12.1.2006 - Dreams Do Come True (Continued)

Finally, Kelle made her ride on JD Conquistador Anna. Describing it, Kelle begins to choke up a little. “She’s so solid and confident about the job that she does. In the run in, she never left me. It’s like she’s always saying, ‘What next, Kelle, what next?’ And that’s the kind of horse I love. I like to urge one on — not have one run off. The whole time I was kicking her. I was quite out of breath when it was over. I was struggling.” The “breathtaking” run earned a 221 and the championship once more for Kelle. And her mom was ecstatic! The yearling she had picked out for Kelle turned into a Cinch Non Pro Futurity Champion!

Forty-five year old Kelle has been showing pleasure and barrel horses since age four with her parents, Joyce and the late Ed Chamberlain. She began showing reiners in 1999 after marrying reining horse trainer Sam Smith in 1998. Together, she and Sam trained Anna. Kelle pretty much took over riding her in June of her two-year-old year.
Sam praises his wife, saying, “Kelle, as a rider, is awesome! She’s good. She’s studied Reining and has developed her own style and her own deal that really works for her. When she gets a horse that fits her like this mare, they’re just real hard to beat. I knew that she could easily win it.”

For now, Anna is going to be in the “show horse band.” Watch for her in the derbies. Kelle likes this mare a lot, as does Sam, so she will probably end up in the broodmare band one day. But in the meantime, they will be a team to be reckoned with. Kelle goes on to say, “Since she turned three, I knew she was going to be a show horse. She just tries to do her job, every single time. She’s been good in the show pen and has shown exactly the same as she prepares. She listens and is so intent on what I’m doing!”

For their win, Kelle took home an Elite four horse trailer, a Lawson bronze, a Pard’s saddle, Anderson Bean boots, a Sage Brush bronze, a National Cowgirl Hall of Fame buckle and certificates valuing over $1,500 from Cinch, Kyle Tack, Riders Edge, Flint Hats, Platinum Performance, Gently Loved Furs, and Rod’s. She also earned a $37,188.62 paycheck in the Finals.

Kelle's 2003 Press Releases
Kelle's 2004 Press Releases • Kelle's 2005 Press Releases
Kelle's 2006 Press Releases • Kelle's 2007 Press Releases