By: Hope Sickler

Minnesota native Ivy Hurst, now residing in Springer, Oklahoma, stole the show last weekend at the #2 stop on the road to The American. The second qualifier of the season was held in Chickasha, Oklahoma in conjunction with D&D Productions and was sponsored by OE Nutraceuticals.
 
Hurst rode Hall Of Famer to the victory with their smoking fast time of 14.890, in what was considered one of the toughest qualifiers to date! Hall Of Famer is by the immortal Dash Ta Fame and out of Kels Sixieme Jeter by Streakin Six. He was trained by Sarah Zaleski and was a successful futurity horse, winning the Juvenile at the BFA and barely catching a barrel in the SuperStakes Race, at the BFA the same year, to come out on top of that as well!
 
“I have had my eye on Hall Of Famer for many years and always told Sarah I wanted to buy him,” laughed Hurst. “It has been a long wait but I am super excited to be riding him now and feel very fortunate to have this opportunity.”



The former High School Rodeo All Around 2x Champ and 5-event High School Rodeo National Qualifier is a sister to NFR qualifier PJ Burger and explains how their parents were very influential in their career in horses.
 
“I think my parents put me on a horse when I was 2 years old and the rest, as they say, is history!”
 
Growing up Hurst did all riding disciplines including western pleasure, english and speed events.
 
“I credit riding western pleasure horses for helping me learn a lot about a horse and where his feet are at all times at a slow rate of speed and being able to move their body around,” explains Hurst.
 
Having qualified for the semi-finals of The American before on the horse Holy Exclusive Leo, Hurst knew what to expect this go-round.
 

I let my nerves get the best of me at the semi-finals in Fort Worth when I qualified last time so this time around I have a better idea of what to expect and how to handle everything.

 
This is Hurst’s first qualifier win and the emotions she felt that day will never be forgotten.
 
“You go out to the barn every day and work as hard as you can to prepare to win at that level and when it finally happens, you just want to cry. I was truly speechless,” Hurst said. “I just wanted to qualify and I would have been ecstatic with a 10th place finish in that tough field of horses and jockeys. When I learned that I had won it, I was filled with happiness and joy.”
 
We would like to congratulate Ivy on her win and we wish her the best of luck at the semi-finals next February! Also, congrats to the other 9 qualifiers as well and good luck in Fort Worth!
 
All Qualifiers:

1. ​Ivy Hurst
   
2. Kassie Mowry
   
3. Kelly Koeppen
   
4. Hollie Etbauer
   
5. Tammy Fischer
   
6. Molli Montgomery
   
7. Alexis Willis
   
8. Jacie Etbauer
   
9. Mark Bugni
10. Paula Mercer

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