Kathie Kennedy and Hesa Love Machine Win APHA World BF Gold Yearling Longe Line

By: Brittany Bevis

Legendary Longe Line lady Kathie Kennedy was at the lead of another World Champion this afternoon, this time at the APHA World Championship Show. Kathie led Hesa Love Machine to win the Breeders’ Futurity Gold Yearling Longe Line for owner Paula Crossman.

The Reserve Champion was Sara Simons with Low Down N Lazy. Third place was Mark Gilmore with Invite Mona Lisa. Fourth place was Monica Baker with Krymsun On Fire. Fifth place was Kristin Layher with The Jerry Maguire.

Winning the BF Silver Yearling Longe Line was Cindy Polley with GQ Victoria’s Secret. The Reserve Champion was Nicole Dalton with Huntin Blue Skies. Third place was Cooper Evans with Deliberately Dirty. Fourth place was Jodie Distad with Sunshine N Whiskey. Fifth was Jacqueline Kennon with Catch Me Struttin.

The first thing that struck Kathie when she laid eyes on “Lover” can be described in three words. “That front leg…” she says. “He was a tiny, little hairy rat. Seriously. But, I took him over to the round pen and chased him around and saw that front leg.”

Not to be dissuaded by first appearances, Lover’s owner Paula Crossman also looked beyond the fuzz and fluff to see his full potential. “When I bought him, he was just a funny, hairy, goofy colt, and this is what he turned into!” she says. “He is 15.2 hands tall now.”

Lover is a sturdy gelding by CR Good Machine and out of a daughter of Zippos Sensation and he was raised by Yarnelle Farms. This trip to Fort Worth is Lover’s first time at a horse show and his first time competing in a Longe Line class. “I was totally amazed,” Paula says. “But, of course, I had the best of the best at the end of the Longe Line.”

Tomorrow, Paula will try her hand with a lead and whip when she shows Lover in Amateur Yearling Longe Line. “I’ve never shown Longe Line in my entire life,” she says. “Why not go to the World Show and do it! [His win today] makes me feel a little more at ease, so hopefully he will go out there and do well, since he’s already done it once.”

Both Paula and Kathie have their own favorite aspects of Lover’s movement. “I love the way he throws his shoulder out and points his toe,” Paula says. “I love his little pitter pat trot; that’s what made me fall in love with him. He just has it. He’s the whole package.”

“He can jog, and he can lope,” Kathie adds. “He’s not your typical gelding; he has a great personality.” Kathie will reprise her role again on Saturday in the Open Yearling Longe Line class. Lover is also entered in the Farnam Breeders’ Trust Select Sale. “[He definitely has a future in] Western Pleasure. He will make a great two-year-old, because he is big, strong, and great-minded.”

It may not be the first time in the winner’s circle for Kathie, but today’s win is very exciting for Paula because it marks her first World Champion title.