Carson Handeland may not have a lot to say but when he does speak it’s usually pretty humorous. But when it comes to his love for horses and passion for showing he’s not at a loss for words.

The 17-year-old Radcliffe, Iowa native got his start showing Draft horses that his parents, Wade and Lasey Handeland, raised. He began helping groom and work the draft horses under the supervision of Paul Sparrow, the son of Jack Sparrow. Both Paul and Jack drove the famous 40-horse hitch, a feat used by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company at parades across the Midwest and has been admired by millions. Carson also began showing all over the Midwest and for several years in a row claimed the title of all around youth showman, a feat that can only be attained by showing in Halter, Driving classes and the Decorating class in which you have to braid the horse’s mane.

At age 13, Carson moved over to Quarter Horses because his grandparents had a passion for breeding and raising them. He first began showing local open and 4-H shows before taking the step up to American Quarter Horse Association events.

“My Dad showed Draft horses and my grandparents raised Quarter Horses so I was born into it,” Carson said. “It seems like riding is all I do all the time!”

When he took that next step up to showing at AQHA sanctioned events the Handelands enlisted the help of Marengo, Iowa trainers, Lara Yungclas and JR Reichert. Over the last four years they have helped transform Carson into a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.

“Carson has always been eager to learn about all aspects of the horse industry. He is always the first one to lend a hand and is truly a team player and a great role model for the rest of the kids in the barn,” Lara Yunglas said. “He spends the summers with us and has really become a part of the family here. It has been an honor to watch him mature into not only a great rider but a great all around horseman.”

Carson has had the opportunity to show some pretty special horses in his short time showing. Two, in particular, that stand out to him are One Hot Debutants, a 2006 mare by One Hot Krymsun and Always Fabulous, a 2009 mare by Hes Suddenly Famous. However, teamed with his current show partner, Smores Invitation, a 2007 brown mare by Invitation Only and out of Chocolate Pleasures, Carson captured his biggest titles to date. In 2017 they claimed the Level 1-East Championship in 14-18 Western Pleasure. Then, at the AQHA Youth World Show in August they were crowned the Level 2 Reserve Champions in Youth Western Pleasure. They returned to the Jim Norick arena just a day later to take home a fourth place finish in the Level 3 portion of the Youth Western Pleasure. Carson says he owes it all to the mare.

“She has always taken good care of me, especially at the big shows,” Carson said. “She loves the show pen and she especially loves to be IN the show pen.”

Carson and “Smores” will continue to show in Youth Western Pleasure events this year, a class he says is his favorite to compete in because he “just loves the feel of a great western pleasure horse.”

Meanwhile, Carson is just as proud of his accomplishments outside the show pen. In 2016 he was honored to receive the IQHA Carrie Oliphant Memorial Show Youth Sportsmanship Award and he credits his grandfather for teaching and supporting him along the way.

“My grandpa Gary is the best guy you will ever meet. I am forever grateful for all that he and my grandma do for me,” Carson said. “I get my love for showing from both my parents and my grandparents as well as my love for horses, I could never thank them enough for allowing me to do what I love.”

When he’s not in the barn Carson is busy as a senior at South Hamilton High School in Jewel, Iowa with plans to graduate Spring of 2018.

He would like to attend Iowa State University after graduation and has an interest in becoming an anesthesiologist because he loves studying medicine and that is a job that really intrigues him.