Angela Fox and The Company You Keep Win AQHA World Amateur Showmanship

By: Brittany Bevis

Just a few weeks ago, Angela Fox and The Company You Keep astounded the crowd winning Amateur Showmanship at the All American Quarter Horse Congress with a brand new addition to the team in tow, Angela’s nearly 4-month-old daughter “Ellis.” Mommy’s good luck charm worked her magic again today, helping Angela and “George” win Amateur Showmanship this morning at the AQHA World Championship Show.

Given this team’s recent success, we wondered if Angela felt any pressure coming into the World Show this year. “Honestly, I didn’t have time for pressure this year. That maybe could be the truest statement I’ve said yet! In year’s past, when I’ve done good at the Congress in Showmanship, I’ve had more time to pine over what I didn’t like. Now, with having an infant, I literally haven’t had three seconds to worry about anything, so I think that’s a benefit. The year Kaleena [Weakly] won, I believe she had a baby, so I think everybody should have babies! Maybe it’s good luck or it just diverts our intensity a little bit, and I think that’s helpful.”

Going into the finals this morning, Angela and George knew they had drawn the first spot in the working order. While that might rattle some competitors, Angela had a plan. “Now, the trend is to only have one cone and let you pick your path based on the rough outline of the pattern they’ve given. Knowing I was going first, I had to put more time, effort, thought, and mental preparation into where I was going to go rather than knowing there would be tracks out there I could follow. I’ve been out the last three nights planning my process. Also, if I were to be thrown a curveball as I walked in, I was going to be really aware of that.”

In today’s pattern, Angela was especially pleased with George’s ability to perform two quick set-ups back-to-back as well as his ability to maneuver seamlessly. “He’s such a pretty horse and a good Showmanship horse, so the overall look is real beneficial for him and I. I was really happy with both of my set-ups. It’s hard sometimes to nail two set-ups, one after the other. Also, our turns were good. He followed me pretty well in my circles and let me show him today.”

It’s plain to see that Angela and George have the innate presence required to be successful in this class; but make no mistake, this team works hard to perfect their craft.

“I think Showmanship is a class you have to love and understand the amount of work that it takes to be successful. It’s not for everybody, and I understand that. I’ve loved this class my whole life, and I put an incredible amount of work into it. Some of it comes with being the type of person who loves this class, but you have to back that up by hours of running the sand and working with your horse. Nobody can do it for you.”

Later on this afternoon, Angela and George will compete in Horsemanship preliminaries.

The Reserve Champion in Amateur Showmanship was Johnna Letchworth with Wild and Invited. Third place was Jessica Baird with Cool Lopin Lady. Fourth was Brittany Morgan with Huntin For Fun. Fifth was Hailey Thornton with Essentially Good. Sixth was Lindsey Stevenson with He Is My Choice. Seventh was Lauren Stopperich with Invested Pine Asset. Eighth was Ashley Hadlock with Touched N Moonlite. Ninth was Michelle Forness with Stretch Machine. Tenth was Nicole Barnes with One Kool Fool.