Best Friends, Laura Alloway and Nicole Dalton, Go World and Reserve in APHA Amateur Yearling Longe Line

By: Brittany Bevis

We all love competing and showing horses alongside our friends, but it’s even better when you can be in the winner’s circle together! Laura Alloway and Nicole Dalton of Arizona are not only best friends and training partners, they claimed the top two spots in Amateur Yearling Longe Line this afternoon at the 2015 APHA World Championship Show.

Laura led her petite Western-style filly, Vital Signs Are Sweet, to win the class while Nicole came in Reserve with her grey English-style filly, Huntin Blue Skies. Neither of these ladies rely on the guidance of horse trainers; they practice, compete, and travel together as friends and fellow competitors. “We live in the same town, Phoenix, Arizona,” Laura says. “We always work our babies together, which makes it that much better it ended up this way.”

Laura’s red roan filly “Faith” is by VS Code Red and out of a daughter of Zippos Sensation. This is her third trip to a horse show, so Laura was very pleased with today’s performance. “She is the sweetest, easiest horse you’ve ever been around. A friend of mine in California bred her, and I’ve had several horses from her. This is actually my fifth yearling of hers. This is my first VS Code Red. I absolutely love them. They’re very easy to be around and smart.” For Laura, the decision to start Faith as a Longe Line prospect was a no-brainer for three reasons: the filly’s movement, color, and temperament.

Nicole’s grey filly is by Impulsified and out of a daughter of Skys Blue Boy, making “Sky” double registered. Sky and Faith aren’t the only yearlings Nicole and Laura brought to the World Show. They each have a horse to show in Solid Paint-Bred Yearling Longe Line. Also, they will show both fillies in Yearling In-Hand Trail and Open Yearling Longe Line later on in the show.

Placing third in today’s class was Craig Harms with Seattle Time Fancy. Fourth place was Debby Boyd with Oh So Original. Fifth place was Pamela Switzer with Low Down N Lazy.