Adult amateur hunter rider Lanie Walkenbach bought the U.S.-bred KWPN gelding McQueen in August 2023 because she had always wanted to "play owner." Almost immediately, the striking bay began making her dreams come true. That fall, with professional Nick Haness in the tack, "Dash" captured a series of tri-colors at the Capital Challenge (Maryland), including the Tribute Professional Trophy and both the Grand Hunter and Grand Conformation Hunter Championships; he added additional prizes to his trophy case at the Pennsylvania National and Washington International (Maryland) horse shows.
But the plan always was for Dash to become an amateur horse, and in January 2024, Walkenbach took him in the amateur owner classes at the Desert International Horse Park (California), while Haness moved him up into the performance hunters. It would prove to be the start of a season in which Dash officially became the "one to watch" in both divisions.
In February, Dash and Haness topped the $100,000 USHJA WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular at week six of the Winter Equestrian Festival (Florida). The pair went on to win the reserve championship in the High-Performance Conformation Hunter division at The Devon Horse Show (Pennsylvania) in May and the $100,000 WCHR Central Hunter Spectacular at Traverse City Horse Shows (Michigan) in June.
With Walkenbach riding, Dash won the 3'6" West Coast Amateur Owner Hunter Challenge at the Blenheim Racing Festival (California) in July, capping off a season that also included victories for the pair at Desert Circuit, San Juan Capistrano International, Blenheim Surf & Turf Classic (all in their home state of California), and Traverse City Spring Horse Show (Michigan). In recognition of his dominant performances throughout the season, Dash was voted the 2024 U.S. Equestrian Federation National Horse of the Year.
"He is a little tricky to ride," Walkenbach admits with a laugh. "The good ones always are, it seems. He is a powerhouse, and you can tell he definitely knows his job, and knows what he needs to do to come out on top. As soon as you walk in the ring, he is just laser focused.
"I've had a few sensitive horses in the past, which I think has helped me with Dash," she continued. "He definitely prefers a softer ride, softer in the hand, which Nick Haness is the king at. I think that's why they worked so well together-he is really Nick's type of ride."
But at home, Walkenbach describes the gelding as being a "goofy dude," who loves to stick his tongue out after good drink of water and to be the center of attention, all the time. When the MagnaWave practitioner comes to the barn, Dash loudly announces that he deserves to be done first.
"He knows he's important," Walkenbach says with a smile. "He's a funny boy, and we love him very much."
Walkenbach also learned she has to keep an eye on Dash during awards presentations, where he has been known to nibble on the presented bouquets. One time, Dash also tried to steal carrots off a platter being presented to the winner.
When he is not on the road, Dash lives at Elvenstar in Moorpark, California, where Walkenbach's personal trainer Jim Hagman is based. The gelding is currently taking a break to recover from his busy 2024 season, and when he returns to the ring, it will be with his owner doing the honors.
"He will be my horse from now on," Walkenbach said. "I'm sure Nick will do the occasional rides, but I think he is ready to be an amateur horse now. I would definitely like to do the amateur owner classes at the indoors with him.
"He loves to go on a big gallop," she continued. "Those big gallops to a single oxer-there's not a better feeling in the world, because you just know he is going to be right there with you."
His barn name is a nod to the character "Dash" from the Pixar/Disney film, The Incredibles.
"When he came with the name McQueen, my mind went to Lightning McQueen, but I thought, 'we can't call him Lightning,'" Walkenbach said. "My best friend from college thought of Dash, and I think it is very fitting."
