Kristin Zedwick has earned an unexpected distinction.

Her horse, Ideal Caisse Scenario, or Dario for short, was crowned the top 4-year-old at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City in October.

“He’s the best 4-year-old horse in the world,” said Zedwick, who owns Columbia Veterinary Hospital in Astoria with her husband, Matt. “It’s insane to think about because most people in these competitions use their money to buy the best horses, but a local girl from Astoria won the competition with her own homegrown horse. It’s really cool.”

Zedwick, a daughter of former Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen, has been around horses for most of her life.

“My mother got me into horses when I was 9 or 10,” Zedwick said of Jan Van Dusen. “It was mostly riding them, but that’s what shaped my love of animals.”

The journey with Dario started with Zedwick’s mother purchasing a champion stallion that was bred with a young mare given to Zedwick. Growing up, Dario was trained at Fire Run Farm in Snohomish, Washington, to prepare for competition.

Dario had to get through regional shows before qualifying for the Grand National & World Championship event.

Though Dario is the star of the family right now, he might not be the only champion. According to Zedwick, Dario has a younger brother, Tyson, who is 3, and a sister, Lulu, who is 1. The mare is also pregnant with another horse.

“If the other ones are anywhere close to Dario, we could have a whole family of them,” Zedwick said.