After a week of competition, top exhibitors have earned prizes at the 2015 AQHA Nutrena East Level 1 Championship Show.
These exhibitors earned prizes through their efforts in the show ring:
ALL-AROUND EXHIBITOR
Youth 13-&-Under
Madison Paige Foster of Fremont, Michigan, showing Zippos Pine Chex, a 2003 palomino gelding by Zippo Pine Chex-Dee Suzy Walker by Cloud Walker. Bred by Todd A. Clubb of Vinton, Iowa, and owned by Gale Lisa Hoffman of Petoskey, Michigan.
Youth 14-18
Catherine Tata of Plymouth, Michigan, showing Surely Im Invited, a 2008 chestnut mare by Willy Be Invited-Miss SS by Shotgun Sonny. Bred by Andrew R. Drnjevich of Ravenna, Ohio, and owned by Catherine.
Amateur
Codi McConnell of Indianapolis, Indiana, showing Slip Off To Sleep, a 2005 black gelding by Too Sleepy To Zip-Shesa Sleepin Chick by The Invester. Bred by Hedy Levin of Sturgis, Michigan, and owned by Codi.
Select
Darcy D. Steffen of Lake Worth, Florida, showing Ride A Natural, a 2007 bay mare by Natural Iron-Anna Marie McBett by Bett Ohio (TB). Bred by Rick Skelly of Janesville, Wisconsin, and owned by Darcy.
RESERVE ALL-AROUND EXHIBITOR
Youth 13-&-Under
Grace Ann Himes of Bristol, Indiana, showing Gota Lota Lace, a 2003 bay mare by Gota Lota Potential-Iron N Lace by Iron Rebel. Bred by Marie Foster of Fowler, Indiana, and owned by Grace.
Youth 14-18
Alexandra Greenwell of Gaithersburg, Maryland, showing Willy Invite Lynn, a 2008 sorrel mare by Willy Be Invited-Black In The Berries by Dont Skip Charlie. Bred by Libby Trucco of Delaware, Ohio, and owned by Alexandra.
Amateur
Elizabeth Johnson of Dotahn, Alabama, showing Mr RV Radical Chip, a 2009 bay gelding by Radical Rodder-Miss Good Cookie by Zips Chocolate Chip. Bred by Ronnie Kent of Graceville, Florida, and owned by Elizabeth.
Select
Linda Layon-Watson of El Centro, California, showing Gotta Good Feelin, a 2009 sorrel gelding by A Good Machine-Two Deelightful by Dee Invitation. Bred by Kelly J. Fast of Platte City, Missouri, and owned by Linda.
HIGH-POINT EXHIBITOR – Western
Youth 13-&-Under
Kacy Jo Philpot of Grand Forks, North Dakota, showing Macs Cruisin Chip, a 2002 bay gelding by Macs Good N Plenty-Real Cruise Chip by Zips Chocolate Chip. Bred by Susan Watkins of Hamilton, Indiana, and owned by Kacy Jo.
Youth 14-18
Micayla Bragg of Vero Beach, Florida, showing JDG Invited By Chip, a 2005 chestnut gelding by Boot Scootin Chip-Hotnsassy Invitation by Hot Invitation. Bred by Ely Peck of Manhattan, Kansas, and owned by Micayla.
Amateur
Whitney L. Karr of Racine, Ohio, showing My Sweet Addiction, a 2005 sorrel mare by Addicting-Zippos Attraction by Dont Skip Zip. Bred by Thomas W. Karr of Racine and owned by Whitney.
Select
Rita Mills of Brandenburg, Kentucky, showing Heather Tee, a 2008 chestnut mare by Bulzeye Dan-Ms Sugar Rancher by Sugar Rancher. Bred and owned by Jerome and Rita Mills.
HIGH-POINT EXHIBITOR – English
Youth 13-&-Under
Darby L. Honea of Greenback, Tennessee, showing Passin The Scotch, a 2001 sorrel gelding by Scotch Bay Time-Missile By Rocket by Barpassers Missile. Bred by Brad Vanderburg of Hagersville, Ontario, and owned by Darby.
Youth 14-18
Noel Meadows of Staunton, Virginia , showing BMQ Ride The Stride, a 2009 sorrel gelding by MBQ Legacy-BMQ Traffic Stopper by Traffic Breaker (TB). Bred by Annette Kamphaus of Nevis, Minnesota, and owned by Noel.
Amateur
Andrea N. Benter of Seymour, Indiana, showing The Bar Made Me Lazy, a 2012 bay gelding by Lazy Loper-Strawberry Plum Good by Zippos Mr Good Bar. Bred by Amanda Rohr of North Lawrence, Ohio, and owned by Andrea.
Select
Marty Hayes of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, showing Good Time Mac, a 2006 bay gelding by A Vintage Version-Boston Bookie by Boston Scotch Time. Bred by Stephen L. McNeil of Ferguson, North Carolina, and owned by Marty.
HIGH-POINT ROOKIE
Youth
Alexandra Greenwell of Gaithersburg, Maryland, showing Willy Invite Lynn, a 2008 sorrel mare by Willy Be Invited-Black In The Berries by Dont Skip Charlie. Bred by Libby Trucco of Delaware, Ohio, and owned by Alexandra.
Amateur
Abigail Kasper of Port Austin, Michigan, showing Hunt In My Saddle, a 2009 gray gelding by Huntin For Chocolate-Ironclad Invitation by Natural Iron. Bred by Terry E. Humphreys of Granbury, Texas, and owned by Abigail.
Halter Champion of Champions
Halter horses filled the arenas October 3 at the 2015 AQHA Nutrena East AQHA Level 1 Championship Show, showing off their conformation and their similarities to the ideal American Quarter Horse.
At the end of the day, Jason Somnitz and Hoosier Gunslinger were named the amateur halter champion of champions, and Laura Knott and Moe Te were named the youth halter champion of champions at Nutrena East.
Hoosier Gunslinger is a 2010 sorrel gelding by Western Gunslinger and out of My Mystical Playgirl by Playgirls Reflection. He was bred by Rose Bode of Columbus, Indiana. Jason has owned him for about a year.
“He’s a good-looking halter horse and pretty good to show,” Jason said.
In the halter champion of champions competition, the winners of the halter classes in each division are brought back into the arena – mares and geldings mixed together – and the judge picks the best.
In 2014, Jason and “Moose” were second in aged geldings at Nutrena East. This year, their first-place finish in the class qualified them to compete for the amateur halter champion of champions title.
The award was presented in AQHA for the first time in 2012 during the inaugural Level 1 Championships, then known as the Novice Championships.
Moe Te is a 2011 sorrel gelding by Mr Ice Te and out of Light And Stylish by Enlightened. He was bred by Mark and Jenny Nelson of Rockbridge Baths, Virginia, and is owned by Patrick Diamond of Dover, Delaware.
