50th Anniversary Present For Twylla and Ed Brown is a Farnam Superhorse Title With Snap Krackle Pop!

By: Brittany Bevis

Mr. Ed Brown has quite a task at hand if he plans to try and top the pre-anniversary present his wife Twylla received this evening at the AQHA World Show. Not only did Twylla receive a dozen red roses, she and Ed were presented with a check for $25,000 and a 2015 Farnam Superhorse title for their horse’s accomplishments at this World Show.

“I couldn’t outdo this,” Ed jokes. “I was thinking about what we were going to do for our 50th anniversary, and I think this is going to take care of it!” Twylla adds. Ed and Twylla will celebrate their 50th anniversary on November 27th.

Helping to ride and lead “Brandi” to this achievement were trainer Blake Weis and Jill Newcomb. On the road towards this Superhorse title, Brandi was named the World Champion in Junior Western Riding Level 2, Junior Western Riding Level 3, and Junior Trail with Blake Weis. In addition, she placed fourth in Open Performance Halter Mares L2 and tenth in Open Performance Halter Mares L3 with Jill Newcomb. She also placed eighth in Junior Western Pleasure with Blake.

Last year, Brandi placed third overall in the Superhorse competition, but Twylla had no expectations she might be able to win this year. “We knew she was in the running,” Twylla says. “Last year, she was third, so we thought maybe we’d be in the top five, possibly. But, then they added so many classes to the working horse category that we thought there was no way.”

Twylla and Ed purchased Brandi, a five-year-old grey mare by RL Best Of Sudden, two years ago this December. When Blake and Twylla aren’t winning numerous Congress Champion and World Champion titles, Twylla enjoys competing in select all-around events with her horse.

“She just did Western Pleasure when we purchased her, and she took right to Trail and Western Riding. She puts up with me riding her!” Twylla laughs. “I didn’t show a horse until I was in the Select division. ”

Ed hasn’t ridden since he was a child, but he fully supports his wife’s horse hobby. “I haven’t ridden since after we got married, and then Twylla wanted a horse,” Ed says. “I bought her a $400 horse, and we’ve kind of moved up in the last 50 years. We’ve spent a little more than that on a horse since then.”

All joking aside, both Ed and Twylla are thrilled that Brandi was able to capture the Farnam Superhorse title this year and they couldn’t imagine a better 50th anniversary present, in addition to that nice $25,000 check. Someone else who was equally as excited about Brandi’s accomplishment was her “super fan” 13-year-old Payton Anderson. Payton isn’t connected to the Brown family or Weis barn in any way; she just loves Brandi and has been following her career for the past year.

“She is awesome, and I’ve been watching her ever since I knew she existed,” Payton says. “She is so sweet and even tempered compared to my horse. Also, she is a lot shorter than I thought.”

Payton hasn’t begun showing in AQHA competition yet, but she is eager to start with her new horse, A Krymsun Impulse, aka “Prada.” She is hoping to follow in Brandi’s footsteps and compete in classes like Western Pleasure, Trail, Western Riding, and other all-around events under the guidance of Lori Gordon and Caroline Colvin.

Yesterday, when Brandi was named the World Champion in Junior Trail, Payton had the opportunity to meet her horse idol in person. She also had the chance to speak with Twylla and was invited into the arena today to take a photo with Brandi during the Superhorse presentation. “I thought spectators weren’t allowed in the arena. I thought it was just for people who ride and own horses!”

Payton’s mom confirms her daughter’s excitement. “We met them yesterday when she won Junior Trail, and Payton squealed like she’d met a rock star. They let her walk Brandi back to the stalls, and we met Blake’s mom Kendra. Everyone surrounding that horse has been so nice.”