Paints score big bucks in halter at the 2016 APHA World Championship Show
[source: APHA.com]
The next generation of halter superstars strutted into the Watt Arena at Will Rogers Memorial Center on November 3 and 4, each vying for the coveted world championship in Amateur Weanling Mares, Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Mares,Amateur Weanling Colts, Amateur Weanling Geldings and Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Colts & Geldings. This year, there was even more at stake with a new $20,000 bonus for Paints that competed at the Breeders Halter Futurity in Des Moines, Iowa, and also made the trip to Fort Worth for the APHA World Show.
In Amateur Weanling Mares, Susan Darr of Somerset, Pennsylvania, led She Curls My Toes to the world championship and a check for more than $3,300. By My Intention (QH) and out of A Mornings Verse, the 2016 sorrel overo mare was bred by Jim and Georgia Snow of Quinlan, Texas.
“She’s a very sweet little baby. I love her,” Susan said, her voice choking with emotion. “This is my third world champion in a row. I’m at a loss for words.”
Christopher Page of Independence, Missouri, and homebred Be Intentional earned the Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Mares world championship along with a check for $2,000. The 2016 sorrel solid mare is by My Intention (QH) and B BS Prissie Girl.
Lori McCain of Van Alstyne, Texas, showed Espionage to a third-place finish in Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Mares and took second place in the BHF partnership, earning more than $1,300. The homebred 2016 sorrel solid mare is by Heza Secret Agent (QH) and out of APHA world champion Kids Spotless Clu.
“I bred my only mare and got that baby and went to the BHF. She was 15th overall and fourth in owner-breeder,” Lori said. “It was my first time to do anything like that. I didn’t grow up doing horses: her mother is my first horse, and she’s my second. It’s an awesome feeling. It’s kind of like, ‘the little guy can!’ ”
Mary Yount of Guthrie, Oklahoma, showed Ican Be Cool to a fourth place finish in Amateur Weanling Stallions, also taking home the BHF partnership check for $2,000. By Very Cool and out of Ucan Call On Me, the 2016 sorrel overo stallion was bred by Dana and Joyce Haahr of Newell, Iowa.
“It’s pretty cool because it’s hard showing these babies,” Mary said. “This is his second show, so we’ve got two big shows under our belts. It’s very rewarding.”
Cameron Brees of Whitesboro, Texas, led Big Time Addiction to a world championship and the BHF partnership in Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Weanling Stallions & Geldings, earning a check for more than $1,000. The 2016 sorrel solid stallion is by Kid Coolsified (QH) and MGF Obviously Imastar.
“The added money makes it all worth it,” Cameron said. “He won the Amateur Jr. Weanling Colts & Geldings at the BHF, and I figured we should come down here and see if we could add to it.”
Don Wightman of Springfield, Missouri, led Smells Like Money to a sixth place finish in Amateur Geldings, earning the BHF partnership check from more than $2,000. By Intensions and out of Shez Te Totally Cool (QH), the 2016 chestnut overo stallion was bred by Scott Colwell and Brenda Riggs of Inola, Oklahoma.
“Winning the extra BHF money is great. It helps pay for the trip,” Don said. “Smells Like Money is a really nice baby that we bought, and I think he’s got a big future.”
Karen Kennedy, the Breeders Halter Futurity secretary, is thrilled with the inaugural partnership classes.
“We had eight entries in the Amateur Weanling Mares that participated at the BHF and also came to the APHA World Show. Two or three of them had never been to the World Show before, so I think that’s pretty exciting,” Karen said. “It paid really well, and the top four horses in that class were the top four BHF horses.
“I think the new dates next year will make it even better,” Karen said; the APHA World Show moves to late September in 2017. “We’re all about working with other people. It’s about everybody in the equine industry working together.”