Tampa, Fla. – Dec. 30, 2019 – The Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit features world-class competition, a top-notch facility and great weather, which annually attracts the nation’s best Quarter Horses and riders, as well as contenders from foreign soil. On the fourth day of the five-day event at the Florida State Fairgrounds, the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center showcased a group of competitors who traveled great distances to take part in this renowned event.
Philipp Roos, hailing from Zürich, Switzerland, has been coming to the horse show for four years. His 8-year-old gelding, Good Luck Only, has amassed more frequent flyer miles than most people, coming to the United States on connecting flights that included a 10-hour flight from Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Photo: Cody Parmenter
Marie-France D’hondt, of Gembloux, Belgium, has traveled to the event for nearly a decade. She believes that showing in the U.S. is like spending time with family. To her, winning is secondary, and taking part in the sport is what counts.
Dr. Carole Joubert Gaboury made the journey from Montreal in Canada because of the level of competition that the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit offers. The veterinarian is especially proud of her mare, My Precious Gab, a fifth-generation home-bred.
Photo: Cody Parmenter
The Kennedy clan, of Seattle, Washington, did not cross any borders on their inaugural journey to the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit. However, Phillip, Anne, their two daughters Taylor, 15, and Camille,12, felt the trip to the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit was worth the trek. After a life-altering event, they realized that time was too precious to be apart, so they coordinated their work and school schedules in order to experience the show circuit as a family.
The Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit culminates on Tuesday with AQHA, APHA and NSBA hunter, equitation, jumping, ranch horse and western riding classes. The coveted High Point Champion awards will be presented along with additional circuit awards.
Show management has once again partnered with CINCH and FunnWare Development to offer the Horse Show Tracker app. The Horse Show Tracker is FREE to download from the App Store or Google Play and allows exhibitors to easily access draws, results, scoring and more from any location without having to walk to the gate or show office. In addition, exhibitors will be able to conveniently access scribe sheets through the Horse Show Tracker app.
On competing at the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit:
“This is my fourth time at the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit. I like to come to this show because of the level of expertise. The competition is stiff, the riders are extremely polished and the horses are well-trained. This trail course is difficult because there are a lot of transitions between the obstacles. It takes a lot of precise riding and good communication between the rider and the horse.”
On his horse, Good Luck Only:
“He’s a fantastic horse. I’ve had him for four years. I bought him in the United States, took him home with me to Switzerland and then I flew him back here to compete. He’s done a lot of traveling. He came on a 10-hour flight from Amsterdam to New York, and then came to Florida.”
Marie-France D’hondt and Flashin Allthe Girls (Gembloux, Belgium)
On competing at the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit:
“I have been coming to this show since 2010. I like showing here for a few reasons. The weather, of course, but also because the people here are so friendly that they feel like family. For me, it’s not about winning, it’s about the sport and taking part and enjoying the experience with all the people. I feel like a kid when I compete here.”
Dr. Carole Joubert Gaboury and My Precious Gab (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
On competing with her 12-year-old mare:
“I bred and raised her. She is the fifth generation. Showing her is even more special because I have had her since she was born. I am so proud of her. She is so sweet and tries so hard to do her best. She has such a big heart. I can’t say enough about her.”
On competing at the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit:
“This is our first trip to the Florida Gold Coast Quarter Horse Circuit and we love it! The weather, as well as the facility, is beautiful.”
On competing with her family:
“Showing has been such a positive thing for us. My husband, Phillip, had a cardiac issue and we nearly lost him. We decided then that we wanted to spend more time together as a family. So, we rearranged our work and school schedules to make that happen. It was life-changing for us because our hobby morphed into a sport so that we could all be together.”
