Atlanta Horse Connections Volume 23

Page 26

ATLANTA HORSE CONNECTIONS

Half-siblings JAG Royal Knight, JAG Kalico Kid, Kathy Gilker & JAG Lady Pegasus

INTRODUCING

JAG Arabian Sporthorses

Megan Gilker

JAG ARABIAN SPORT HORSES is family owned by the Gilker’s in Milton, GA and has been located in Georgia for 30 years. Kathy is a self-taught rider whose love for horses started before she was 9. She became a talented horsewoman by trail riding bareback and showing in Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Equitation and Hunters. Her passion for Arabians began in Texas 35 years ago where she purchased and bred her first Arabians. Kathy experienced the versatility and talent of Arabians by training

LOCAL NEWS

and showing in Saddleseat, Western, Trail, Hunter, Dressage, Halter and Sidesaddle.

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Kathy’s twin daughters, Megan and Jessica, grew up enjoying Arabians by competing in breed and open shows, schooling cross country, riding bareback, trail riding, and participating in Atlanta Pony Club events, fox hunts, and hunter paces. The Gilkers enjoy being “hands on” amateurs by caring for and training their horses as much as is possible being working adults. Megan and Jessica have trained with dressage, hunter, and eventing professionals and represented the Berry College Intercollegiate Equestrian Team on the National level in western horsemanship and hunter equitation. Kathy bred and owned previous National winning horses, including 2006 Youth National Champion JAG Café Au Lait+/ and 2015 Sport Horse National Top Ten winner JAG Lady Pegasus+/. Last year the Gilkers jumped at the opportunity to qualify and attend the 2017 Sport Horse Nationals in Raleigh, North Carolina. This USEF National

competition is for hunters, jumpers, driving, and dressage horses that are registered Arabians, Half Arabians and Anglo Arabians. The Arabian Horse Association is the only breed association to host an all “sport discipline” competition in North America. All the judges are open, USEF judges, i.e. the judges for the hunter divisions were Mary Babick, President of the United States Hunter Jumper Association, and Walter Jimmy Lee, renowned Hunter judge, trainer, and breeder. At the 2017 Sport Horse Nationals, third generation home bred JAG Kalico Kid+/, who was a 2006 National Top Ten Winner in Western Sidesaddle, and Megan earned National Champion HA/AA First Level Dressage Adult Amateur Owner To Ride (AAOTR) and HA/AA Second Level Dressage AAOTR as well as three other National Top Ten awards.


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