Blazinmytroublesaway: A Mare Defined by Consistency

Each month, our Mare of the Month feature highlights a horse whose impact reaches beyond individual wins—one whose presence can be felt through performance, pedigree, and lasting influence. And for June, we turn our attention to a mare who exemplifies consistency, class, and elite-level success in the show pen: Blazinmytroublesaway.

In the sections that follow, we’ll take a closer look at her career, what made her stand out among her peers, the pedigree behind her, and the legacy she continues to build through her offspring.

The Mare Herself and the Record She Built

Blazinmytroublesaway, affectionately known as “Buttercup,” is a 2007 Palomino American Quarter Horse mare whose name became synonymous with elite youth and non-pro success in Western Pleasure and Western Riding. Campaigned by Deanna (Green) Willis, Buttercup earned a reputation as a true “big-ring” mare: elegant, unflappable, and remarkably consistent when it mattered most. She is sired by Blazing Hot and out of Really In Trouble (by Trouble In Town)—a dam line already proven at the highest level, and one that would go on to produce a mare who felt instantly recognizable the moment she walked into an arena. 

Buttercup’s story isn’t just about a great mover – it’s about a mare who stacked accomplishments in a way that made the industry take notice. In 2010, she was voted NSBA Horse of the Year, backed by a standout season that included over $68,000 in futurity winnings, three NSBA World Championships, and three Congress wins.  That kind of resume doesn’t come from flash – it comes from a horse that can deliver the same quality trip, over and over, under pressure, in different buildings, and against the toughest company.

From early on, she showed the natural cadence, balance, and presence that define a top-tier Western Pleasure horse, but what made her especially memorable was her mind and composure. In the GoHorseShow feature, the Green family credited early development work to Saul Sliss, noting the foundation he put on her as a young mare.   And while Buttercup clearly had the talent, her partnership with Deanna is part of what made her such a fan favourite—Deanna’s careful, confident feel helped bring out the mare’s best, and their connection turned promise into true performance.

Buttercup also carried a powerful “like mother, like daughter” thread. Her dam, Really In Trouble, had her own remarkable career – winning the 3-Year-Old Open and Limited at the Congress, and later earning Reserve World and Congress Champion honours in Junior Western Pleasure. It’s no surprise that people often remarked on how closely the two mares mirrored each other, not just in colour, but in movement and presence. And the story gets even better: the Greens also bred Buttercup’s full sister, that mare is Troubles A Blazin – the mare Nancy Wilkerson won the Congress with – came from the same embryo flush as Buttercup, making them full sisters as well.

Her record reflects sustained excellence across AQHA and NSBA’s biggest stages, and her legacy is the kind that sticks: not only because she won, but because she did it with a signature look – polished, composed, and effortlessly “hers,” every time she stepped into the pen.

Achievements

• Accumulated 1,354.5 AQHA points and $118,402 in earnings, including 18 halter points, 1,336.5 performance points, and 136 Level 1 amateur/youth points across western riding, western pleasure, horsemanship, trail, showmanship, hunt seat equitation, and halter
• Named NSBA Horse of the Year in 2010
• Claimed the titles of AQHA Performance Champion, AQHA Youth Champion, and AQHA Youth Performance Champion
• Received recognition as AQHA High Point Performance Horse and AQHA Reserve High Point Performance Horse
• Captured major championship honours including two-time World Champion in Western Riding, AQHYA Reserve World Champion in Western Pleasure, Congress Reserve Champion, and Top Ten World Show finisher
• Collected Superior Western Pleasure, Superior Western Riding, Superior Green Western Riding, Superior Youth Trail Horse, Superior Youth Western Horsemanship, Superior Youth Western Pleasure, and Superior Youth Western Riding
• Secured Open Performance ROM, Amateur Performance ROM, Youth Performance ROM, ROM Western Riding – Open, and ROM Youth Halter
• Won the Southern Belle NSBA Breeders 3-Year-Old Novice Open Western Pleasure Championship and the Reichert 3-Year-Old Novice Non-Pro Western Pleasure Championship
• Took the 2016 AQHYA Youth World Show Western Riding Championship and the 2016 AQHA Youth World Show Western Horsemanship Championship

Blazinmytroublesaway’s accomplishments represent more than isolated success. They reflect a career built on consistency, durability, and excellence at the highest levels of competition.

Built from Depth

Blazinmytroublesaway’s pedigree adds meaningful depth to the story behind her success. Backed by proven western pleasure and western riding bloodlines, she carries a lineage shaped by accomplished performers, influential sires, and strong producers across multiple generations.

That background helps illuminate the quality, consistency, and competitive strength reflected throughout her career. Her pedigree adds further context to the foundation behind the mare she became.

Below is a closer look at the key influences behind Blazinmytroublesaway.

Blazinmytroublesaway’s pedigree adds valuable context to her record, reflecting the strength, depth, and proven quality of the bloodlines behind her.

Carrying It Forward: Her Offspring

Blazinmytroublesaway’s influence extends beyond her own accomplishments in the show pen. Alongside her performance record and pedigree, her produce record adds another important layer to her legacy as a mare.

According to QData, formerly Robin Glenn Pedigrees, she has produced 16 AQHA foals whose records reflect meaningful success across earnings and AQHA performance. Her offspring have accumulated $48,655 in total earnings, including NCHA weekend money, with 5 money-earners averaging $9,731 per money-earner. They have also earned a combined 1,071 AQHA points, with 7 AQHA point-earners averaging 153 points per point-earner. In addition, her produce record includes 2 AQHA Superior Awards and 9 AQHA ROM Awards, further illustrating the depth of her influence as a producer.

The following table highlights Blazinmytroublesaway’s five money-earners recorded in QData.

While this table lists her remaining foals on record in QData, it provides a broader view of Blazinmytroublesaway’s produce record.

Her produce record adds further depth to the broader story of Blazinmytroublesaway.

Why She Leaves a Mark

Blazinmytroublesaway stands out because her story is defined by more than a single headline achievement. Her record reflects a rare combination of sustained success in the show pen, proven depth in her pedigree, and a produce record that adds another meaningful dimension to her profile as a mare.

What makes her especially notable is the consistency of her accomplishments across multiple levels of competition. She was not a mare defined by one standout win or one brief peak. Instead, she built a record marked by versatility, durability, and repeated success—qualities that distinguish horses whose impact lasts beyond a single season. That consistency is part of what gives her profile such depth.

Taken together, these elements create the full portrait of Blazinmytroublesaway: a mare whose accomplishments, background, and produce record each contribute to the strength of her story. As our Mare of the Month for April, she represents the kind of mare remembered not only for what she won, but for the overall quality and substance of the record she leaves behind.