Howdy y’all! Greetings from a warm and balmy Fort Worth, Texas. My name is Jenna Tolson and I am from McPherson, Kansas. I am very excited to be at the APHA World Championship Show where things are getting kicked off today. I am here with my trainer, Alyse Roberts and my four-year-old bay overo mare, TheFairestOfThemAll, aka “Scarlett”. We will be showing in the Novice Amateur and Classic Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. Scarlett will also be showing in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle and Junior Pleasure Driving. This will mark her debut in the pleasure driving and I can’t wait to watch her go.
The world show culminates months and/or years of hard work. This is what we all work toward. This is where the long hours in the saddle and many sleepless nights pay off. I would like to wish all the exhibitors good luck this year. A few dreams are about to come true and; hopefully, it can be yours. Check out my picture of the day coming each day from Fort Worth.
Picture #6 – Monday, November 7, 2016
The APHA World Show is great at keeping things fun and exhibitor friendly. Many times throughout the show, there are receptions, parties or breakfasts in the John Justin and Watt Arena concourses. Food and drink is provided and they’re always a popular event at the show. It’s a great time for socializing with your fellow exhibitors and spectators. Different sponsors or organizations serve as hosts for each event. Today’s picture of the day was from the party hosted by the Arkansas Paint Horse Club and includes Jeremy Guthrie, Sid Karr, Robert Loomans, Brian Brady, and Karen Kennedy. Karen said a fun time was had by all!
Thank you for letting me share some pictures from the Paint World Show. I’m headed home but good luck to everyone during the rest of the show.
Picture #5 – Sunday, November 6, 2016
I have to take the opportunity for today’s picture of the day to do a shameless brag on my own mare, TheFairestOfThemAll, “Scarlett.” Tonight she won the Junior Pleasure Driving almost unanimously, getting all firsts and a second on one card.
We have had the privilege of having the expertise of Brian Holmes teaching her how to drive. He showed her tonight. She is four years old and this was her first time ever being shown in the driving. She has been a natural since day one and really seems to enjoy it. We joke that if she could just walk and park gait around all the time, she would be a happy camper!
Scarlett only goes to Brian’s every so often to work on the driving. He had her a bunch in October when my trainer, Alyse Roberts, was away at the Congress in Ohio. She was also top 10 in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle tonight. She gets to go home now for some R&R. I can’t wait to be able to show her in the Amateur Pleasure Driving next year!
Picture #4- Saturday, November 5, 2016
Back from a successful trip to the Quarter Horse Congress a week ago, All On The Line continued his winning ways at the APHA World Show with owner Megan Brown by claiming the World Champion title in the Masters Amateur Junior Hunter Under Saddle today in Fort Worth.
“Sly” is a five year old gelding by All Time Fancy and is under the guidance of Alyse Roberts, which means Megan and Sly are fellow barn mates of mine. At the Congress, Sly was Reserve Champion in the Limited Open Maturity and 7th in the Open Maturity with Alyse, as well as 6th in the Limited Non Pro Maturity and 15th in the Open Non Pro Maturity with Megan.
We are proud Sly did such a tremendous job carrying the proverbial “color breed torch” for the Paints at the Congress. Sly is a very big guy, measuring in at 17’2″ and is as lovable as he is big.
Megan co-owns Boo Yah Custom Clothing with Elizabeth “Spike” Brewer, who also happened to be crowned Reserve World Champion in the Classic Amateur Junior Hunter Under Saddle today with her gelding, Good At It.
Sly will be putting it “all on the line” in the hunter under saddle pen again tomorrow when Alyse is in the irons to pilot him in the Open Junior Hunter Under Saddle. Congratulations Megan, Sly, Alyse and Spike and best of luck the rest of the show.
Picture #3 – Friday, November 4, 2016
My picture of the day is Pam Heisinger from California and her absolutely precious seven-year-old mare, Sensational Cookie. Pam and “Cookie” were named APHA World Champions in the Novice Amateur Equitation.
Pam and Cookie have a unique story. Pam was shopping for a new show partner and heard about Cookie through word of mouth from some friends. Pam saw a video and immediately thought Cookie was her dream horse. However, her trainer at the time didn’t think Cookie was the right match for Pam and didn’t approve of the purchase.
Eventually, Pam made the decision to go ahead and purchase Cookie anyway. A few months later, Cookie was in training with Karen Qualls for the all around events. Pam said she started at the bottom with Cookie and is now a World Champion! Last year, she and Pam were Reserve World Champion in the Masters Amateur Trail and Top 5 in the Open Senior Trail with Karen in Cookie’s first year competing in trail.
Pam says she has no plans to ever sell Cookie and really wants to pursue world titles in trail, showmanship, and horsemanship in the future. This partnership has a bright future, no doubt.
Picture #2 – Thursday, November 3, 2016
Today’s picture of the day is Elizabeth Jakovich and her two year old mare, Big Shoes To Fill. Elizabeth, who is a graphic designer, trains with John Yarnell who typically only does western horses, but she found this mare as a yearling and thought she would be a fun project. Elizabeth and John have been doing all of the riding on the mare. Elizabeth showed hunt seaters as a youth and plans to show her mare in the Non-Pro Two Year- Old Hunter Under Saddle and the Open Two Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle later on in the show. She plans on keeping the mare and showing her in Non-Pro Three Year-Old events next year. Good luck Elizabeth and Big Shoes To Fill!
Picture #1 – Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Today’s picture of the day is a very busy Barbara from Barbara’s Custom Hats. Horse trainers and exhibitors aren’t the only ones putting in ridiculously long hours here at the show. The hat shaper is too! People have been dropping off hat after hat to get cleaned, shaped and prepped for the show pen.
Barbara is working overtime to make sure everyone’s favorite ensemble is finished off with the perfect hat. She has a great deal here at the show. For $25, you can drop your hat off at Barbara’s and have it cleaned, shaped, reshaped and more, as many times as you need for the whole duration of the show. Keep your hat dust free and in tip top shape for each class!
This is Barbara’s seventh year attending the APHA World Show and she also has a storefront down in the Stockyards here in Fort Worth. Barbara loves attending this show and considers herself the “horse show hairdresser” with all the socialization and deal making that happens around her booth inside the John Justin arena.
Barbara would like to wish everyone good luck here at the show!
