November/December 2015 | Page 28

– Medal of Excellence Recipient – IMA RADICAL DREAM Born 16 November 2000 Bred by LD & KA Neilsen Sire: Tall Dark N Radical Dam: Peppys Triple Treat Following is taken from the 2005 AQHA Yearbook Dream started her Halter career early, gaining her ROM in only a few shows, quickly followed by her Superior. Kerry couldn’t wait to ride her, so like she had done with Dream’s mother, Kerry just saddled her up, with no “breaking in” period and had her friend Travis ride her down the road. “I started riding her then, and knew she had it all” said Kerry. Kerry made the decision (based on the ridiculous fact that she thought she was too old), to send Dream to a trainer to prepare her for her first shows under saddle. Doug Farmer took her on and it was decided that she would only start out at Pleasure, as she was such a natural. “Her first show was just a small one, the day before a big AA show at Gatton. She gained a second in the two year old Pleasure, I was over the moon. The next day, she took out Champion Mare, and went on to win the Two Year Old Western Pleasure” said Kerry. Dream did a few more shows with Doug, and came home. She didn’t get to the AQHA Nationals in her two year old year due to a virus. “My vets advised not to travel her, I was so disappointed” said Kerry. Their next big show was the Queensland State Show. Kerry explained “Dream and I worked really hard at home, I wanted her to do really well, but I got cold feet at the last minute, I didn’t feel I could do her justice, so I asked my friend Dionne White to ride the two year old Western Pleasure for me. Dionne looked lovely on the mare, the American judge thought the same, and she won.” Page 28 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • November • December 2015 Q-45888 After a spell, Dream came out for her first Junior year, still only doing Halter and Pleasure. “I had always loved Trail, her mother was a good trail horse, so we branched into Trail, where she did really well. I started doing other events show by show and she took it all in her stride” said Kerry. Dream finished her first Junior year with Runner-Up All Round Quarter Horse of Australia and of Queensland, High Point Western Pleasure Horse of the Year, High Point Amateur of Queensland, High Point Amateur Trail and third overall in Amateur Western Pleasure. I was so pleased, as I had ridden all the events myself. I also won my first buckle that year in Junior Western Pleasure. 2005 had been Dream’s second Junior year and it started out well, finally making it to the Nationals, but only by chance explained Kerry. “I had intended going to the Congress in America, but