Yearly Archives: 2011

Charles and Kay Simmelink knew Barlnk Classic Fox was special. Though she was somewhat Throughbred-like in type when she was young, the buckskin overo mare soon began filling out—growing bigger and gaining more muscle each season. With their mare now a 3-year-old, the Simmelinks knew they needed to give her the opportunity to shine on the biggest Paint Horse stage: the APHA World Championship Show.

Sara Beth Simons made history when she won the Senior Western Pleasure on One Flashy Sensation. The world championship—a remarkable win by itself—completes “Mel’s” assortment of Western pleasure titles. With Sara, “Mel” has won world titles in the class as a 2-year-old, 3-year-old, Junior and Senior horse. The Paint Horse Journal spoke to Sara about her outstanding history with this unique individual.

The earth moved during the senior barrel racing finals at the 2011 AQHA World Championship Show, as another aftershock rumbled through North Central Oklahoma. There have been a series of regional quakes in recent days.

After 35 years of breeding American Quarter Horses, the Fischer family earns its first AQHA world championship with JF Skip N Style.

After a great Congress that included six Congress Champions and two reserve Congress Champions, Hot N Blazing, has sired an AQHA World Champion in Amateur Horsemanship. Congrats to Angela Fox and The Heat Seeker on winning this highly competitive class.

Twenty-three year-old Sophie Schonauer of Bonn, Germany may have never shown at the AQHA World Show before, but, she was up for the challenge. What is remarkable is that due to school obligations, Schonauer was not able to show the horse she leased for the AQHA World Show before the big event. Sophie had two and a half weeks to prepare to compete in the Showmanship and Equitation at one of the most prestigious shows for Amateur competitors in the world.

In her first appearance as an amateur exhibitor, Darcy Reeve of Garden Center, Kansas, rode her multiple world champion A Certain Vino to the amateur western pleasure world championship November 6.

A former youth champion returned to showing in 2010 and celebrated in 2011 by winning amateur weanling mares at the 2011 AQHA World Championship Show.

Although Western Horsemanship is one of Chelsea Bain’s favorite classes, the seasoned competitor takes a serious approach to her patterns. Riding her longtime friend “Barbie,” Chelsea maneuvered through the difficult and wide-set pattern, intent on claiming the world championship in Classic Amateur Western Horsemanship. The Paint Horse Journal spoke with Chelsea about her superstar horse and the solid ride that won the class.

Still in shock, Daranne Folino was ecstatic to realize she and Suddensational were the 2011 world champions in Masters Amateur Junior Western Pleasure. Coached by Ryan Painter, Daranne headed into the John Justin arena focused on having the perfect pleasure ride. When the judges rewarded her efforts, the Paint Horse Journal spoke to Daranne about Western Pleasure and all things “Cupcake.”