The Appaloosa World Show is well under way into its week of competition in Ft Worth, Texas, where the best of the best horses have traveled after a year of qualifying. Together, they come to enjoy fierce competition, while enjoying wonderful camaraderie with fellow Appaloosa enthusiasts and friends. Even though the weather started off the week with everyone digging for their scuba gear, it did not wash away the competition from the show pens.
On Saturday, in the Senior Western Pleasure, Sleepy Beauty Too (15X World/National and NSBA Champion) and Pat O’Dell won the class with Lacey Olejar and Certainly a Charlie (11X World/National Champion) receiving a reserve world championship in the class.
Also, setting the pace for great competition was easily, Lonnie Cruse (pictured right), a well known face to the ApHC trail pen who snagged back-to-back wins in Senior Trail, He’s All Sonny taking the World title, while Macho In Levis received the Reserve World Championship title.
“I was happy with both horses, actually, all my horses. The placings were just going to be the icing on the cake. Both horses have so much heart and gave me a one hundred percent,” Cruse said.
Both geldings are veterans of the show pen with Cruse, and have been piloted to many titles with his clients. Cruse also received the Reserve World Title in the Junior Trail aboard, Willie B An Aggie while Charlie Chowder, an adorable bay gelding, with chrome to spare were crowned the World Championship title for this class. This gelding was piloted by Jesse Jones and owned by Megan Holtmeyer (Wagner).
“Chowder has a can do attitude, and I love his look which I think really showed in the pen. He also has great expression and really uses his ears as well,” says, Megan (pictured left), who has guided Chowder to many top tens, but this was the geldings first world title.
Recent two-time Congress winner, Rock My Motion returned to his home world show pen, and stepped into the Mens Western pleasure with style, fresh off of his Congress championship. The little bay gelding swept the Mens’ under the guidance of Robert King. The Reserve world title was taken by Oh My Chocolatey, in the hand of David Archer (pictured below).
The big, dreamy bay mare, Priceless Portrait, owned and shown by Lisa Krueger won the Masters Hunter Under Saddle, Non-Pro Hunter in Hand mares, and Non-pro Pleasure Driving. While Bret Whitfield drove the mare to a World title in the Open Pleasure Driving.
The classes and competition at the Appaloosa World Show always prove to be entertaining and as unique as the horses themselves. While this stock breed does participate within the regular classes commonly seen, they also enjoy a handful of eccentric classes as well.
This would be such as Heritage, Steer Daubing, Hunter In Hand and everyone’s favorite, The Rope Race. Mens Heritage was won by David Beck, aboard D CEO, a large handsome and very colorful liver chestnut gelding. While Shelby Hutchinson ran down her Steer the fastest, and cleanest with her Appaloosa TS Raki with a time of 2.33 . For the first time in Appaloosa history, the breed introduced Ranch Horse Pleasure and Ranch Horse Trail, with 45 pre-entries. The response to the class has been outstanding – proving to be very popular among the breed, considering that people call them a true all-arounder.
Finishing up the week, exhibitors have many special events to look forward to, more classes, along with futurities, maturities, and derbys.
To follow the action yourself, stay up to date on class standings, or to watch visit www.appaloosa.com.
