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WORDS BY: LYN HOFFMANN © 2025 D PHOTOS BY: EV LAGOON PHOTOGRAPHY
CLAIRVEAUX
Hot n SUDDEN Hot n
Q-82883
PAULA BALGERA WAS BORN & RAISED IN THE PERTH HILLS, AND TODAY LIVES IN EXMOUTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, WHERE SHE KEEPS HER FOUR BEAUTIFUL QUARTER HORSES. SHE’ S BEEN AN AQHA MEMBER AND COMPETITOR FOR 30 YEARS, AND LOVES RIDING HER HORSES ON THE BEACH EVERY DAY!
Paula was 9yo when she got her first Quarter Horse. Deck of Kings Q-15176 inspired Paula to begin showing in AQHA events. Paula has since shown many Quarter Horses, and those really setting her along the path of a show career were the buckskin gelding, Winderadeen Gay Bar Micky, Q-45347 and the red roan mare, Good Ride Girl Q-73986( dec.).
‘ My current showhorse is the gorgeous gelding, Clairveaux Hot N Sudden,’ Paula begins.‘ He’ s been doing incredibly well at Western Pleasure. I bought Clairveaux Hot N Sudden as a Youth horse for my daughter, Bianca. At the time, Bianca owned a Welsh Pony that had stolen her heart, and was competing on him in showjumping and gymkhanas. I decided to have a ride on Boss and realised that our partnership was meant to be. I brought my other horse, Thomas, home from the USA for Bianca to show, so that I could keep riding Boss. It’ s funny how things work out, as we’ ve recently each enjoyed showing both horses at Q25— Bianca showed Thomas, and I showed Boss.’
Paula says that Boss is calm and kind to show in Western Pleasure, and is an incredibly honest horse. He loves scratches, cuddles, and attention. But it’ s Boss’ love of his treats, on an‘ on demand’ basis, that’ s made Paula’ s Dad one of Boss’ favourites. She says that her Dad loves Boss, too, and is the most amazing support she could ever ask for, and is always there to help.
‘ When I purchased Boss, he was in training with Lana Kelderman. I brought him home to WA for a while, but ended up sending him back to Lana, earlier this year. She does the most amazing job with Boss, and we both agree that fate brought the three of us together. I’ m extremely grateful for the love and care Lana shows both myself and our horses. Boss’ s previous owner, Dani Eisele, also had a lot of success on Boss, in both Western Pleasure and Trail.’
Paula has shown Boss at the 2024 Western Australian Quarter Horse State Show, and this year, of course, at Q25. But because they live so remotely, it’ s often difficult for Paula to get across to Victoria to show Boss, so he now lives with Lana Kelderman at LJK Show Horses, but has had a fair bit of time off in between State Show and traveling to Victoria. While Boss has really enjoyed his paddock time, Paula does feel that he loves showing even more than his time off.
‘ Over the last couple of seasons,’ Paula says.‘ Boss has won many Western Pleasure titles with Lana, and he ' s also been
2025 AQHA YEARBOOK ~ MAY / JUNE ISSUE