The final day of the 2015 World Championship Appaloosa Show saw NSBA exhibitors earn some of the last world champion titles in the John Justin Arena at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth. Meet some of the final champions.
CLICK HERE to view candids sponsored by The Rock, an AQHA stallion standing at Pilot Knob Quarter Horses and kindly taken by Brooke Flagtwet and Kelly Sweeney.
Semmelmayer and Rock My Motion Earn ApPHA Youth/Non-Pro Western Pleasure Maturity
Rock My Motion earned another unanimous decision as an ApHC world champion, this time in the Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association’s Youth/Non-Pro Western Pleasure with owner Jordan Semmelmayer in the saddle. The duo also won the highest placing lady rider award and earned $964 for the win.
The five year old gelding, known as Tex, is by Hot Chocolatey Chip and out of Shes Radical (by Radical Rodder). “We got him from trainers Doug and Tammy Rath as a two year old,” Semmelmayer said. “My trainer at that time, Gary Roberts, saw him loping in a warm up pen and told us that he was going to be pretty special. And he is!”
Earlier in the week, Tex and Semmelmayer won the ApHC and NSBA world champion titles in Non-Pro Western Pleasure, and RJ King showed the gelding to win earning the ApHC and NSBA world champion title, as well as the Breed of Choice award, in Junior Western Pleasure.
Tex and Sara Simons made history by becoming the first non-AQHA entry to win a futurity class at the All American Quarter Horse Congress by winning the Open and Limited Open divisions of the $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure Stakes. In addition to registered American Quarter Horses, Congress show officials opened up futurity entries to registered with the American Paint Horse Association (APHA), Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), American Buckskin Registry Association (ABRA), International Buckskin Horse Association (IBHA), Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA) and the Jockey Club for the first time in 2015.
With his final class behind him, Tex will get a well-deserved vacation. “This was his last year as a junior horse, so we’ll be showing in senior events next year,” Semmelmayer said. “It’s been pretty incredible.”
New Teams Earn Hunter Under Saddle Titles
Two recently assembled show teams earned ApHC world titles on Saturday.
McKenzie Gee and Dirty Art just started showing together this year, but they earned an ApHC and NSBA world champion title in Novice Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle. “I was attracted to him because he’s gorgeous, and he just has this presence,” Gee said. “He has the best personality. He wants to love you and be in your business. He is a good egg.”
Gee noted that her go in the class went well. “He was a good boy,” she said. “I think the judges saw his consistency. I was able to just set up and show him. It felt like everything came together.”
The gelding, known as Grey, is by Artfully Designed.
Another new team earned the win the Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association’s Non-Pro/Youth All Age Hunter Under Saddle Maturity. Brooke Moore piloted Into The Blue to the win, earning $964 for the win.
“We just got him in March,” Moore said. “I had lost my other horse, and he’s the horse that got me back into showing. He’s such as sweetheart. He likes to cuddle with you and follows you around like a dog.”
Known as Brodie, the six year old gelding is by Its All About Blue. “We had an awesome go,” Moore said. “It was probably our best go through the whole show. He loves to show. He always has his ears up and just goes.”
Hashtag Hunting Gets Unanimous Win in Two Year Old Snaffle Bit Western Pleasure
Patrick Heeley and Hashtag Hunting were once again the unanimous choice of the judges in the ApHC and NSBA Two Year Old Open Snaffle Bit Western Pleasure. The duo showed for owners Scott and Linda Berwick.
The dun stallion, by Chocolatey and out of Whos Cheatin Who, is called Luke. “I think he was as good today as he was yesterday,” Heeley said. The duo had won the Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association’s Two Year Old Snaffle Bit Western Pleasure Futurity on Friday.
“He was so consistent throughout the class,” Heeley said. “He was a really good boy.”
Luke will get a break from showing until after the first of the year. “I think he’ll be going to Arizona in January, so he’ll get a break until then,” Heeley said.
Other ApHC world champions named on the final day of the show included Kaitlin Bowen and Scottish Reward, winning the Non-Pro Bareback Horsemanship; Brenda O’Neil and Taking Hits, world champions in 35 & Older Non-Pro Western Pleasure; and Personal Invitation and Marisa Ahola, earning the world champion title in Novice Non-Pro Hunt Seat Equitation.
High Point Champions Recognized
The Appaloosa Horse Club recognized several high point award winners over the weekend. They included:
High Point Non-Pro English Exhibitor: Kristy Stecker
High Point Non-Pro Western Exhibitor: Wade Smith
All Around Non-Pro, and High Point Non-Pro Showmanship/Equitation Exhibitor: Tristanna Bickford
High Point Non-Pro Exhibitor: Sherri Mell
Reserve High Point Non-Pro Exhibitor: Jessica Olsen
High Point Non-Pro 35 & Over: Dr. Ted Zajak III
Reserve High Point Non-Pro 35 & Over: Jennifer Hulcher
High Point Non-Pro Masters Exhibitor: Lora Marshall
Reserve High Point Non-Pro Masters Exhibitor: Holly Anderson
High Point Novice Non-Pro: Stephanie Hood
Reserve High Point Novice Non-Pro: Marisa Ahola
High Point Western Horse: Invaluable, owned by Megan Wagner
Reserve High Point Western Horse: Taking Hits, owned by Brenda O’Neil
High Point English Horse: Priceless Portrait, owned by Lisa Krueger
Reserve High Point English Horse: tie – Handsoffmyartifacts, owned by Megan Wagner, and Play It Again Hunter, owned by Katie Shepherd
High Point Over Fence Horse: Moonlite Hunter, owned by Kristy Stecker
World’s Best Appaloosa: Smart Mate Chex Out, owned by Carly Wettlaufer
Reserve World’s Best Appaloosa: Hollywood Rita, owned by Dan and Dorine Bennett
Non-Pro Sportsmanship Award: Jennie Shrout
To view complete show results for the 2015 World Championship Appaloosa Show, visit www.appaloosa.com/worlds-show/world-show.htm.
