AQHA World Champions Include Robertson, Roark, Horn, Willis
Tom
By: Brittany Bevis
This afternoon’s classes at the AQHA World Show were devoted to Halter competition. Tom Robertson led Baby I’m Worth It to win Aged Mares and her third, golden trophy for the English family. Laurie English showed the mare in Select; Warren English showed the mare in Amateur; and trainer, Tom, showed the mare in Open. Who did the best job? “My wife, of course!” Warren laughs.
The English family has owned 5-year-old “Penny” since she was just a two-year-old, but she’s been in Tom Robertson’s barn since she was just two months old. “Mike Marks bred and raised her,” Tom says. “Bob Lee and Lee Ann Koch found her, because they own part of Image Matters, and brought her to my place. They brought me two of them: Penny and Lenny. Lenny didn’t make it, but I said I was keeping Penny. She’s my most favorite horse, ever.”
“She’s not just a Halter mare, she’s a show mare too. There are a lot of good horses that aren’t show horses, but she’s a show horse. She loves her job. Next year, she will have a baby by Very Cool.”
Winning every division at the horse show is certainly impressive, but this is the second year in a row that Penny has accomplished this feat. She has now accumulated eleven World titles.
“I think it’s because she’s put together so well,” Warren says. “There is not much to not like about her. You’ve got to get really nit picking to find any fault with her. She has faults of course, like any horse, but in all of the big areas, she hits all the right marks. I think her hip is gorgeous and where her neck ties into her chest is just perfect. She’s just a beautiful animal.”
Ross
Ross Roark was at the lead of Cool Entention to win Yearling Colts. Reserve was Luke Castle with Execucajun. Third was Monte Horn with KR Mr Xceptional. Fourth was Mike McMillian with TNR Billy The Kid. Fifth was Buddy Laney with FG Cool N Smokin. Ross also won 2-Year-Old Stallions with My Bravado. Reserve was Jeffrey Pait with Bigger Dreams. Third was Jarrell Jackson with FG Speechless.
Steve Phillips bred and raised My Bravado, who is by My Intention and out of SP Image Of An Angel. He calls the colt “Reddish,” and he won the Select World last year.
The colt is fit by Ronald Stratton, but Ross Roark was at the lead today. Steve thinks both men did an excellent job, as well as his stallion. “Number one, he’s just so correct. You look at him and from front to back he is super correct. He also has great neck extension. Then, on top of that, he has good disposition and absolutely bomb proof legs. He’s just the complete package.”
Monte Horn led Rose A All Day to win Yearling Fillies. He credits the Gibson family and his wife with finding this talented youngster last year at the Breeders Halter Futurity. “My wife and Cara McMillian Gibson found her at the Breeders Futurity last year,” he says. “She was Grand Champion at Iowa this year with Cara and Reserve World Champion with McKenna Gibson at the Youth World. She’s an awfully nice filly, and we’re proud of her.”
“Rosie” is by Kid Coolsified and out of a daughter of Playgirls Reflection. “She has a great topline and absolutely phenomenal neck. She probably has one of the best necks we’ve ever had. She has muscle and is structurally correct. She’s a great filly. She will more than likely go to the broodmare barn after we’re done showing her. Cara’s mother, Carolyn Stewart, has a big broodmare band and raises a lot of babies.”
Many might have noticed that Monte is doing much better after recent health issues. Although he is currently undergoing chemotherapy, he says he feels great, and we wish him the best of luck with treatment.
Casey
In Senior Western Pleasure, Kristen Galyean had her two horses, KM Suddenly So Easy and VS Lady in Red, win first and second with Casey Willis and Aaron Moses aboard, respectively. We chatted with Kristen about both horses just last week when she won Amateur Western Riding and Western Pleasure. Click here to read.
