Martz, Dobbs, and Huston Crowned First World Champions at 2016 AQHYA World Show

By: Brittany Bevis

The first set of World Champions has been crowned this morning at the 2016 AQHYA World Show here in Oklahoma City. First in the pen was Performance Halter Mares with 20 qualifiers. The returning World Champion was Paulina Martz with Onlythebestchocolate, a  10-year-old mare by RL Best of Sudden and out of Chocolate Only.

This is the third time that Paulina and “Hershey” have been named the World Champions in this class. They were crowned the World Champions in 2015 and 2013. In 2014, they were named the Reserve World Champions. Paulina is 18 years old, so she and Hershey have one more year in the youth division before she moves up to join her big sister, Chelsea, in the amateur ranks.

“This year was my senior year in high school, and, with college just around the corner, we decided to focus only on Halter here at the World Show,” Paulina says. “Hershey is a Western Pleasure horse, and we started doing Halter with her [to qualify] for all-around at horse shows. Then, we realized she was pretty good at it, so we really started going for it.”

One of Hershey’s best attributes, according to Paulina, is her feminine appeal. “She’s very lucky that she has such a pretty face,” Paulina says. “We work hard to make sure that she’s healthy and ready to go. It’s pretty easy to keep her ears up and get her attention. The time actually doesn’t feel that long when the judges are around you, because you have so many things to be worried about. But, once the judges leave, I usually jam out to the music and take a little break!”

Paulina relied on the guidance of her trainers, Judd and Jennifer Paul, here at the Youth World Show.

The Reserve World Champion in Performance Halter Mares was Savannah Hauer with Natural Order. Third place was Lexus Lemburg with Homerun Hopeful. Fourth was Catherine Tata with Surely Im Invited. Fifth was Ellexxah Maxwell with Zips Bossy Chip.

In Performance Halter Geldings, 14-year-old Cooper Dobbs showed Mystesly to a big win in a class of 48 qualifiers. The Reserve Champion was Allison Tamulewicz with Summer Hotrod. Third place was Callie Adams with MTKS Touchdown. Fourth place was Holly Strevey with Remarkable Can. Fifth place was Alexis Robinson with Ima Ace Good Bar.

Today marked the first time Cooper and “Sly” competed at the Youth World Show as a team. Sly is a sorrel gelding by My Te Cool Mister and out of Last Pleazin Bymr. This pair competes under the guidance of Ted Turner, which was evident from the bright orange tie that peeked out from Cooper’s show jacket. “You have to represent!” Cooper says. “You’ve got to wear some orange, somewhere.”

Sly earned his performance points in Barrels and Poles, events he competes in with Cooper’s sister, Dylan. It might be a little surprising that a Halter horse would have the stamina necessary for speed events, but Cooper says Sly is certainly up to the task.

“He’s not the fastest one out there, but he can get up and go… I’ll tell you that,” Cooper says. Sly also likes to show his personality when he competes in Halter. “He’s a little antsy when I first go out there. The hardest part is getting around the cone. From then on, you’re alright. First, I have to set him up. As you probably saw, he likes to move his head around a lot and stick his tongue out. Also, he loves to bite that chain. It’s hard to get him off that.”

This was the only class Cooper will compete in at the Youth World this year, but he has his sights set on Tie Down Roping in the future.

Finally, winning the Aged Geldings class was Calley Huston with Intoxikating, a sorrel gelding by A Phenomenal Clue and out of My Image Is Obvious. The Reserve World Champion was Monica Hamm with RPL My Te Cheerful. Third place was Carissa Holliday with Totally Unexpected. Coming in fourth was Eli Ronk with Ima Cool Catch. Fifth place was Will Niebrugge with Corporate Secret.