Final Picture of the Day from AQHA World Show
This picture pretty much explains itself. It’s a ghost town here on the last day of the 2016 AQHA World Show. The trainers, exhibitors and horses are exhausted from having the Congress and World Show especially close to each other this year. The consensus is that everyone is ready to get home, hibernate and eat Thanksgiving turkey with their loved ones this week. Everyone have a safe trip home and get some well deserved rest!
Picture #6, Friday, November 18, 2016
The picture for Friday says so much about the good things in our horse show world. Here is newly crowned AQHA World Champion Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, Boys Move Over and three generations of the Ryan-Brockmueller family. Congratulations to Courtney (Ryan) Brockmueller who rode “Black Betty” to a World Championship with four firsts in her final performance. Courtney’s husband, Mark and their son Brim who turns three in February, were in the stands cheering, along with Courtney’s mom, multiple AQHA World Champion, Nancy Sue Ryan. Brim hopped on with Courtney for a victory lap to remember.
“Black Betty holds a dear spot in our hearts for several reasons,” Courtney told us. “Betty has that something extra that makes her special. It cannot be trained into a horse–they either have it or they don’t.”
No question, Betty has it. We imagine her future foals will have it as well.
Picture #5, Thursday, November 17, 2016
GoHorseShow was honored to attend PF Premo’s retirement party at the AQHA World Show on Thursday night. The AQHA World Champion halter stallion has paid his dues to earn his day in the sun. Owners, JL and Penny Robinson and trainer Dewey Smith and his wife, Tammi Smith hosted the very well-attended party at their stalls at the show. PF Premo was the unanimous World Champion in the Open Aged Stallions earlier in the day with Dewey Smith and earlier in the week won the Amateur Aged Stallions, unanimously as well, with his owner, JL Robinson. In 2017, the chestnut halter stallion will stand in Bellefontaine, Ohio. PF Premo is now an 8-time AQHA World Champion, 7-time Congress Champion, and 5-time Congress Grand Champion Stallion.
“PF Premo is a once-in-a-lifetime horse that has a great disposition with an impressive combination of muscle and structural correctness,” Dewey Smith told us in a past article we wrote about him in 2014. PF Premo’s sire is the late, MH Supremo, and dam, is the great mare, Ima Credible Miss. We congratulate the Robinsons and Smiths on an outstanding show and look forward to seeing more babies from this beautiful stallion for years to come.
Picture #4, Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Well, today was certainly exciting. Two of my friends took home the world and reserve championship in showmanship this morning. Major congrats to Angela Fox and Johnna Letchworth. I am beyond thrilled for you two!
Chip and I gave our best in the horsemanship prelims, but with a goofy first spin, we’re out for the count for the remainder of the show. I’m constantly impressed at how much he delivers in the show pen. I can’t wait to see what a little more muscle memory development will reveal in the upcoming year for him. He ran his heart out today, and I couldn’t be more proud!
Picture #3, Tuesday, November 15, 2016
This was a brief moment before “Tim the Trail Man” turned everyone loose on the second walk of the course during the Amateur Trail. I appreciate how available Tim makes himself to any questions exhibitors have when riding his pattern.
Whether at practice or during the walk, he’s there to quickly clarify or offer guidance when necessary.
Today’s trail pattern had some specific quirks that required actively engaged riding to pull off a beautiful pattern, and there were quite a few out there that did an outstanding job.
Congrats to everyone moving onto the finals – you all rode very hard today!
Picture #2, Monday, November 14, 2016
After the showmanship prelims this morning, the western riding was in full swing. My barn mate, Kim Clinco, showed in the Level 2 Western Riding with her horse, Best One Out There. Kim rocked her pattern today, and I was so proud of her. The amateur schedule is getting pretty crazy as of today with two prelims and trail practice shortly after. Best of luck to everyone in the trail prelims tomorrow – can’t wait to find out what curious items find their way into the decor. I’ll be out bright and early to root you all on!
Picture #1
Sunday, November 13, 2016
The preliminaries of the Collegiate Horsemanship Challenge took place this morning in the Performance Arena. Sixteen total riders competed; eight riders represented NCEA schools and eight riders represented IHSA schools. I was able to capture a moment from the last ride, as Libby Collins of Oklahoma State University rode Take Me Home Tonite to the arena with her coach, Larry Sanchez, by her side. After a fantastic go, Libby earned her way to the finals tomorrow evening along with Megan McMullen from Texas Christian University, Abby Buckwalter of Delaware State, and Avery Ellis from Texas A&M University.
It was so fun to watch Bailey Anderson of Georgia win the Collegiate Horsemanship Challenge last year, and I’m anxious to see who takes home the title this year.
Good luck ladies! It’s a joy to have you all here competing!
Hello, all! I am Elizabeth Borders-Combs, and I’ll be sharing a photo-a-day with you all for the upcoming week at the AQHA World Show. I am competing with my four-year-old, VS Costar aka “Chip,” in the Amateur Horsemanship under the guidance of Kelly McDowall. This is sweet Chip’s World Show debut – I’m still surprised with how far he’s come this year. Just last week, he and Kelly finished fifth in the Junior Western Riding.
A special thank you to my family and our team at McDowall horses for all of the care and time you’ve all invested in us.
