Canadian Nationals

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August 19, 2009

First-time Canadian Nationals' Winner

We have more than a few legacies—second-generation Arabian horse lovers—among us. Children of the 60s and 70s, they were collectively dropped into saddles in front of mom or dad at 2 or 3 years of age. They fell in love with Arabian horses early, though for some it's taken a few years to make it to the bigger national shows. One of those people is Pam Bauerlein. "I always enjoyed riding the horses," says Bauerlein, "though when my kids were little I did less. My parents really did have me in the saddle on an Arabian before I could walk. Now I have suddenly fallen in love with showing Arabians at halter and I've found the perfect Arabian 'soul mate' to take on the show ring with me."
Bauerlein's perfect partner is Ignacia BPA (Afire Bey V x She Be Jammin), a 4-year-old bay Half-Arabian mare with a wild forelock and a devilish gleam in her eye. Ignacia BPA started her show career with a win at the Scottsdale Show when she was a yearling and took her first roses later on that year at U.S. Nationals in the Half-Arabian Yearling Filly Sweepstakes. Ignacia BPA has great Arabian attitude and seems to be taking her Canadian Nationals trip in stride. Bauerlein is another story. They walked into the ring at Canadian Nationals on Monday morning and literally stole the show. Bauerlein glowed with excitement and the thrill of the moment. "When I am standing in front of 'Ignacia' and she hits that million-dollar look, it's an unbelievable rush," Bauerlein says.
Winning the Half-Arabian Saddle/Pleasure Halter Mare AAOTH Championship was the third time Ignacia BPA has taken national honors. It was a big first and an enormous thrill for Bauerlein. "I always said that I was looking for an Arabian that could blow me away and that's 'Ignacia'. It's true. When I stood in front of her in the show ring on Monday morning, she stood up and arched her neck and looked at me. My hair blew straight back and chills rolled down my spine. It was the thrill of a lifetime." Bauerlein has three children of her own, the oldest is 15. They have their own interests but the Arabian horse is a real part of their lives, their family and their heritage. You can bet that when they find their Arabian "soul mate" mom and grandma will be right there to give them a leg up into the saddle.