If there was ever a “power couple” list in the horse industry, the Weakly’s of Shelbyville, Illinois would definitely be at the top of the list. Amateur exhibitors, Kaleena and Josh Weakly, just returned from the Congress with 11 trophies including Grand Champion Amateur Mares, Grand Champion Open and Amateur Geldings, Amateur Showmanship and Versatility Champion and now they’re headed to the AQHA World Show in Oklahoma City.
Quite a feat for the couple who met at a horse show in Gordyville, Illinois in 2002 and have been married for six years. Kaleena concentrates on the performance horses while Josh competes in the halter events. Josh also owns and runs, Barker Implements, which is a dealership that sells farm equipment, while Kaleena runs her graphic design business, Katz Graphics, out of her husband’s office. Kaleena is responsible for many of the ads you see in GoMag every month.
“We get along so well because we have the same passions and similar interests,” Josh Weakly told GoHorseShow about his relationship with his wife, Kaleena. “Showing horses is so time and financially consuming that it would be hard if both of us didn’t love horses and enjoy showing.”
Kaleena continues her thoughts about their relationship,”Josh definitely has a sense of humor and is crazy funny and keeps everything fun and light hearted, but he is also a very hard worker and works for everything he gets.”
Josh adds, “It also doesn’t hurt that she is fairly decent looking, pretty talented, a little sassy but definitely has an attitude,” he says and laughs.
But all joking aside, the couple complement and support each other in and out of the arena. Kaleena said that this year’s Congress was an amazing time and explained that she was proudest of her Showmanship win. Kaleena and her horse, Hours Yours And Mine, better known as Blondie is currently leading the nation in the Showmanship and also won the NSBA Non Pro Stakes Showmanship class at the NSBA World Show. This team is also leading the nation in the Amateur All-Around.
“I had three firsts and a second in the Showmanship at the Congress, and I was so happy with my pattern in the prelims and finals,” Kaleena says. “I think that was the best pattern I had ever done with her, and my trainers, Jessica and Jason Gilliam were also ecstatic about my go. We were all in tears. I only practiced 15 minutes the night before my class because I was so busy with my other events, but she was perfect for me.”
Kaleena and Blondie also ended up winning the overall Amateur Versatility Class, as well as the Amateur Pleasure and Horsemanship Versatility classes.
“I placed fourth in the poles, and it was so fun running Blondie in that class,” she recalls. “I ended up having to call Josh to tell him I won because he had to go back home and work and couldn’t see my class.”
Kaleena continues, “The whole Congress just seemed to go very easily for me, and I told that to one of my trainers, and they said that all my hard work had paid off. I guess it all came together for the perfect moment.”
As for Josh, he had a pretty perfect Congress. He came away with nine Congress trophies; he was the winner in the Masters Weanling Halter Fillies and Weanling Fillies with Friendswithbenefits, Aged Mares, Amateur Aged Mares, and Grand Champion Amateur Mare with Sacreds Supreme, and Aged Gelding, Amateur Aged Geldings, and Grand Champion Open and Amateur Geldings with legendary halter horse, RPL My Te Cheerful.
“It was really an amazing Congress–I usually do better at the World Show, so, hopefully, it is not a sign that this year my luck will switch around and I won’t do as well at the World Show,” Josh says, who is obviously a little bit superstitious. “I was most proud of winning with Sacred Supreme and her standing Grand Champion Amateur Mare, because she had never really won anything big before.”
Josh adds, “I am passionate about halter horses, and it has been my love since I was a young boy. I love pretty, balanced horses no matter what class they are being shown in,” he says.
This couple may show in different events, but there is no doubt that they are both competitive and enjoy winning! Kaleena will be showing Blondie in the Amateur Showmanship, Horsemanship, Performance Halter Mares, Trail and Equitation at the AQHA World Show and is eligible for the Amateur Super Horse award. While Josh will be showing all the horses he showed at the Congress at the World Show with the addition to also bringing his weanling stallion, Raise Your Weapons, and three year-old gelding, Feared.
As far as future goals, Josh says that he may try to finish off this year by winning some of the honor roll titles in his halter classes and maybe sell some of his horses and buy some new ones for next year, while, Kaleena said that hopefully they will be starting a family soon!
GoHorseShow wishes them luck at the AQHA World Show and the Weakly’s would like to thank their trainers, E.H. Pait, Jessica and Jason Gilliam, and Andy Staton for all their help with their horses. Stay tuned for World Show updates about this couple.
Photos © Mallory Beinborn of Impulse Photography and Jeff Kirkbride
