Cassandra Stambuk proves pigs can fly, winning her first world championship.
Cassandra Stambuk and her tiny but mighty sorrel overo gelding Smugglin Diamonds proved that good things come in small packages on July 2 at the AjPHA Youth World Championship Show. After five years of working toward her goal, the 18-year-old from Yorba Linda, California, finally captured her first world championship. Cassandra and 6-year-old “Mickey” scored a 212.5 to win Youth Reining 14–18. The Auburn University student placed reserve with her other reiner, Hesa Rock Dancer. The Paint Horse Journal chatted with Cassandra at her stalls after her win. Read on to learn the story behind the horse—and those pig-decorated leg wraps.
Q: Congratulations on winning first and second. How does it feel to win?
Cassandra: I’m dumbfounded. I’ve been working really hard for this. I’ve come back like five years to rein. I got reserve on Hesa Rock Dancer two years ago. I had just gotten Mickey last year and he got top 5. This one, it just all came together.
Q: Walk me through your ride.
Cassandra: When I loped off, I had to decide if he was excited and looking around. He was pretty good. He was listening to me. I gradually asked for more run and got the speed for the large fast [circles]. Then those little slow downs weren’t as perfect as I wanted. But he came back. The stops in the center were pretty fun. He really stops right away.
Q: Do you have a trainer?
Cassandra: Yes. Mike and Kristi Berg from Temecula, California.
Q: Tell me about these leg wraps on your horse? They have pigs on them!
Cassandra: Oh, the pigs. It’s something my mom likes to do. She found them. I said “You’re putting the pigs on today?” She said “Yeah.” There’s a saying “When pigs fly ...”
Q: Who in your family came to see you?
Cassandra: Just my mom and I. My poor dad had to work. And my sister has an internship in New York for the summer, so she couldn’t come.
Q: How was your horse feeling this morning?
Cassandra: He was good. All I did was lunge him until the 13 & Under [reining class] went and then I started getting on my horses.
Q: Did you drive in today?
Cassandra: I got in three days ago because I did roping yesterday on a different horse.
Q: Going in to your class, what were you expecting?
Cassandra: I was kind of thinking Mickey might be better than my other horse. "Remy" in the past might have gotten away with stuff, and Mickey was still learning, he hadn’t been in the pen enough. He listens. He’s a little more sensitive than Remy.
Q: Tell me about his personality.
Cassandra: Mickey? He just wants to be a dog. He wants to be in your lap. He’s almost small enough. My mom was telling me today, “All he wants to do is get petted. He comes over the door and wants either a treat or just to get pet.
Q: What do you love the most about him?
Cassandra: He’s so tiny. He’s very adorable.
Q: If he was a celebrity, who would he be?
Cassandra: Someone that likes a lot of attention. I would say Mickey Mouse, because he gets all the attention, and his name is Mickey.
Q: How did he get his name?
Cassandra: [laughs] He came with the name McLovin’ and I wasn’t feeling that for a small little horse. So I wanted something with an “M” so I decided Micky fit him.
Q: What are your future plans with your horse?
Cassandra: I’m going to take him to National Reining Horse Association shows.
Q: Do you have any advice for someone wanting to win a world championship?
Cassandra: Never give up. Try your hardest. It will come together when it’s supposed to come together.
Q: What do you think was special about this year?
Cassandra: It’s my last year. I’m turning 19 in two months. It was my last big bang and I wanted to go out with a bang.
Q: Have you won a world championship before?
Cassandra: Not a world championship. I’ve won a reserve with Remy. Actually, I did win a world [show] championship—in the versatility class with my all-around horse.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell me about your performance?
Cassandra: His stops were awesome. He just got in the dirt and slid as far as his little legs could carry him. It was fun. It was as relaxing as showing could be.
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