Any horse trainer would be thrilled to say that their customers have won the AQHYA World Show eight times. But to have won a specific class eight years in a row, that would be impossible, right? Think again.
Amazingly, from 2004 through 2011, a total of eight years, a horse trained by Charlie Cole and Jason Martin of Highpoint Performance Horses has won the Western Riding class at the Youth World. Additionally, for five of those eight years, Charlie and Jason trained the Reserve World Champion as well. This is quite an accomplishment in such a difficult and challenging class.
“The Western Riding is a class that I really enjoy teaching,” Charlie Cole tells GoHorseShow. “Jason and I have been lucky to have really nice horses and great clients who love this class as much as we do and are able to build off of each other.”
One of Cole’s favorite memories occurred in 2008 when Jason and he had the World Champion, Reserve World Champion and third place horse in the class: Harley D Zip, Dont Zip Charlie, and Chip Van Winkle. “It all came together on the right day, and that is a memory that really stands out during these past eight years.”
Surprisingly, 2011 World Champion Theresa Moran remembers that day in 2008 as her favorite memory as well. “When Ali Papendick, Indy Roper and I placed first, second and third and all took a victory lap together, it was really cool because we had all worked so hard that summer, and we were equally proud and excited for one another.”
Cole adds, “I have especially enjoyed the times when Ali Papendick, Kristina Papendick, and Theresa Moran each were able to handle the pressure and win the class during their last year in youth. I think that is quite an accomplishment.”
Two-time Western Riding Reserve World Champion, Darcy Reeve, remembers her youth experiences with Jason and Charlie fondly. “I have shown the western riding at the World Show twice, and ended up reserve both times on two different horses. In 2009, when I showed Ima Petite Classic, he gave me his all, and to this day it is probably still one of my best patterns on him. In 2010, I qualified both Ima Petite Classic and A Certain Vino for the finals. I went first in the finals on Vino, I still get chills thinking about that pattern. He was still pretty green in the western riding, but he gave me his best and I couldn’t have been happier with him!”
Taking from the World and Reserve World Champion list over the past eight years, Highpoint Performance Horses taught Harley D Zip, A Special Invitation and A Certain Vino how to change leads from the beginning.
Fifteen-time AQHA World Champion, Harley D Zip is the king of the Western Riding. Owner, Kristina Papendick is thankful to be part of the phenomenal AQHYA World Show winning streak.
“I will never forget my first youth world championship in 2004. I had no idea what to expect. I was first to go in the finals and at that time they were calling out the scores. When they announced my score of a 232, I began crying. My friend, Brittani Estes, came running down the stairs to the make-up pen with tears in her eyes telling me she knew I had won it. All I could do at that moment was grab Harley’s face and give him a big kiss of approval on his nose,” Kristina remembers. “After the final horse had gone, it was finally official, I had just achieved my dream and won a World Championship. Not only with the best horse a girl could ask for, but I won it with my best friend. Harley is amazing and because of my family, Jason, Charlie, and Joetta Bell, I never would have been able to make the memories I have today.”
With Vital Signs Are Good and Theresa Moran advancing to amateur in 2012, one can bet that Highpoint will have someone step up and compete for the top prize next year.
2004 – 2011 AQHYA WORLD SHOW WESTERN RIDING RESULTS
ALL TRAINED BY HIGHPOINT PERFORMANCE HORSES
2004– World Champion – Harley D Zip and Kristina Papendick
2005– World Champion- Majestic Scotch and Sharnai Thompson
Reserve World Champion – A Special Invitation and Ali Papendick
2006– World Champion – Harley D Zip and Kristina Papendick
Reserve World Champion – Majestic Scotch and Sharnai Thompson
2007– World Champion – Harley D Zip and Ali Papendick
2008– World Champion – Harley D Zip and Ali Papendick
Reserve World Champion – Dont Zip Charlie and Indy Roper
3rd – Chip Van Winkle and Theresa Moran
2009– World Champion – Harley D Zip and Ali Papendick
Reserve World Champion – Ima Petite Classic and Darcy Reeve
2010– World Champion – Harley D Zip and Ali Papendick
Reserve World Champion – A Certain Vino and Darcy Reeve
2011– World Champion – Vital Signs Are Good and Theresa Moran
3rd – Chip Van Winkle and Theresa Moran
