Grandmother Bobi James, mother Kendra Rowswell (below) and daughter Ava Rowswell each won the top prize in Showmanship for their age group at the Canadian National Quarter Horse Show in Red Deer. (Submitted photos/Tru Equine Photography)

By Martin Martinson

Showmanship Standouts

Three generations shine at National Quarter Horse Show

Sep 6, 2023 | 12:19 PM

It was an experience Kendra Rowswell, her daughter Ava, and mom Bobi James will not soon forget at the National Quarter Horse Show Aug. 25-29 in Red Deer, Alta.

One of just five American Quarter Horse Association-approved shows across Saskatchewan and Alberta – the trio set out for the national competition with two horses between them – Kendra’s gelding, ‘Western By Dezign’ or ‘Dex’ as he’s known less formally around the barn, and ‘All Drest Up’ or ‘Lacy’, trained by Bobi and shown by both her and Ava in their competitions.

The results couldn’t have yielded better.

Kendra won the Level 1 Amateur Showmanship and Reserve Level 1 All-Around, finishing second in her age category for the whole show. Bobi won the select amateur (50+) Showmanship, a pair of Ranch Trail Classes and All-Around Select Amateur, and Ava won the Small Fry Showmanship (ages 10-and-under) along with five buckles in her class.

Kendra Rowswell in action at the Canadian National Quarter Horse Show in Red Deer. (submitted photo/Tru Equine Photography)

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Rowswell said having raised their horses themselves gives the family immense satisfaction in finding the success they did over the week.

“It’s extremely rewarding,” she said. “Both horses we were showing we raised ourselves, they’re off of mares we owned and bred and raised and trained, so it was extremely rewarding to have this kind of success at a national level.”

“The other really neat part that will likely never align for us again, was winning that same showmanship class in all three categories… that was really satisfying to be able to take home the buckle in that class across the three divisions.”

Horses have always been a big part of life for the family, Kendra recalled, since her earliest years growing up on the family farm just south of Lashburn, where her mom still resides.

Bobi James in action at the Canadian National Quarter Horse Show in Red Deer. (submitted photo/Tru Equine Photography)

From riding on the farm grounds to presenting at local area 4-H shows, Rowswell got her first taste of major quarter horse competitions at age 14, while helping out a cousin. Little did she know at the time, that was just the beginning, going on to show her own horses soon after and eventually mentoring her mom and daughter in the craft.

“My mom joined me maybe 10 years ago showing quarter horses as well, and then Ava got kind of thrown into it as a young one, about two or three years old because I was hauling her to the shows with us,” Rowswell recounted with a laugh.

From there, it wasn’t long until the younger Rowswell (Ava) was taking part in leadline classes at the shows, getting a feel for being on the back of a horse and in the show pen around the judges and atmosphere.

“She’s kind of grown up with it coming to all the shows with us year after year, so this is finally her turn to get to come out a little bit too and it’s just really exciting to be able to share that passion with my girls,” Rowswell said.

Ava Rowswell in action at the Canadian National Quarter Horse Show in Red Deer. (Submitted photo/Tru Equine Photography)

For 10-year-old Ava, this was already her third time showing horses at a national event, having won reserve all-around champion the last two years, prior to winning her five buckles and all-around title this year. However, young as she may be, it’s not lost on the young equestrian the most fulfilling part of the experience.

“I really liked how I could go with my family and do it with them,” she said shyly, adding that the new friends she was able to meet also made for a highlight.

Bobi James said watching her daughter and granddaughter enjoying themselves and being rewarded for their work made for perhaps the best highlight of all.

“It was a very proud moment,” James said. “Both Kendra and I have raised our horses from babies, so it’s very special when it’s a home-raised horse and you’ve done all the work yourself […] and the fact that my granddaughter showed her too, Ava did really well. I’m very proud.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1