Talk to anyone involved with The Big Sensation and they will tell you that if the perfect show horse was ever created, this horse is it. The 7-year-old sorrel overo stallion by Zippos Sensation has made his sire proud, winning in the show ring and siring world champions himself.
The Big Sensation’s entourage wear t-shirts, hats and sweatshirts all bearing the stallion’s name. He will be retired from showing under saddle after the 2010 APHA Fall World Championship Show.
“He will have more pasture time now, and time to focus on his breeding career,” co-owner Lacy Merritt of Merritt Ventures said. “He’s definitely proven himself as a super star. He’s the only horse to ever sweep the 2-Year-Old, 3-Year-Old, Junior and Senior divisions of Hunter Under Saddle. You can only win so much!”
While the placings were being given under each judge in the Senior Hunter Under Saddle class Friday morning, The Big Sensation’s fans held their breath. On the line was the High-Point English Horse title.
When he was named the World Champion for the class, rider Vicky Holt, aboard and in tears, leaned forward to give the horse a big hug and smiled to the cheering crowd. She knew this would be the last time she would show him under saddle. Together, Vicky and “Jerry” have been undefeated in hunter under saddle classes.
“When I was in the lineup, there were so many emotions going on, knowing that this was the last time I’d get to ride him, wanting him to win,” said Holt.
“He’s so special. I’ve ridden a lot of good horses, but there’s some who stick with you for a lifetime. He’s one of those for sure and such a joy. There are some horses that really want to show, and you just get to present them the best you can and it’s so rewarding. I live for this! Every little girl’s dream is to ride and I got to follow my dream.”
Jerry has achieved more in seven years than most horses achieve in a lifetime. As a 2-year-old, he was the unanimous World Champion in the 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle class at the 2005 World Show.
He repeated as the 2006 unanimous World Champion in Junior Hunter Under Saddle and was also named World Show Champion in the 3-year-old Hunter Under Saddle Challenge.
As a 4-year-old he won the High-Point English Horse and the Reserve All-Around Horse title at the 2007 World Show. In 2008, as a 5-year-old, he was the World Champion All-Around Horse.
The Big Sensation has sired 49 registered foals, 12 of which have show records. Ten of them competed at this World Show and as of Friday afternoon, had accumulated multiple Reserve and World Championship titles.
The Big Sensation is owned by Merritt Equine Ventures—Mike, Teresa and daughter Lacy Merritt—of Kilgore, Texas, who purchased him earlier this year from Tammy Dyer. The stallion was bred by Simons Show Horses and started by Sara Beth Simons. The Big Sensation will continue to stand at High Point Farms in Pilot Point, Texas.
“Kilgore, Texas, is home to the ‘World’s Richest Acre,’” said Mike Merritt. “We don’t have any of those oil wells, but we have something better. We have Jerry.
