NWHA National News November 2016 | Page 22

NWHA Talks With... Sheldon Bochenek Can you tell me a bit about your background and how you got involved with horses? Well I have been riding since I was three. My mom got me involved. I had a pony named misty until I was five then I got my first walking horse "Watch My Snowfire". I showed her until the time we decided to breed her. I got Oscar (Prowlin Golden Opportunity) and Pitcher (Pitcher of Gold) when I was eight and nine. I've been showing them ever since and have won over all ten national championships. I just recently broke and started showing my two year old (Andele) and won a class at Nationals this year. What are your goals for 2017? Lol get through high school and excel at Lake Erie college where I have committed to play basketball. And to get my two year old walkers up and going in the show ring How does that work, showing and playing basketball? Do you ever find one competing with the other? Yes all the time I'll have tournaments at the time of horse shows so there's a conflict. How do you work through those conflicts? Basketball normally wins. Because that is what I am going to college to do. Tell us about your current horses. I have Prowlin Golden Opportunity (Oscar), him and I are currently 2016 National Champions in All Day Pleasure 2 gait, 3 gait, and Equitation. Pitcher of Gold (Pitcher), who didn't hit the show ring this year due to an illness Andele, my two (now three) year old that I broke myself. He won a two year old trail pleasure class at the National. Walk Time Witch (Bliss), a 3 year old mare that I am currently breaking. She didn't make it to Nationals this year. NWHA National News 22