It was the fall of 2017 and the hunt was on for a new show partner for Brooke Granzow, of Iowa. Although Brooke had already enjoyed tremendous success in the show pen during her youth career, with horses like Rockum And Shockum, Only And Forever, Dressed To Party, Heavenly Mac and Cool Krymsun Lady, this was a whole new adventure.

Brooke, now a freshman at Iowa State University, was making the transition to futurity events to allow her the flexibility she needed to attend school to work on her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science with the goal of specializing in Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery. She had enlisted the help of Drew DeBuhr, head trainer at Richland Ranch in Illinois to find the perfect partner.

            At the Quarter Horse Congress, they spotted Whata Moonlite Ride, a 2015 bay gelding by Only In The Moonlite and out of January Version.

            “Bob was big and strong and appeared to be very laid back. He just did his thing,” Brooke explained. “We looked at multiple horses during the duration of the Congress, but ultimately decided on Bob because of his versatility. I wanted to show in the Non-Pro 3’s that next year but then at the end of the year have a horse I could do more with, and he was the perfect fit.”

            Whata Moonlite Ride was purchased from Jeff and Liz Long and Liz finished out the Congress with a Reserve Championship in the 2-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure with him. Bob was sent home with Drew to prepare for the AQHA World Show where Drew’s brother, Denton rode him to a third place finish in the 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure.

                        In 2018 Brooke piloted Bob to a win in the 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure at the Corn Husker Classic and Denton teamed with him to capture a bronze in the 3-Year-Old Intermediate Open Western Pleasure at the National Snaffle Bit Association’s World Championship Show.

            “Bob has many strengths but ultimately his greatest is his ability to pick up on new things quickly,” Brook explained. “He is quirky but a gentle giant for sure and has a kind eye.”

            This year Bob is in training with Jason Gilliam who will show him in Junior Level 1, 2, and 3 Trail at all the major shows, including the Madness, Redbud, Cornhusker Classic, Big A, NSBA World Show, Congress, and the AQHA World Show.

            “In the long-term, I will begin to show more of the all-around classes with him,” Brooke said. “My goal is to be showing him in some of the western all-around classes by later this show season. For now, we want to take it slow and build a solid foundation in Trail. He is in the process of learning Showmanship and Horsemanship now.”

            Meanwhile, Brooke will be showing her 3-year-old Western Pleasure contender, Darksyde Ofthemoon (Genesis)

            She first spotted the 2016 mare by Only In The Moonlite and out of Ive Good Principles at Richland Ranch early in the year and even though she was not officially looking for another horse then, Brooke thought Genesis looked good minded and far enough along to make an early 2-year-old contender.

            “She was bred and owned by John and Sandra Narmont of Richland Ranch and Drew had done all the work on her,” she said. “This made her even more of a perfect fit because we were confident she would be ready to show early in the season.”

            Brooke was right. Darksyde Ofthemoon helped her earn a Reserve Championship in the 2-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure at the Tom Powers Futurity in June and top five in the open division of that class. She and Drew had already launched Darksyde Ofthemoon’s show career by claiming a Reserve Championship in the 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure at the Cornhusker Classic. They too captured a Reserve Championship at the Tom Powers Futurity – in the 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure. 

            At the NSBA World Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma two months later, Brooke and Darksyde Ofthemoon captured a Reserve World Championship in the 2-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure, a Reserve in the Intermediate division and a bronze in the Open division. Drew also placed in the top 10 of the 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure.

            Then, at the Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio in October, Brooke piloted Darksyde Ofthemoon to a fourth place in the 2-Year-Old Non-Pro Limited Stakes and a fifth in the Open. 

            Drew and Genesis placed in the top 10 of the 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Stakes Class and then went on to place in the Top 10 of the 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure a the AQHA World Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma the following month.

            “Genesis has a lot of self-carriage and she loves to do her job,” Brooke explained. “I have never shown a horse that wants to please as much as she does. When you hit the show pen, she is all business and doesn’t try anything. I believe she loves her job and that is why she is so good at it.”

            Brooke has lofty goals for Genesis this year. She will be shown in the 3-Year-Old Open with Drew DeBuhr at all the majors and hopefully get qualified for the Level 2 Junior Western Pleasure at the AQHA World Show. She and Brooke will compete in the Intermediate and Open Non-Pro 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure classes at all the major shows and futurities this year and get qualified for the L3 Amateur Western Pleasure at the AQHA World Show.

            “I am also going to show her in the 3-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure at some of this summer’s majors,” she said.

            The daughter of Kendy Granzow and Tyler Granzow, Brooke is grateful to the many people who have helped her achieve all her dreams in the pen. 

            “I had an amazing first year in the Amateur Division because the help and support I received from both Drew and Denton DeBuhr as well as from John and Karen Boxell at Richland Ranch,” she said.

            She also has had a great deal of support from her mother and grandparents, Mark and Ginny Havilland.

            “My grandparents have recently become more involved and their support and involvement have been a lot of fun,” Brooke said. “My mom continues to be the best horse show mom, constantly helping me balance school and showing and coming to support me whenever she can.”

            Brooke is also quick to give credit to her great-grandfather’s wife, Susan Knapp.

            “I started riding when I was 7 years old and started showing in AQHA when I was 8,” she said. “Susan helped provide the best opportunities for me to learn and grow as a rider through my youth years and left a lasting impression on me that has continued to my Amateur career.”

            Brook says she has had the opportunity to work with some great trainers in the industry. Her first show horse was an older gelding she called Wee. Together they started showing in Walk-Trot classes at AQHA events in Iowa, under the direction of Shannon Vroegh and Hannah Lind. Next, Brooke moved on to Susan’s pleasure horse at the time, Rockum and Shockum. 

            “I attended my first All- American Quarter Horse Congress with Rocky in 2009 and was a finalist in the 11 and Under and Novice Youth Western Pleasure. 

            Brooke earned a NSBA World Championship title in Novice Youth Western Pleasure with Only And Forever and competed aboard Susan’s Heavenly Mac in Western Riding off and on during her youth career. Together they earned two Reserve Congress Championships in Youth Western Riding.

            But of all the horses Brooke had the opportunity to ride and learn from in her show career, it was Dressed To Party (Barbie), a 2008 sorrel mare by Dress Western and out of Zippos Miss Parr Two, that made the biggest impact on her.

            Barbie was purchased when Brooke was just 13 years old. She got her start with Barbie showing in 3-Year-Old classes under the direction of Casey Willis and Blair Townsend and together they grew and got better and built an impressive dossier. They captured a Reserve Congress Championship in 12-14 Youth Western Pleasure in 2013 and won the Youth Showmanship at the 2014 NSBA World Show. “Barbie was definitely my once-in-a-lifetime horse,” Brooke said. “She taught me how to really ride and work hard for my dreams. She was an ornery mare and had a huge personality, we had a close bond, we just got each other.”