The very cute and talented Widgee Total Tribute
When Kim Leibowitz and Widgee Total Tribute won the overall Wade Equine Coaches Australian Young Horse Championships we congratulated Kim’s mother, Sheryl, who was standing nearby and asked her about the breeding of this attractive black horse her daughter was riding. “I have no idea,” laughed Sheryl, “he’s just a really nice horse to have around.” In a world where everyone gets caught up in ‘who horses are by and out of’ this was a really refreshing thing to hear. The Leibowitz family simply liked their horse, Widgee Total Tribute, regardless of what his breeding was. Kim and her mother run the Shibumi Equestrian Centre in the Southern Highlands of NSW and although Kim liked the idea of staying at Sydney and watching the rest of the event she admitted she had to head home and be organised for a big day of teaching the next day.
Widgee Total Tribute was keen to do his victory lap
although half way round a flappy marque proved to be a bit scary
After the presentations were over and before she had to drive home we caught up with Kim to ask her the breeding question of Widgee Total Tribute because we knew there would be lots of people out there very keen to find out how this lovely horse came to be …
These Young Event horse classes are becoming more and more popular in Australia and in the Sydney four year old class 15 horses were judged on their flatwork and jumping ability and the general impression they gave to the judges. In the general impressions the judges, Carolyn Lieutenant and John Cooper had to look at the horse and consider how he would stand up to the demands of eventing and if his conformation would work in his favour or against him.
The happy winners with Wade representative Alyssa Lobb and judges Carolyn Lieutenant and John Cooper
During the 1990’s John Cooper was a familiar figure in the eventing world clocking up over 15 wins at three day events and numerous wins at ‘Advanced’ level. Since ‘leaving’ the competitive eventing world John and his wife Pip have kept busy coaching across the three disciplines and riding show jumpers and dressage horses but we wondered if coming to Sydney to judge the Young Horse class had rekindled any memories that might see him make a come back.
