History was undoubtedly made at the 2015 APHA World Show when a really big stallion with a really big heart was crowned a four-time World Champion.
The Wow Factor, a 2012 Bay Overo stallion by All Time Fancy, was bred and is owned by Nicole Dalton of Waddell, Arizona. “Neo” was the unanimous winner in all four 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle classes that he was eligible to compete in: the 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle, 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Challenge, 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Sweepstakes, and the Breeder’s Futurity Gold 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle.
What makes this even more historic is that since the inception of the 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle (2010) and the 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle (2014), Neo is the first horse to sweep it under all cards. Since 2008, he is the only one to sweep the 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Challenge and Neo is also only the second horse to sweep all cards in the Breeder’s Futurity Gold 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle (inception 2012).
GoHorseShow caught up with Neo’s loving owner after the show to learn more about this very unique up-and-coming stallion.
Once in A Lifetime
Anyone who has ever bred horses knows that no matter how much thought and research one puts into it, it is still a gamble, but every once in awhile, you hit the jackpot. This is exactly how Dalton feels about breeding, The Wow Factor.
“We got his dam for free from a friend of ours, Miranda Mayo. She was actually purchased for $12,500 at a Thoroughbred sale in California as a weanling. Her parents were big money earners on the track. Long story short, 60 days into her under saddle training, Miranda lost interest in horses and gave her to us.”
Dalton had three foals out of “Emma” before Neo was born. The first was by Real Bonanza and the other two by High Infinidee. The latter are both Reserve World Champions in APHA and PtHA respectively.
If you look at Dalton’s Facebook post from when Neo was born, it was immediately apparent that many saw something special in the colt. Dalton did too.
“I knew from when he was born he was special. There was just something about him, and he was always such a pocket pony. As a foal (pictured left), he loved to have you stick your fingers in his ears and rub the insides, always a really gentle soul.”
Dalton has frequently praised Neo’s disposition in the past citing how incredibly easy going he is and unlike many stallions, is not constantly trying to climb on top of you or push you around.
“There is a video on his Facebook page of a youth kid doing the limbo underneath him,” Dalton said.
The limbo?
Oh yeah. He’s 18 hands. Really. This gentle giant was the last thing Dalton expected as she said, “He was literally the smallest foal we ever had.” However he steadily grew over time and is now the behemoth he is.
Flying Solo
One thing that makes The Wow Factor’s story so unique (and Dalton’s) is that the pair have worked together without the assistance of a professional for most of Neo’s young life.
Dalton showed him briefly as a halter horse and kept him home to train and let him grow for the majority of his yearling and two year-old year. After breaking him out in July 2014, she saw his potential skyrocket exponentially and had to make a decision.
“I’m a firm believer that a stallion needs to prove themselves in the show pen in order to attract good mares to breed to, and I knew he needed to win something,” Dalton said. Since I am an Amateur, I wanted to give him the best chance possible and sent him to Alyse Roberts in November 2014.”
Roberts piloted The Wow Factor to a PtHA World Championship and to Circuit Champion in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle at the Paint Horse Congress (the latter also being unanimous).
Schedule conflicts between the APHA and AQHA World Show led Dalton to relocate Neo to Gillespie Show Horses in September 2015.
And then, something incredible happened.
“Tim and Shannon took Neo to a barn close to the Quarter Horse Congress just to hang out, so he wouldn’t have to stay home by himself,” she mused, “The night before the 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Futurity they called me and said he was doing so well and asked if he rode well in the morning if they could show him. I said okay and Shannon showed him to a Reserve Congress Championship!”
Shannon went on to pilot, The Wow Factor, to three of his World Championships at the APHA World Show, with Dalton in the irons for the Non-Pro.
She said, “My expectations were far exceeded this year. I figure winning all four classes, including my own, all unanimously, is pretty good for any horse. Let alone a three year old stallion.”
Dalton went on to say how grateful she is to Roberts for all she did with Neo and how thankful she is to the Gillespies for all their support and guidance.
What’s Next…
The Wow Factor is now back home at Dalton’s ranch in Arizona. Dalton plans on standing him at stud in 2016 as well as continuing on in her tradition of training her own horses.
“I’m going to keep him home and prepare show him in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, Pleasure Driving, and I’d really like to do the Showmanship with him even though he is so big, simply because I love Showmanship,” she said.
She does however, plan to have Shannon Gillespie pilot him in the Junior Hunter Saddle at the 2016 APHA World Show, just to see, if he can do it again!
And there is no doubt, everyone will be waiting til next year to be “wowed” once more!
