA World Show in Color Open Hunter Longe Line and Color Open BCF Hunter Longe Line. From there, Claude went on to earn an APHA Reserve World Championship in Green Hunter Under Saddle, an APHA Reserve World Championship in Junior Hunter Hack and a unanimous APHA World Championship in All Age Pleasure Driving. In 2023 at The Premier, Lindsey Soderberg Geiger piloted the young stallion to a third-place finish in the Green Hunter Under Saddle. 58 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
al call you later
At the upcoming AQHA World Show, Claude will be shown by Brian Isbell in Junior Pleasure Driving. “Marion Troyer has been training Claude for the driving and has done an exceptional job preparing him. We’re really excited about his all-around future,” says Phillips. Following the World Show, Al Call You Later will be in training with Tyler Haney for the over fences and driving. He will also continue to be campaigned by Scott Jones and Phillips in the Hunter Under Saddle events. “We’re really excited about his all-around future,” Phillips says. In his first breeding season, Al Call You Later will stand at Hassinger Farm in North Carolina. Mare Power
al that matters most
In addition to the stallions, Corrival Ranch is home to an impressive group of mares, many of which make up the Phillips and Wolff show string. At the 2023 All-American Quarter Horse Congress Phillips’ mares Ma Donna and Al That Matters Most earned multiple top awards. Phillips and Al That Matters Most or Maddie earned the unanimous Congress Championship in Level 1 Select Hunter Saddle. It was Phillips’ first Congress win. They were tenth in the Select Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. “She has been a great mare,” Phillips shares. “I’m really excited about her future.” The pair also won the $2500 LTD Rider/$2500 LTD Horse Open Hunter Under Saddle at The Premier. In 2024, they plan to add Driving, Trail, and Equitation. She will be bred to both Unbridle Your Dreams and Im A Platinum Dream. Phillips also owns the impressive young mare Ma Donna who is under the guidance of Scott Jones. Phillips and Ma Donna earned her second Congress Championship in the Two-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle and a Reserve Championship in Two-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle. Jones showed the mare to a third-place finish in the Maiden Two-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle. “She’s just a dream to own and we’re really excited about her future. PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 59
certainty platinum
ma donna
She’s a sweet, loving mare and we plan to breed her to Unbridle Your Dreams,” Phillips shares. Certainty Platinum is shown by the Wolff’s daughter Quintessa who showed the mare in Youth 12-14 Hunter Under Saddle, earning ninth at their first Congress. They were also top five in Level 1 13 & Under Hunter Under Saddle. The gray mare is by Im A Platinum Dream and her dam is a full sister to the famous western pleasure gelding A Certain Vino. She will be bred to Al Call You Later in 2024 and will continue to be Quintessa’s show mount. Corrival Ranch To understand the mission of Corrival Ranch, located in Boerne, Texas, you only have to look to the name. “Corrival means friendly competitor,” says Julie Wolff. “At Corrival, we’ve created a place that offers full-service training, boarding and rehabilitation services. At most barns you have a close-knit family where people are also competing against each other. That environment and the idea of Corrival is exemplified by what you see in the horse industry and it’s what we wanted to promote.” The Wolffs met Phillips in 2021 after relocating to Texas to give their daughter, Quintessa, more opportunities to ride and compete. “We all got fairly inspired,” Wolff says. “We saw the need in our community and our state for a facility that offered comprehensive rehab services. We believe that horses are athletes. Professional athletes need high quality conditioning and rehabilitation, and that’s what we wanted to bring to Corrival,” she says. In late October Corrival officially held its grand opening. 60 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
The property boasts state-of-the-art facilities and 97 stalls. They have separate, breeding, boarding, and rehabilitation barns. The rehab barn has a brand-new surgical suite that will be available through a co-op to local veterinarians whose practices are primarily mobile. They also offer swim therapy, a spa, Bemer, Theraplate, PEMF and laser treatment. “We’ve really focused on being a one-stop-shop for rehab,” Wolff says.
Corrival is also home to multiple in-house trainers, including Michael Hunsinger, Kevin McDavitt, Meghan Moriarty, and Dressage trainer Jennifer Jones. According to Wolff, the facility is open to all disciplines. “It’s been a long time in the making,” Wolff says. “We’re all excited to see it come to fruition.” With so many positive things happening, Corrival Ranch team is most excited about the promising future for their young stallions and breeding program. “We’re really excited about these two young stallions coming up,” says Wolff. Adding, “Special provides great out crossing ability. He’s producing great minded, quiet horses who are happy to do whatever is asked. We’re also looking forward to getting Claude in the breeding barn and seeing what he produces. He’s one of only a few sons of Allocate Your Assets standing at stud.” Through every Corrival Ranch endeavor, it’s clear that the care and comfort of the horse is their top priority. So, it’s no surprise that their mission is offer both the ultimate experience for horse owners from their state-of-the-art facility in the Texas hill country and produce the ultimate all-around horse that generations of horse lovers will be proud to own. Article Written by: Elizabeth Arnold Photography by: Terri Cage, Jeff Kirkbride, Shane Rux, Cody Parmenter & Melissa Baus
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 61
62 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 63
64 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 65
66 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 67
68 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 69
70 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 71
72 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 73
74 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 75
76 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 77
78 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 79
80 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 81
82 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 83
84 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 85
86 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 87
88 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 89
90 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 91
92 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 93
94 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 95
96 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 97
98 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 99
100 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 101
102 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 103
104 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 105
106 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 107
108 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
www.Livinglargestallion.com
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 109
110 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 111
112 | PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023
PREMIER | NOVEMBER 2023 | 113