Parks, Roberts and Wright Wrap Up APHA/NSBA World Championship Performance Classes

Wade Parks and Shannon Gillespie took a final victory lap around the John Justin Arena, after taking the world and reserve champion titles in the Three Year Old Western Pleasure Challenge on Saturday afternoon at the Will Rogers Equestrian Complex in Fort Worth, Texas.

The two were celebrating not only their victories, but the end of the APHA World Championship Show’s performance classes. “I may not ride a pleasure horse for eight months,” declared Parks. “From now on it will be Trail and Western Riding!”

Parks rode Sensational Design (shown at left) to the NSBA and APHA championship titles and $3,701 for owners Melvin and Pamela Mousley. It marked the second world title of the APHA World Show for the duo, who earlier in the week had won APHA and NSBA world champion titles in the Three Year Old Open Western Pleasure. The mare, known as Minnie, is by Sensational Zippo and out of Kiss Me Cuervo.

“She’s just such an exceptional mare,” Parks said. “I love her to death. She lopes great, she jogs great, she has great feel. She’s so natural. I just try to stay out of her way.”

Shannon Gillespie piloted My Sensational Star to the reserve APHA and NSBA titles in the class and a $3,010.50 payout. The class saw a total purse of $11,150.

Alyse Roberts was in the irons to take Thefairestofthemall (pictured at left) to the APHA world and NSBA champion titles in the APHA Breeders Futurity Gold Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle. The bay mare, called Scarlett, is by All Time Fancy and out of Dancin In The Truck. She is owned by Jenna Tolson.

“I’ve had her since this spring,” Roberts said. “Jenna put the first couple of rides on her and gave her a good start, and she’s come along really well. This is just her second horse show. She’s great minded, isn’t spooky at all and doesn’t have a lot of energy.”

The two earned three first places among the judges on their way to first place overall. “She has a really fluid movement and just has a great overall look in the pen that I think the judges liked,” Roberts said.

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