PG . 11
NIXON
‘ Select Amateur , Helen Nixon , flanked by her beautiful bay boys , Virgil , at left , and Boomer .’
Photo : Ev Lagoon
AQHA 2022 HIGH POINT SELECT AMATEUR OF NSW
Many years ago , horse-loving Helen Nixon took a break from riding horses to travel around Australia . Ending up in Perth , she got back into horses sometime in 1990 . The Quarter Horse had always been a breed that she ’ d admired and she promised herself that her next horse would definitely be a Quarter Horse .
So Helen was keen when she finally began taking Western lessons with a trainer , and started riding a chestnut Quarter Horse gelding called Balcormo Dans Image Q-5371 ( dec ). It was through that trainer that Helen was lucky enough to lease her first Quarter Horse , a black mare named Balcormo Calamity Q-5327 ( dec ), from Tracy Allen .
‘ I began showing Calamity in Improver Classes at shows around the Perth region ,’ Helen begins . ‘ I ’ ll admit that Calamity was way above my riding ability , but with her lovely temperament , she looked after me so well , enabling me to I win my first buckle with her .’
After Calamity was retired , Helen purchased the chestnut gelding , Sans Mirage Q-20780 ( dec ). From there they began their showing journey together , and Mickey would become Helen ’ s first Amateur Horse .
‘ We did all the events and I made many mistakes with Mickey , but we still managed to do well over our years of competing — I had him until he was 28yo . As an Amateur competitor riding Mickey , Helen won AQHA High Point for Western Australia numerous times .’
AQHA JANUARY / FEBRUARY ISSUE 2023