One of the greatest rock stars of this generation sang about being Born In The USA, but this summer it will be Canadian born Sarah Nimigan taking to the arena aboard her 2-year-old AQHA Stallion Like A Boss. Fondly known as “Bruce,” Like A Boss comes from a long line of successful show horses. Bred and raised by Tim and Katy Jo Zuidema of Miconopy, Florida, Bruce is sired by Congress and AQHA World Champion Hot N Blazing and out of Mysisterscertifiable.

“Sister is my all-time favorite hunt seat mare. I was Top Five on her in the Maturity Hunter Under Saddle at the Congress when I was seven months pregnant,” Katy Jo recalls. “The next year our client won the Novice Amateur on all four cards with her at the Congress.”

As a producer Sister has been pretty impressive too. Some of her babies are Best Three Out Of Four, Full Medal Jacket, Toosleepytocertify, and Got My Beauty Sleep, but Katy Jo says this one is her favorite. Already standing at 16.3 hands Bruce is so strong and balanced he could pass for a much older horse.

“We call him Bruce because Bruce Springsteen is known as ‘The Boss,’” Nimigan says. “I could canter him all day and his cadence never changes. I’ve waited for a long time for a horse like this. He is the horse I have always wanted but never thought I would be lucky enough to have.”

Katy Jo will show Like A Boss in 2-Year-Old Open Events and Sarah will present him in the Non-Pro at major futurities this summer.

Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Sarah grew up with horses. At seven she began taking riding lessons with hunter ponies. Her parents, Mark and Joanne Nimigan, purchased their first Quarter Horse and by the time she was 10 years old Sarah was

showing under the guidance of Joe, Pat and Patti Carter where she remained until Patti accepted her post as Executive Director of Shows with AQHA in Amarillo, Texas.

After high school Sarah headed off to the University of Western Ontario and University of Exeter where she earned her undergraduate degree in political science. She went on to earn a Masters of Law degree, and a Ph.D in political science. She is currently teaching a political science course and does some consulting and publishing on the side.

Sarah grew up with really supporting and loving parents who sacrificed a lot to make sure she could get to horse shows and continue to do what she loved the most. Her mother is still a big part of her life with horses.

“I consult with her about just about everything and we make a lot of decisions together,” Nimigan says. “But the one I ride for now is my Dad.”

In 2011, Mark Nimigan was mowing the grass on his farm when his tractor got stuck in the grass on a hill, flipped over, and he was crushed.

“It was so fast, so tragic, and came completely out of nowhere,” Sarah says. “That’s the sort of thing that really changes a person.”

She admits their relationship wasn’t without challenges, but says she never doubted his love, support and encouragement, especially when it came to the horses.

“I have the fondest memories of him holding the groom bag and hauling me all over the place,” Sarah recalls. “People say they feel the people they’ve lost around them, and I feel him the most when I’m in the barn, riding or showing. I miss him every day and I know he’s still my biggest fan and I have no doubt he’ll be watching me and Bruce from the best seat in the house, and I find comfort in that.”

Sarah has some experience owning a young stallion. She also owns and showed IE Reason, a 2007 bay stallion by Iron Enterprise and out of the thoroughbred mare Imperial Reason. IE Reason is an Open and Amateur Superior Hunter Under Saddle horse, and has multiple AQHA World Show Top 10s in Hunter Under Saddle. His first foals are hitting the ground and Nimigan says she is incredibly excited about them.

“Each and every one of them is gorgeous pretty, incredibly well made, and they seem to be great minded and super friendly,” Sarah says. “He was my favorite horse to show, and I just know he’s going to make a breeding horse too.”

IE Reason stands at Dry River Ranch in Weatherford, Texas. Sarah says IE Reason was the first horse that allowed her to be competitive outside of Canada and she will always be grateful to him for teaching her to be a better horseman.

For more breeding information IE Reason call (817) 304-1198 or visit the farm’s website at www.DryRiverRanch.com.

In addition to the two impressive stallions, Nimigan also owns several youngsters including a 2-year-old for the Tom Powers Stakes Class named Supermann. He is a full brother to the horse Nimigan showed last year named Spyderman, both sired by Batt Man. Both Sarah and Katy Jo will show Supermann in 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure events this summer.

“I love showing with Tim and Katy Jo,” Sarah explains. “They are a great fit for me because Katy Jo is really good at the hunt seat and they both specialize in futurity horses. Tim is a good organizer and manager and I really trust his decisions. As for Katy Jo, she has already taught me so much and I still have more to learn. Not to mention that everyone there is supportive and fun and laughing is a priority. I think horse shows are supposed to be fun, and we all enjoy our time together.”