Seven top competitors were celebrated November 12 at the 2016 APHA World Championship Show. Meet the Open all-around and high-point winners.
All-Around Horse & High-Point English Horse: I Got Em Talkin
Sometimes things just fall into place, and when that happens, it’s perfectly fine to sit back and enjoy the sweet serendipity. After a 2015 APHA World Show that was beyond their wildest dreams, owner Dominic Destefano of Edmond, Oklahoma, and trainer Mason Lyon were happy to let the chips fall where they may for I Got Em Talkin at the 2016 show.
“This year was the first World Show that I didn’t have any expectations,” Dominic said. “We just wanted to have a good time with everyone and promote breeding to him; it wasn’t about going out there and winning.”
Ever the show horse, “Buzz” was consistent in the show pen, racking up three more championship titles—winning Senior Pleasure Driving, Senior Hunter Hack and Utility Driving, and earning a reserve in Jumping. The effort helped Buzz repeat his 2015 wins as the World Show’s All-Around Open Horse and High-Point English Horse. The 2010 gray overo stallion also helped Christy Christensen capture the All-Around Novice Amateur award earlier in the show.
“We started out just hoping Christy did well. But when we saw that Buzz was performing well as usual, we figured why not give it a shot again?” Dominic said. “We were so proud and humbled to win the All-Around Open horse and High Point English Horse title last year, we never thought we’d have the opportunity to do it again. But when that opportunity arose, we had to go for it. Winning them two years in a row, and then adding the Novice Amateur all-around in there as well, was really the icing on the cake.”
Sired by I Got Charisma and out of Fight Over Emmie (TB), Buzz was bred by Deb and Eric Jarvis of Kaufman, Texas. The reserve All-Around Open Horse was Rolex N Starlight, a 2011 bay tobiano stallion by A Tru Rolex and out of Paper Dolly; he was bred and is owned by Joni Voloshin of Craig, Colorado. The Reserve High-Point English Horse was All About The Swing, a 2006 sorrel overo gelding by All Time Fancy and out of Luvs To Zip; he was bred by Carol Brown of Kansas City, Kansas, and is owned by Anne Rosen of Indian Hills, Colorado.
High-Point Exhibitor Award: Shannon Gillespie
Through two tough weeks of World Show competition, trainer Shannon Gillespie of Whitesboro, Texas, piloted a bevy of talented horses into the John Justin Arena. While her performances brought cheers and championships for thrilled clients, they also carried her close to the top of a different competition: the chase for the high-point exhibitor award.
Sitting in the Top Three on the final show day, Shannon shot to the top with a series of stellar rides in Junior and Senior Western Riding. The Junior and Senior Paints who carried Shannon to this award are The Wow Factor, Im First N Line, Lazy Luvah, BMQ The Jig Is Up, Seems Like Heaven, Cool Hotrod and The Only Kiss To Envy.
Trainer Mason Lyon of Fort Worth, Texas, received the reserve high-point exhibitor award. Mason rode I Got Em Talkin, All She Wrote, A Southern Fancy and Secret Treasure to earn the award.
CLICK HERE to read more about the Open High Point winners
Top Amateur Titles Awarded at 2016 APHA World Show
In celebration of their accomplishments in the arena, five top Amateur exhibitors were honored November 9 at the 2016 APHA World Championship Show. Let’s meet the Amateur all-around and high-point winners.
All-Around Novice Amateur—Christi Christensen & I Got Em Talkin
I Got Em Talkin had the Paint world abuzz after clinching two top Open titles at the 2015 APHA World Championship Show. This year, the amicable “Buzz” teamed up with Christi Christensen of Aubrey, Texas, to expand his versatility and take on the Novice Amateur division.
Despite Buzz’s packed schedule of Open events, he and Christi soared over fences—and their competition—to earn world championships in Novice Amateur Equitation Over Fences and Hunter Hack, along with a reserve world championship in Novice Amateur Working Hunter. Early success in the over-fences classes helped the duo maintain their lead for the all-around title throughout the duration of the show.
Buzz is a 2010 gray overo stallion by I Got Charisma and out of Fight Over Emmie (TB); he was bred by Deb and Eric Jarvis of Kaufman, Texas; he is owned by Dominic Destefano of Edmond, Oklahoma, and leased by Christi.
CLICK HERE to read about more of the Amateur All Around Winners
Red Hot N Stylish Defends Scarlet Print Award
In the realm of halter competition, sweeping world championship titles across three divisions—Open, Amateur and Youth—spread out between two shows that are four months apart is next to impossible. But with the right horse and the right team of owners, trainers and supporters, big dreams become achievable with hard work and a little luck.
Red Hot N Stylish came into the 2016 APHA World Championship Show was a bit of notoriety—there was no escaping the limelight for Joyce Cassata’s 2014 bay overo mare, especially after winning Youth, Amateur and Open world championships in 2015. That feat secured the Scarlet Print Award for “Jade,” ending a 10-year drought for presentation of the elusive prize. Jade had already won a 2016 Youth world championship with Phillip Groeb, so when Bob Cassata led the mare to victory in Amateur 2-Year-Old Mares, people really sat up and took notice of the defending champion.
Jade didn’t disappoint in the Open 2-Year-Old Mares class; shown by Tim Finkenbinder, the mare found her way to the top of the judges’ cards, netting four firsts and one second en route to the world championship title.“She’s the epitome of what we want nowadays: she’s got balance, structure and is pretty and great legged, and she’s great colored on top of it,” Tim said. “She’s just a show horse.”
“She’s the epitome of what we want nowadays: she’s got balance, structure and is pretty and great legged, and she’s great colored on top of it,” Tim said. “She’s just a show horse.”
CLICK HERE to view more from the article from The Paint Horse Journal
Western Pleasure Youngsters Earn Huge Payouts in Stakes events at APHA World Show
Before filled stands and watchful eyes, talented Paints and riders put their potential and training to the test to claim their share of more than $50,000 in the Farnam Breeders’ Trust 2-Year-Old and Non-Pro 3- & 4-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes on November 5.
The Farnam Stakes program is the premier jewel in Breeders’ Trust competition. To be eligible for these elite events, horses must be Breeders’ Trust enrolled and sold as yearlings through the Farnam Breeders’ Trust Select Yearling Sale. With so much cash up for grabs, there’s plenty of incentive for owners and breeders to hang their hopes on the potential of talented prospects.
Farnam 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes
Though Impulsive Popstar had never before set foot in front of a judge, Mike Hachtel had no doubts about debuting the talented youngster in the deep Farnam 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes. If you’ve done your homework, he says, the test should be easy.
“I prepared her the way I felt like she needed to be prepped, and then I wanted her to see the crowd before I tried to make any adjustments. Otherwise, I planned to just leave her alone,” Mike said. “And she was a rockstar—She did everything I hoped she would do.”
Bred and owned by Debi and Loren East of Bountiful, Utah, “Tootsie” is a 2014 sorrel overo mare by A Scenic Impulse and out of Sensational Lollipop—a full sibling to the stake’s 2014 winner A Jellybean Impulse. Mike, who’s piloted sire, dam and offspring to big wins credits the bloodlines for the horses’ success.
“They’re all so big and strong, they’re kind and they’re easy to teach,” he said. Their brains make them priceless.”
For her win, Tootsie brought home more than $7,000*. More important than prize money, Debi says, is the validation of a quality breeding and training program.
“My heart was just pounding; I wanted it so bad for both of them,” she said. “This isn’t just a two-year project; it’s a 10-year project coming together in the arena. It’s extremely rewarding.”
CLICK HERE to read more about the western pleasure stakes winners
Platinum Breeders’ Halter Futurity classes pay nearly $100,000 at the 2016 World Show
Nearly $100,000 was up for grabs in the Platinum Breeders’ Futurity classes November 6—33 horses and handlers competed in five non-pro weanling halter classes for an estimated $96,755* in total purses.
The Platinum Division was reformatted for 2016, designed to yield bigger purses earmarked for non-pro classes. The reception was positive and the payouts deep.
Platinum Non-Pro Weanling Mares: $33,491*
Shes Too Pretty was exactly that—the well-built black tobiano filly caught the judges’ eyes and moved to the top of the card with Ramsey Berry to win $11,387*. Bred and owned by Joe and Nancy Berry of Visalia, California, Shes Too Pretty is by JN Total Attraction and out of Much Too Pretty.
“That was awesome! Winning that much money? That’s the most fun I’ve had since I started showing,” Ramsey said.
CLICK HERE to read more about the halter futurity classes
APHA World Show Exhibitors Win Big Payouts in Hunter Under Saddle Stakes Classes
Nearly $25,000 was on the line November 4 for the first slate of Farnam Pleasure Stakes classes, which drew a field of talented English performers. Up first was the Farnam Non-Pro 3- & 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes, featuring a purse worth more than $5,000* earmarked especially for older graduates of the Farnam program and their non-professional exhibitors. The evening’s encore performance was the Farnam 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes with a purse of nearly $18,500* split 65/35 between the class’ Open and Limited division exhibitors.
Farnam Non-Pro 3- & 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes
Stacey Carleton of Dewey, Oklahoma, knew Its Swing Time was special when the 2013 sorrel overo mare first stepped into the sale ring as part of the 2014 Farnam Breeders’ Trust Select Yearling Sale. Purchasing her from Ann Rosen and High Country Paints LLC, Stacey had fun watching the mare show with Alyse Roberts in the 2015 Farnam 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes, but the fun really started when she took over “Ruby’s” reins.
“Last year she won money, which helped me pay for getting her down the road this year,” Stacey said. “You always have high expectations, but I’ve never won anything here; I’ve been Top Five and third, but I’ve never won.”
That all changed Friday night when Stacey and Ruby trotted into the Farnam Non-Pro 3- & 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes. Trainers Wade and Carly Parks had the mare tuned in, and Stacey said Ruby brought her A-game when show time rolled around. The pair was consistent in both directions, showcasing Ruby’s correct, quality gaits and pleasant attitude. When the class concluded, Stacey and Ruby took their spot in the limelight as class champions, capturing a check for $3,024* and other prizes.
Ruby’s personality came shining through in the awards ceremony—after standing patiently for pictures, Ruby decided to take a closer look at her championship rosette, grabbing the ribbon with her teeth and holding it up proudly for the world to see, much to the delight of the John Justin Arena spectators.
“She always wants to know everybody’s business, but once you’re on her, she shows great,” Stacey said. “There were only three in the class, but this win means a lot to me. The Farnam program has given me a chance to grab a little money and help me pay for this expensive hobby. I think it’s a great program.”
Sired by All Time Fancy and out of Luvs To Zip, Ruby was bred by Carol Brown of Kansas City, Kansas.
Farnam 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes
Loaded with chrome—and matched with a soft trot and flowing canter—Want Me Dont Cha had just about everyone in the John Justin Arena saying, “Yes, please.” It was evident the judges liked the gelding too, and the 2014 chestnut overo was crowned the Farnam 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes champion with Laura Spell in the irons.
Only about his third time in the show pen, “Justin” handled the bright lights like a veteran.
“He was awesome—better than I could have expected,” Laura said. “I told [my husband] Wade before I went in, ‘I don’t know if I’m ready yet!’ But then we went in and he showed like a million bucks.”
Owned by client Brooke Ketchum of Montrose, Michigan, Justin is by The Gift Of Midas and out of Miss Shadow Page; he was bred by Dan and Jan Mannion of Wilton, California. Laura calls the gelding a total package with personality plus.
“I love him,” Laura said. “He’s got a ton of personality. He has a mind of his own somedays, but it makes him show really well. His ears are always forward, and he’s always happy.
The Farnam win earned Laura and Justin $5,410* check, along with other great prizes. Another Spell Show Horses client, Taylor Kokemiller of Madrid, Iowa, was the night’s biggest winner—at least in terms of paychecks; she cashed in on a $6,473* windfall aboard Wise Men Talk, her 2014 sorrel overo gelding by A Scenic Impulse and out of Dotevita (QH).
Taylor was the only non-pro who tested her skills against the professionals in the Farnam 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes. For winning the class’ Limited Division—they placed fifth overall—Taylor and Memphis took home the full 35 percent share of the $18,496* total class purse.
“I just wanted to learn how to show the babies,” Taylor said about her motivation to compete in the class this year. “It’s a little different than sitting on a broke horse. It was really cool, especially on a horse that I bought myself.”
For owners like Stacey, Taylor and Brooke, the Farnam Stakes program is a win-win addition to the APHA World Show lineup.
“I think it’s great,” Brooke said. “It’s such a big incentive to put your horse in the Farnam—and not just as a 2-year-old because there’s 3- and 4-year-old classes, too. That’s a great incentive.”
*Unofficial payout amounts
CLICK HERE for more news from the 2016 APHA World Show
