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Ivanny Franklin

A BALANCING ACT:

Ivanny Franklin finds success with new partner Well All Be

Like many amateurs, Ivanny Franklin has a special knack for balance. Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Franklin juggles career, motherhood, and competition, along with an impressive slate of non-profit work. This fall, she has her sights set on the biggest competition of them all—The All-American Quarter Horse Congress. “As a homegrown Ohio kid, my dream since I started showing in the 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle has been to be a Congress Champion. ‘All roads lead to Columbus’ as they say. This will be my only and last year in Level 1 Hunter Under Saddle, so I have a lot riding on the opportunity to finally accomplish this dream,” she says.

Franklin’s partner in accomplishing her dream is fouryear-old AQHA and APHA gelding Well All Be or “Stix” who is sired by Allocate Your Assets. Franklin says, “We purchased Stix at the end of his three-year-old-year from Elizabeth ‘Spike’ Brewer. He and Spike earned multiple world and congress championships together.” Franklin was first drawn to the gelding’s stunning features; she shares, “He’s striking, with tall white socks, deep red coat, and a rainbow-arch topline. When he was born, his long white legs popped out first and Spike immediately thought they looked like sticks, thus the name stuck.”

well all be

Together, Franklin and Well All Be compete in Level 1 and Non-Pro Hunter

Under Saddle under the guidance of Alyse Roberts. “I love Alyse’s work ethic, attitude, collaboration, and adaptability,” says Franklin “As a molecular biologist and global sales leader, I travel and work heavily. I also have two toddlers, and a lot of nonprofit commitments. Alyse has done such an incredible job working with me to balance all these aspects in my life, while creating a training and showing environment where I can succeed in all areas and accomplish my goals. She does this for each of her clients and horses.”

Franklin’s first success with Stix came at last year’s Gold Coast show in Tampa, Florida. “We bought Stix right before the Congress last year and made the decision that I would wait to show him in Florida,” she says. The decision was the right one. “My first ride with Stix was at the Florida circuit,” says Franklin. With Alyse being in Oklahoma and me in Tennessee, I typically only ride at the shows. But Alyse always has him show ready. I was definitely nervous going into that first show. It had been 15 years since I’d last shown. We ended up winning under all four judges all four days. It was the absolute best way to come back. All my dreams came true; it was just a great experience that I’m thankful for and will always remember.”

Since that first show, the pair have enjoyed a lot of success, earning circuit champion titles at multiple major circuits. Franklin shares, “This season we’ve won circuit championships at The Florida Gold Coast, March to the Arch, and The Premier in Kentucky. I love earning circuit champion titles, because it demonstrates a consistent winning performance.” Franklin and Stix also earned a Reserve World Championship in Novice Amateur Hunter Under Saddle at the APHA World Show. She says, “This was one of the most fun shows I’ve attended, and was my first Paint show, so it was a particularly special experience.”

At the NSBA World Show in Tulsa last month, Roberts and Well All Be took home Reserve Champion honors in the BCF 4-6 Year- Old Color Open Hunter Under Saddle. Franklin earned Top Ten placings in both the

BCF 4–6-Year-Old Color Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle and Novice Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. Going into the fall season, Stix and Franklin are tied for leading the NSBA year-end award. She credits Roberts with helping her transition back into showing after a fifteen-year-hiatus. She says, “Throughout this show season, I’ve quickly learned how to more effectively compete—whether it’s adjusting tack, how frequently I ride, where I place my leg, or how I ensure getting seen in the pen. This is what I love most about showing, learning to think strategically.” Franklin also credits Jennifer Goss with helping her and Stix become a compatible, competitive team. “Jennifer and Alyse are great friends and work incredibly well together and often switch off showing Stix in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle and coaching me. They are both so supportive of me and swap notes on strategies for how

best to coach me and prepare Stix,” says Franklin. Franklin adds that Stix is a great partner and makes showing easy and enjoyable. “He is patient, quiet and loves to show. I like to think he recognizes me when he hears my voice.” As the team prepares for the Congress where Franklin will show in the Level 1 Amateur Hunter Under Saddle and Roberts or Goss will compete in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle, it’s clear that Franklin feels grateful just to have the opportunity to show a horse she also considers a friend. As she transitioned back into life with horses, it was a given that the horse would come first. “When I decided to get back into horses, my first question was

who would I show with? She says, “My Aunt, Elizabeth Gorski, had a huntseat horse with Alyse and I got to meet her at the NSBA World Show last year. From the beginning we had great synergy. She understood what I was looking for and it’s clear she truly cares about the horses, and I loved her program. Plus, many of her clients have been with her for more than a decade. That is a great reflection of loyalty.”

Franklin’s aunt is initially responsible for introducing young Ivanny to horses. “My first memory in life is with my aunt, Elizabeth Gorski, sticking me up on her gray huntseater and leading me around in the field for hours. I was hooked ever since. As I grew older, I loved the feeling of hard work, goal setting, and accomplishments. This translated to all areas of my life – school, career, philanthropy, motherhood. I owe this strong foundation to her, and the horses she put me on throughout my youth career. She taught me how to get up early and stay up late until the stalls were cleaned, the legs were wrapped, and the barn aisle was swept. She let me travel all over the country

with her scoping out yearlings for our pipeline and let me start the two-year-olds. I showed heavily as a youth kid nationally but took a 15-year hiatus to earn a degree, save money, start a family, and grow in my career. With the help of my aunt, I was able to connect with Alyse, who listened to my goals, and helped to bring Stix into my life. I am lucky to now be back in the game. It’s been fun to see all the new trends after 15 years, while the same superstar trainers and competitors are still here. So, I’ve been welcomed back with warm arms, and both old and new relationships.”

Like so many amateurs, family is what makes the shows worthwhile. “My Aunt Elizabeth still has horses with Alyse. She owns a hunter under saddle gelding, Flatten the Curve. He’s an up-and-coming superstar. She also owns a western horse, Lazy Looker who my son Porter, who is three, shows in Leadline. We have three generations, showing in the family, which makes all of this a really cool family experience. I don’t get nervous or stressed, it’s just a lot of fun,” says Franklin. Her husband and daughter also come to the shows. Next year, her five-year-old daughter Vera will begin showing Stix in Leadline. Franklin adds, “My husband Jim comes to all the shows as well. He’s a great horse show dad and is in charge of popsicles and adult beverages after the show.”

Next year, Franklin and her aunt look forward to a new dynamic at the shows, competing together. She says, “We have never shown together in same class, but next year we will both be in the amateur division. We joke that we’ll get to kick each other’s butts. It will just be a really fun dynamic showing together with two great horses.”

When she’s not travelling for work or competing at shows, Franklin manages to still have time to give back to her community and pursue personal passions.

She currently reigns as United States of America’s Mrs. Tennessee 2024. Franklin says, “I’ve never done beauty pageants before. But I love non-profit work and I love to compete and trying new things. The opportunity has allowed me to travel and volunteer. It’s great work because I’m able to do fundraising and work with kids who have been abused and kids with pediatric cancer. Giving back my time and making people smile is special to me. Plus, I get to learn something new. It’s truly been a blast, and I get to teach everyone at shows how to do pageant the walk and wave,” she laughs.

As she looks to the future, Franklin hopes to expand on the things she loves most about showing. “I love the strategy,” she says. “Learning how to adapt to

my horse’s needs, my needs, the competition, and the different facilities.” Beyond that, she hopes to develop, a strong amateur career that sees her kids getting more involved in showing as they age, and refining ways she can continue to balance all the aspects of her life from showing, working, travelling, and raising a family all at once.” Franklin’s journey with horses is a true testament to the power of women to find a way to pursue the things they love and strike a balance that ultimately leads to success.

a 4 show circuit series

THE GREAT 8 THE GREAT 8 MIDWEST CONNECTION

MAY 5-7

GREAT 8 ZONE-O-RAMA (4 judges POR) C BAR C ARENA | CLOVERDALE, IN

MAY 26-28

GREAT LAKES BREAKOUT (4 judges POR)

INGHAM COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS | MASON, MI

JULY 29-30

BORDER BASH (4 judges POR)

FULTON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS | WAUSEON, OH

SEPTEMBER 16-17

HOOSIER BUCKEYE PALOOZA (4 judges POR)

HOOSIER HORSE PARK | EDINBURG, IN

Exciting Prizes for 2023!!

4 Series All Around Saddles (Youth, Am, Open, SPB) Adding SPB Saddle in 2023!

17 Division All Around Awards

17 Division Res. All Around Prizes

Grand Champion Halter Award Series Class Circuit Awards

* Must show at 3 of 4 events to qualify.

* Exhibitor AND Owner must hold memberships in MI, OH & IN to qualify.

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