During the past week, the top exhibitors and horses from around the world have competed at the 2013 Bank of America Amateur and American Quarter Horse Association Open World Championship Show at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The 2013 Farnam Superhorse Award is the top honor at the AQHA World Show. It is awarded to the horse that earns the most points in three or more events in two categories during the show.
This year, 50 contenders competed for the Farnam Superhorse Award. Un Forgettable was crowned the 2013 Farnam Superhorse on November 23. Un Forgettable is owned by Laura Te Grotenhuis of Marshall, Illinois. The 2007 gray stallion, sired by Iron Enterprise and out of A Walk In The Sky by Skys Blue Boy, was bred by Nancy Swarm of Ocala, Florida.
Purchased by Grotenhuis 14 months ago, Un Forgettable has been under the guidance and training of several trainers in his campaign for the Farnam Superhorse title.
“Well, it’s a beautiful team that has been assembled,” Grotenhuis said. “In my opinion, the dream team in the equestrian world. I couldn’t ask for better or more. (AQHA Professional Horseman) Keith Miller has worked with him in under saddle and did some cart with him in North Carolina.”
“I also want to thank Sandy Vaugn for starting him in the driving and Lee Paul Shinn for qualifying him,” Grotenhuis said. “Appreciation also goes to Brian Holmes and David Connors for their help.”
Un Forgettable was shown in five classes by Bill Ellis of Colts Neck, New Jersey; Nancy Sue Ryan of Nocona, Texas; Jerry Erickson of Sanger, Texas; and Joey Shortino of Lutz, Florida. The team earned a total of 38 points. Un Forgettable won a world championship in senior pleasure driving, reserve championship in senior hunter under saddle and placed fifth in senior hunter hack, sixth in performance halter stallions and 12th in senior working hunter.
The Farnam Superhorse receives $25,000 plus $2,000 of Farnam product, a WeatherBeeta blanket, an original Lisa Perry bronze and a rose bouquet.
Blue Sky Serenade was named the Reserve Farnam Superhorse. Blue Sky Serenade is owned by Rodger Call of Fort Worth, Texas. The 2008 brown gelding, sired by Skys Blue Boy and out of Spooky Detail, was bred by Brenda Larsen of Webster, Wisconsin. Chuck Briggs of Azle, Texas, showed the gelding in four classes. The pair earned a total of 37 points, earning the reserve world championship titles in junior hunter hack and pleasure driving. He also placed fourth in junior hunter under saddle and junior working hunter. The Reserve Farnam Superhorse received a price package that included $10,000 plus $1,000 in Farnam Product.
Placing third was Mr Fritz Wood owned by Lincoln Figueiredo of Brazil. The 2008 buckskin stallion, sired by Mr Junewood and out of Fritz Lovelady, was bred by Sam Shoultz and Ken Matzner of Bellvue, Colorado. Mr Fritz Wood was shown by Jay Lyn Wadhams of Pueblo, Colorado; Luke Jones of Allerton, Iowa; J.D. Yates of Pueblo, Colorado; and Aaron Hall of Kechi, Kansas. Mr. Fritz Wood earned a total of 35 points in four classes, earning a world championship in junior heeling and reserve championship in junior heading. He also placed 13th in open performance halter stallions and 15th in junior tie-down roping.
Placing fourth was Romancing The Chics, who is owned by Joyce Tisdall of Castle Rock, Colorado. The 2006 bay gelding, sired by Chic Please and out of RS Lilly Starlight, was bred by Kurt and Angie Harris of Whitesboro, Texas. Romancing The Chics earned a total of 34 points, earning reserve championship titles in senior heading and heeling. The gelding was shown by Yates and Kimberly Leiter of Westlake Village, California.
Placing fifth was Im A Tuff Bueno, who is owned by Penelope Knight of Hillsboro, Oregon. The 2003 gray stallion, sired by Tuf N Busy and out of Miss Bueno Lena, was bred by Mike and Rene McLean of Benson, Arizona. Im A Tuff Bueno was shown by C.R. Bradley of Collinsville, Texas, and Tim Finkenbinder of Collinsville, Texas. The stallion earned a total of 25 points, placing third in senior tie-down roping, fifth in performance halter stallions and eighth in senior heading.
The third-through fifth-place Farnam Superhorses each receive $2,500 plus $500 in Farnam Product. The Farnam Superhorse award is made possible by AQHA Corporate Partner Farnam. Farnam has been the official fly control, deworming, grooming and conditioning products supplier of AQHA since 2004. Whether you’re at a show or on a trail ride, it takes time and dedication to make your horse look his best. As your partner in horse care, Farnam continues to offer products people know, use and trust.
AQHA also named the 2013 Oklahoma City Leading Owner and Reserve Leading Owner at the AQHA World Show tonight. The Oklahoma City Leading Owner Award is given to the ownership that earns the most points at the AQHA World Show. To be eligible for the award, at least three horses must be entered, shown and in the same ownership.
Josh Weakly of Shelbyville, Illinois, was named the 2013 Oklahoma City Leading Owner. Weakley had six horses qualified and earned a total of 86 points, competing in six classes during Bank of America Amateur Week and six classes during AQHA Open Week at this year’s show. Weakley earned world championship titles in amateur aged mares, amateur 2-year-old mares and amateur weanling mares. Weakly’s horses earned reserve world championship titles in amateur 2-year-old geldings, amateur yearling mares, open 2-year-old mares, open weanling mares and open aged mares. Weakly’s horses also placed fifth in the open yearling mares and sixth in the open 2-year-old geldings. The Oklahoma City Leading Owner received a prize package that included a specially commissioned bronze, presented by the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and a rose bouquet.
Vernon Habighorst of Phoenix, is the Reserve Oklahoma City Leading Owner. Habighorst qualified and showed seven horses, earning a total of 82 points in seven classes during Bank of America Amateur Week and seven classes during AQHA Open Week at this year’s show. Habighorst’s horses earned world championships in amateur aged geldings, amateur weanling geldings and aged geldings. His horses placed third in amateur 3-year-old geldings, amateur yearling geldings, open 3-year-old geldings and open weanling geldings. His horses also placed fifth in amateur 3-year-old mares, sixth in open yearling geldings, sixth in open 3-year-old mares and seventh in amateur 3-year-old geldings. The Reserve Leading Owner received a silver cup, presented by The American Quarter Horse Journal.
