Afternoon Champions at APHA World Include Laney, Finkenbinder, Anding, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

The second half of the day at the 2019 APHA World Show saw even more champions being crowned in WCHA Halter classes.

A fancy Appaloosa had a big fan club in the winner’s circle for WCHA Open Yearling Mares. Buddy Laney was at the lead of Wanna Talk About Me for owner, Carolyn Stewart. “Yes, she’s an Appaloosa with no color, and it’s kind of shocking when people find out!” Carolyn says. “Her name is ET for Elizabeth Taylor, because she’s just like sparkling diamonds.”

Carolyn has owned ET for just a few months after purchasing her from Chad Beus in Utah. Her third horse show was the Breeders Halter Futurity, where she won with Carolyn’s daughter, Cara McMillian-Gibson, at the lead. Also here at the show, Cara led the filly to win the Amateur Yearling Mares class.

“She’s really been a fantastic mare. She won the Breeders Halter Futurity with my daughter, who showed her in the amateur and color divisions, and our trainer, Monte Horn, showed her in the open. Buddy Laney showed her today, and he’s just the best. You can’t show any better than that, and I’m so thrilled that he agreed to help us out with Monte being sick and not be able to show here. All of my show horses are with Monte in Mississippi. Next year, my granddaughter, McKenna Gibson, will show ET at the Appaloosa Youth World Show.”

The Reserve Champion in the class was Ted Turner with Shez Got Ya Lookin. Third was Deborah Hartman with Blessingz. Fourth was Rick Lawrence with Magnificense. Fifth was JT Mitchell with Shez Stylistic Too. The Non Pro Champion was Deborah Hartman with Blessingz. 

In WCHA Open Yearling Geldings, Tim Finkenbinder led HR Ante Up to a win for owner, Amy Jo Erhardt. Tim has had “Bill” in the barn for one year.

“He’s by El Ante, and I actually owned his mother years ago. She’s a daughter of Top Secret,” Tim says. “He’s a good combination of both. To me, he’s one of the best young geldings I’ve ever had. He’s just beautiful. He’s great-legged and beautiful- backed. He’s maybe not the thickest yet, but that’s balance right there. He gets better even month. He’s been a slow maturer, and his best days are ahead of him. To me, he’s the future. He’s a long way from where he will be.”

In today’s class, Bill won $2,820 for Tim and Amy Jo. Tim is quite pleased with the payout and likes the idea of having the WCHA Futurity classes here at the APHA World Show. “I was actually was one of the people that helped put it together, because I grew up in the Paint industry. Me, Wayne Halvorson, and few others approached Billy Smith with APHA about having it here, and it’s been a great fit.”

The Non Pro Champion in the WCHA Yearling Geldings was Kim Anding with Egotron.

To round out the WCHA classes, the Champion of Champions Weanling was Classiest, led by Tim Finkenbinder and the Champion of Champions Yearling was Wanna Talk About Me, led by Buddy Laney.

A special award was presented to the Leading Trainers of the show- Fred Tabor and Jason Smith. There was also a award presented to the Leading Stallion, IM The Secret. During the WCHA classes, the club paid out a whopping $435,000 in prize money.

In the APHA Breeders’ Futurity classes, Kathy Smallwood led Whiskey Cavalier to win the Gold Jr Weanling Stallions & Geldings Breeders’ Futurity. The Reserve Champion was Chris Arentsen with Collusion. In the Gold Sr Weanling Stallions & Geldings Breeders’ Futurity, JT Mitchell led Solid Execution to a win. Reserve was Dave Kellerman with KR Mr Xceptional.

In the Gold Yearling Mares Breeders’ Futurity, JT Mitchell led Shez Stylistic Too to a win. Reserve was Chris Arentsen with Plum Pretty Virtue. The Gold Yearling Geldings Breeders’ Futurity winner was Kayd Byers with An The Winner Is. Reserve was Kelley Deignan-Stone with Stylin My Heart.