Masterson Farms, LLC of Somerville, Tennessee is known for producing horses that are synonymous with the word: excellence.
Owned by Ken and Marilyn Masterson and home to the legendary sire, RL Best Of Sudden, year after year, the farm sends quality horses to the All-American Quarter Horse Congress under the guidance of head trainer Casey Willis and assistant trainer, Blair Townsend.
Deciding which horses make the trip is a team effort with Casey at the helm.
“We are always evaluating the two-year-olds and when Congress time rolls around it is a huge time of year for us,” Ken said. We look at where each horse is in their training process and then decide who is ready for the two-year-old classes at the Congress and who we wait to debut until their three-year-old year.”
This year, Masterson Farms is sending three talented young horses to the Congress.
KM WeKnowShesHot
Affectionately known as Mercedes, KM WeKnowShesHot is a 2012 sorrel mare by RL Best Of Sudden and out of WeKnowShesSomething.
Ken said, “She is the third generation at the farm and Marilyn showed both her grand dam and dam. She has a tremendous personality and we are really enjoying the performance halter with her as well as the pleasure.”
Mercedes’ first class is the Performance Halter Mares on Sunday, October 16th where she will be shown by Randy Jacobs.
When asked what makes her stand apart and what makes her so competitive in the (performance halter) class, Casey said, “She is just so pretty and big (16 hands); you really couldn’t ask her to be more correct. Our plan is to give her time to settle into the Congress and keep as much weight on her as possible. We’ll longe her and pony her, just taking it easy for the first few days.”
After the Performance Halter, it’s time to concentrate on the western pleasure. Mercedes is the winner of $60,000 in earnings and has earned an impressive 75 AQHA pleasure points.
In addition, not only is this beautiful mare a NSBA World Champion, but she has also won a number of futurities including the Tom Powers, the Little Futurity, and the Madness.
“She’s kind of a princess,” chuckled Blair who is showing Mercedes in the Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure Stakes adding, “she’s pretty spoiled.”
Casey, who is showing her in the Junior Western Pleasure said of the mare, “She is very fun to show and has a lot of ring presence. She really turns it on in the pen. As long as you do your job, she’ll do hers.”
KM Genuinely Best
The Masterson’s pick for their 2016 Masters Western Pleasure entry is KM Genuinely Best, a.k.a. Benny, a 2014 red roan gelding by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Genuine Goodbar.
“Benny is a really good, strong two-year-old,” said Ken. “He is very quiet and has come along so well in his training. A lot goes into the decision of who to enter in the Masters as these are all two-year-olds who have never been shown. You have to try and make a good decision on who can handle it, and we are confident Benny can do it.”
Casey, who is piloting Benny in the class on October 29 said, “He has a really good look and is so talented. We also get along well with each other so it’s a really good fit.”
Benny is also known around the farm as being the kind of horse that loves both people and mischief.
“He also knows that he is handsome,” chuckled Casey.
So how did this looker get the name Benny out of all the possible names out there?
Blair shared with us, “We name all the colts as they come into the program as two-year-olds, and he became Benny when one of our colt riders was singing the song ‘Benny and the Jets.’ We were naming babies after songs and singers that year and were running out of names. So, that’s how he became Benny. And it really fits him perfectly.”
KM Best One Invited
KM Best One Invited, a stunning 2014 black mare by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Invited Always is the Masterson’s Coughlin 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure entry.
Miley, as she is affectionately known, is a full sister to Bestseatinthehouse who won the 2013 AQHA World Championship in 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure for Alexandra Chavez with Rusty Green piloting.
“She really just captures your attention and is so pretty on the rail,” said Ken.
The 15.3 hand mare profiles beautifully according to Casey but ironically, she wasn’t an obvious pick for the Coughlin.
“When we first started her, she was kind of standoffish,” explained Casey. “She would do her job but as of late she is so much more willing and has really warmed up and is a lot sweeter.”
The mare has really taken a liking to Blair especially, and recently the decision was made that Blair will be her pilot in the Coughlin.
“She feels like she’ll be ready to show and ready to show well,” said Blair. “Which is great for the crazy atmosphere of the Congress. I’m really excited.”
Come on by…
As top AQHA breeders, Ken and Marilyn Masterson are always excited to get to the Congress.
“The Congress is always a lot of fun for us,” said Ken. “Not only for us and our own horses, but we get so much joy seeing our customers and their horses. To have the chance to see what people are raising and showing, sometimes for the first time, there is nothing greater than that.”
Ken invites everyone to come by and visit the Masterson Farms stalls located in the Gilligan.
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