Level 3 Open

Chic Dreamin & Jimmy Van Der Hoeven • Photo by Kristin PitzerIt was a great day for Vaughn Zimmerman, as another of his horses, Chic Dreamin, won the Level 3 Open Championship and finished seventh in the Level 4 with trainer Jimmy Van Der Hoeven. Total earnings exceeded $40,000, and the duo additionally received a saddle from Kyle Tack, gift certificates to Santa Cruz Biotechnology and Thomas Moore Feed, a Gist Silversmiths buckle and numerous other prizes.

“It feels great to win it. The owners are really nice and are great people, so I’m happy to win for them,” Van Der Hoeven said.

Zimmerman purchased Chic Dreamin, who is by Magnum Chic Dream and out of Skeets Red Dunit (by Skeets Peppy), as a 3-year-old. The stallion and Zimmerman’s daughter, Taylor Zimmerman, won the 2015 NRHA Futurity Youth Non-Pro Championship.

“They bought him from us, and although we had a good first show, we’ve had some bad luck. They stuck with us and were patient. I really appreciate them,” Van Der Hoeven admitted.

Van Der Hoeven and Chic Dreamin marked a 227.5 in the finals. “He was really good. I tried to warm him up as little as possible because he gets tired easily, so I prepared him lightly. I couldn’t have asked him to do any better in the finals,” he said. “The NRBC is one of the toughest horse shows there is. The best horses come here, and a lot are older. He’s only four. Even the go-round is tough, so I was already happy to be in the finals. To do this well is really cool.”

Reserve in the Level 3 went to Arno Honstetter and Gunners Special Glo after they marked a 226.5. Gunners Special Glo (Gunners Special Nite x Paps Last Glo x Major Vaquero) is owned by Marilyn Overgaard, of Carefree, Arizona. Honstetter and Gunners Special Glo also tied for eighth in the Level 4 finals, bringing total earnings to more than $30,000.