The Kimble Family - High Point Awards in Amateur, Open Performance Horse, Open High Point Horse and Youth 5-9

by Lindsey Missel

2009 was a very memorable year for the Kimble family of Howard, Pennsylvania. Between the mother and daughter team of Lea Ann Miller Kimble, Kayla Marie Kimble and their horse GOLD CREDENTIALS, they took home the High Point Awards in Amateur, Open Performance Horse, Open High Point Horse, and Youth 5-9.

GOLD CREDENTIALS, or “Dude” as he is affectionately known is the “gentle giant” of the Kimble family. “The thing that makes him unique is his size-- he is 17 hands tall,” Lea Ann, said. “He also has so many buttons, but he has taught Kayla to be a better rider. At times, it frustrates her, but she loves to lope him, and do the trail with him.”

It was hard for Lea Ann to pinpoint her number one horse show memory from this past year. “The chance to show with my daughter was great. We hauled two horses for the last half of the year, and, if it were not for her maturity, I would not have been able to do it. She is able to get herself ready for her classes, help with the horses and memorize her patterns. It is very special for us to have time together. I am very lucky to have a daughter who shares my passion for this sport.”

When asked what their favorite show was for the year, Lea Ann and Kayla both had the same answer--the Golden National Show in Herndon, Virginia over Halloween. Kayla’s favorite memory was trick or treating on horseback, riding Dude as her ‘Indian Pony.’”

“The kids had an awesome Halloween party, costumes and all,” said Lea Ann. “We had three friends staying in the trailer with us, and it was a great deal of fun.”

The Kimble girls do not agree on their preferred class. Lea Ann loves the Showmanship class, while Kayla likes the halter classes. “I love (the class) because it is like dancing with my horse. It is the first class to really impress the judges with how broke my horse is. Kayla’s is halter because she likes to show how well her horse is made.”

Between Lea Ann and Kayla, the Kimble’s appreciate many aspects of showing horses. They enjoy the people and the competition. “I am always striving to be better in each class and searching for that perfect ride. Kayla loves seeing different places and the people that we meet.”

For Lea Ann, the funniest memory came from trying the Western Parade class. “Carla DuRand (Dude’s stallion owner) and Shannon Whitney talked me into doing parade on our 2-year-old,” Lea Ann said. “We finished second in the class to Shannon the first time we showed the class. Now, Kayla wants to do it at every show. We are now looking for a parade saddle!”

When they are not competing on the horse show circuit, Lea Ann and Kayla have a good time doing others activities as well. Kayla is also fond of showing model horses. She also likes to read and is involved in the 4-H Archery Club. “The reading is great because when we get on the road, she will take a stack of books with her and be very happy. I do not do much besides the horses. With work, house and barn demands, who has the time? We have a family gun/archery shop that is very demanding.”

The story of how the Kimble’s bought Dude is one of friendship. “Dude originally came from Texas,” Lea Ann, said. “If it were not from my friends Carla DuRand he would not be with me today. She called me from Buddy Brown’s place when she went and to get Dude’s dad, ZIPS SUPER COWBOY, to stand at stud in Pennsylvania. She said, ‘I am looking at your next all-around horse. He is big, yellow and has a big head, but he’ll grow into it--he will do it.’ I asked her how she knew, and she said, ‘I just do, I’m bringing him home with his dad, you’ll like him.’ That is how we ended up together.”

Everyone at PHBA and the Palomino Horses Magazine would like to congratulate this family on a job well done!