His riding coach, Becky George says Domenick Heibing is one of those kids trainers beg for in a client. He has God-given talent that makes riding come naturally for the 11-year-old from Hockley, Texas. But he also absorbs everything you teach him, she says.

Domenick is a third generation horseman. Both his parents, Tara and Aaron Gannon own and show horses as do his grandparents Priscilla and John Whalen.

In 2008 Domenick’s parents moved him and his brother, Callum, to a ranch in Texas and once there the youngster received his first riding lessons under the guidance of GI Clark and his assistant, Jamie Griffin Robertson. That was the start of what would become a consuming love for horses.

At his very first show Domenick won the Walk-Trot Pleasure aboard a horse named All Velvet. That blue ribbon only added fuel to his horse fire and kept Domenick itching to return to the show pen.

“I just enjoy showing horses,” Domenick explains. “ I love being competitive and the atmosphere of it all.”

Domenick continued to improve and success continued to follow. In 2012 he captured a Pinto Association World Championship title in Novice Youth Walk/Trot Trail aboard Mr Sudden Pleasure marking his first win in the event.

Soon after that win Domenick teamed with George to take showing to the next level. One of the biggest perks, according to the Heibing family is that their horses are just 10 minutes from home so Domenick can ride on a daily basis.

“It’s easy to see that everyone loves being a part of her barn and my horses fit in her program really well,” Domenick says.

Trail is Domenick’s favorite event because he says he thinks it’s fun weaving, trotting and loping over the poles. Mr Sudden Pleasure also likes the poles and last August the team won the 13 & Under Trail at the World Wide Paint Horse Congress, marking Domenick’s first win in 13 & Under events.  Domenick also shows Mr Sudden Pleasure in Horsemanship and Showmanship at American Paint Horse Association shows.

“My biggest prize was last year at the Paint Horse Congress, it was my first competition in the 13 & Under Trail, and I won it.” Domenick explains. “I rocked that pattern!”

In addition to Mr Sudden Pleasure, Domenick also shows Certain To Cruise, a 2006 bay gelding by Certain Potential and out of Pine Valley Rose in 13 & Under Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Trail and Showmanship at American Quarter Horse shows across the country.

Domenick’s other great passion is soccer. He enjoys playing soccer for the Texans Soccer Club in Houston, Texas. This year he has been given the opportunity to travel to Brazil to attend the World Cup Soccer Championship, an international soccer camp and is being recruited for the Texas Pre-Academy League, a youth premier league from which they often scout for college soccer teams.

Domenick is currently in the sixth grade at Schultz Junior High School where he is a straight-A honors student.

School, soccer and horses take up a good portion of Domenick’s time and his family is there every step of the way, to make sure he can succeed at all of them.

“As grandparents, we are just extremely thrilled and blessed to have this opportunity to share in our grandson’s accomplishments,” Priscilla Whalen says.

George says she has hopes that Domenick will one day earn World Championships in both APHA and AQHA. He will continue to compete with Mr Sudden Pleasure and will make his debut this year with his new AQHA partner, Certain To Cruise.

“Dom is so charismatic, she says. “He never meets a stranger and can carry on a conversation with anyone.  He is very competitive and takes showing very seriously but he has so much fun doing it you just can’t be in a bad mood around him.”

Domenick says his father is his hero and his support, whether it is helping him work out, helping him with homework or supporting him at the show ring never goes unnoticed in his eyes.

In addition to his horses, Domenick has a dog-named Jiffie and three cats: Tiger, Meow-Meow and Tiny.