When the dust settled on a whirlwind two days during the World Conformation Horse Association Breeder’s Futurity Championship, Jeff and Joy Stehney’s Whoisit earned the weanling champion of champions title. The colt was shown by AQHA Professional Horseman Jason Smith.
After Jason saw the colt in Amarillo at the Adequan® Select World Championship Show, he knew the senior weanling colt by Heza Secret Agent and out of Telorah Lu by R F Telstar was the best fit for the Stehneys who are from De Soto, Kansas.
“We really liked him when he walked into the arena (in Amarillo),” Jason said.
After a successful show in Iowa earlier in the month, Jason has been happy with the newest horse in his barn.
“He’s just the complete package, all the way through,” he said. “He has a beautiful neck and a lot of hip that carries down to some nice, straight hocks. He has a bright future ahead of him – he’s got a lot of eye appeal.”
Jason plans to show Whoisit at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in October and the Lucas Oil AQHA World Championship Show in November.
Leading Sire
After tabulating wins from all nominated WCHA sires during the event, Very Cool retained his title as the leading futurity sire for owners Scott and Kelly Trahan of Milan Quarter Horses near Dallas. AQHA Professional Horseman Chris Arentsen, who stands Very Cool for the Trahans, was there to collect the trophy, excited about the repeat win.
“It’s a great honor for us,” he said. “We’d like to thank Scott and Kelly for believing in us and allowing us to stand him – he’s been great to all of us.”
The 2008 stallion by Te Coolest and out of Congress Champion Very Sexy by Image of Kid is a two-time AQHA world champion and two-time AQHA reserve world champion. Chris believes the stallion stamps his foals with a beautiful topline and outstanding profile in the pen.
For exhibitors Billy and Suzonne Franks of Cisco, Texas, the weekend in Springfield, Illinois, was a fun way to show off their homebred babies. Suzonne exhibited her filly, TNR Call Me Marilyn (The Home Run Kid-Image In Me by Image if Kid), to wins in the open, non-pro and owner/breeder/exhibitor yearling fillies. Husband Billy, showed homebred TNR Chics Last Date to wins in the open, non-pro and owner/breeder/exhibitor junior weanling fillies.
“We’re super excited that they’re both homegrown babies,” Suzonne said. “I’m really excited about my filly – we were fifth at the Select World, which I was tickled about, and then to come up here and win here is really special.”
Billy’s filly holds a special place in his heart. The filly is by Kid Coolsified and out of Cant Touch This Chic, a mare whom Billy essentially rescued and cared for. Eight days after the weanling was born, the Franks had to put the mare down. Another mare took in the orphan, and Billy is looking forward to her future in the show pen.
“She was fourth at the Select World, then won it here, so we’re very happy,” he said. “We’ll probably just let her be a baby and rest and grow the rest of the year and see what her yearling year has in store.”
Gretchen Mathes, J.T. Mitchell, Casey Devitt and Rick Baker were the judges for the event, which was held in conjunction with the WCHA Ranch Horse Challenge and the Big Money Futurity.
