Kodi Anderson and Breakin Hearts As

When the American Quarter Horse Association concludes its 2016 World Championship Show this month in Oklahoma City, it may well be the end of what has been a long and illustrious show career for Australia native Kodi Anderson and Breakin Hearts As.

They are among the 4,900 entries from the United States, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada Colombia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom competing for 99 world championships and more than 83 Level 2 championship titles now through Nov. 19 at this year’s event.

Anderson and Breakin Hearts As will compete in Amateur Ranch Riding, Horsemanship, Showmanship and Western Riding.

Kodi and Ellie at the NSBA World Show

Breakin Hearts As is a 1995 chestnut mare by Rule Breakin. Her breeder, the Addyman family of NSW Australia, said that after one look at her they knew she was going to be “breakin hearts” in the show pen. And that’s how she got her name.

They were not wrong. Anderson and Breakin Hearts As have been crowned champions in three different countries now. They hold 38 National or World Championship titles in Halter, Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Western Riding, Reining, Trail, Horsemanship, Equitation, Ranch Pleasure and Ranch Trail and Breakin Hearts As has earned over 2,500 AQHA points.

It’s safe to say the 21-year-old mare Anderson calls Ellie has proven, beyond a doubt, that she can do it all. And, although her show career may be winding down, Anderson can’t help but reflect on how it all started, back in Brisbane, Australia, where she grew up and discovered her love for horses.

“One morning in 2007, my dad (Mal Anderson) woke me up and said, ‘Hey do you know that horse Breakin Hearts?’ I said, ‘yes.’ Anderson recalled. “He said, ‘Well I bought her for you.’ I couldn’t believe it.”

Breakin Hearts As started showing in 1998 in Australia and was exported to New Zealand in 2002 where she earned over 800 points in Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Reining and Trail. She returned to Australia in 2005 where she continued to rack up points and high point awards before being sold to Anderson.

In the beginning Ellie was not the easiest mare to ride.

“It took us a little while to bond. She is very quirky, to say the least,” Anderson admitted. “She will definitely give you a little bit of grief, but in the show pen she tries her heart out for you.

In 2008 Kodi and Breakin Hearts As won the Senior Horse Reining and the Youth Western Riding at the Nationals. They went on to win another 28 National and Reserve National championships in Australia, including an unprecedented 11 national buckle, a Reserve plus the High Point youth buckle at the 2011 AQHA nationals. That same year, Breakin Hearts As was crowned the 2011 Australian Super Horse.

“We definitely have everything together now after all of these years,” Anderson said.

In 2011 Anderson’s family moved from Australia to Gainesville, Texas, and Kodi and Ellie continued their show success state-side. The captured a Reserve Championship in Novice Youth Western Pleasure at the National Snaffle Bit Association’s World Show.

In 2015 Kodi and Breakin Hearts As claimed their first American World title when they won the Non-Pro Ranch Riding at the NSBA World Championship Show in a tough class of 15. That same year the Australian Quarter Horse Association inducted Breaking Hearts into its Hall of Fame.

Usually Kodi and her dad travel to the shows together, but this year has been a little different. At the beginning of 2016, Mal Anderson, was diagnosed with cancer and has been back in Australia for treatment.

So Kodi packed up Ellie and hauled to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the NSBA World show alone this year.

“My dad has always supported me in absolutely everything,” Kodi said. “The only reason we moved to the United States was because my dad wanted me to be able to follow my dreams. So it was very difficult to go without him but I knew he was with us in spirit.”

Kodi rode for her dad and she and Ellie were able to claim another title, this time in Non-Pro Ranch Horse Trail. They also placed fourth in Non-Pro Ranch Riding and fifth in Non-Pro Ranch Horse Pleasure.

“I called my dad and woke him up to tell him immediately after the class,” Kodi said. “It was 2 a.m. in Australia. That was a very emotional moment.”

After all of their wins, Anderson says she is most proud of the first World title they earned in the United States.

“I was pretty proud of winning the NSBA Ranch Riding last year,” Kodi said. “I was really excited that we got our first U.S. World title.”

But now Kodi is focused on the AQHA World Show.

“I would like to retire Ellie after the World Show,” she said. “She has been a rock-star for 21 years and I want her to be able to enjoy the rest of her life and never have to do another thing ever again. She means so much to my family and I. Ellie has influenced our lives like no other. We even named our ranch Breakin Hearts Ranch after her.”

Visit www.aqha.com/worldshow for the World Show schedule.