Bradshaw/Elicious, Farnsworth/Scenic From Here, Griffin-Michaels/Gotta Glo Slo Win APHA World Western Pleasure

By: Brittany Bevis

While WCHA Halter classes are taking place in the Watt Arena, Western Pleasure is the discipline of the day in the John Justin at the APHA World Show.

First, Tami Farnsworth rode Scenic From Here to win Novice Amateur Western Pleasure. The Reserve Champion was Lacey Spinks Shelhorn with Talk About Lazy. Third was Linda Anderson with A Sensational Ride. Fourth was Tiffany Pattison with Hotnblazing Only. Fifth was Sarah Clymer with EZ Lopin Limo.

Erin Bradshaw rode her 4-year-old gelding, Elicious, to a unanimous World Championship finish in Amateur Junior Western Pleasure. The Reserve Champion was Jennifer Hagen with RJ Hot Machine. Third was McKenzie Verling with RR A Scenic Deluxe. Fourth was Melissa Baus with Gettin Gone. Fifth was Tiffany Pattison with Hotnblazing Only.

Bradshaw and “Eli” have had much success in the World Show arena, but this is their first title earned in the amateur division. “He won the Non Pro 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure, Non Pro 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure, was Reserve in Three-Year-Old Western Pleasure with Rusty Green, Reserve in Green with Scott [Weiss], and won Non Pro Three-Year-Old Western Pleasure. This is his first official title in Amateur Western Pleasure; because, last year, I was showing I’m Johnny Cash.”

Bradshaw explains that Eli is by her stallion, John Simon, and out of an AQHA mare, My Precious Lexus. He has two full siblings that will be started under saddle this fall by her husband, Scott Weiss.

“Carrie Oakley won the Select World with Hot Precious Lexus by My Precious Lexus, and she’s also the dam of Never Compromise. This is her third, really good foal that’s winning, that I know of. Eli has two full sibling that we will start this fall. One is a filly, and one is a colt. We own the mare and breed her to John, and it’s been a really good cross. They all look alike. The filly has a little more white, but he and his brother look just alike. They are more minimal white, dark bays.”

Coming up next, Bradshaw will show Eli in the Non Pro Maturity; Rusty Green will show in the Open Maturity, and Scott Weiss will show in Junior Western Pleasure.

“He looks a lot like John, but his mother actually has the same blaze. He’s probably the nicest horse that I’ve ever ridden. He jogs unlike any horse I’ve ever sat on, and his lope is like butter. John is great, but this horse… you almost don’t even know his legs are moving. It’s a really cool feel.”

Marcie Griffin-Michaels rode her 5-year-old gelding, Gotta Glo Slo, to win her second World Championship title here at APHA World. Earlier this week, she won Masters Amateur Equitation, her first World title ever earned. This afternoon, she was named the Champion in Masters Amateur Junior Western Pleasure. The Reserve Champion was Coleen Bull with Been There Scene It. Third was Donna Matarazzo with Moneysonmymind. Fourth was Debi East with This Scene Is Taken. Fifth was Linda Anderson with A Sensational Ride.

“Landry” has been part of the family since he was three years old. For the past several years, Marcie has been sharing the gelding with her daughter, Erin Griffin. Now that Erin has started college at Texas A&M, Marcie is excited to get to show more. “I had to repeat for my daughter, because she won 14-18 Western Pleasure this year!” Marcie says. “She knows how to ride him much better than me. She always gives me advice. ‘Mom, you’re holding him too tight. Mom, use your feet. Mom, give him his head.’ Of course I listen to her. She’s an awesome rider.”

Marcie’s favorite class to compete in with Landry, who was named after the famous, former Dallas Cowboys coach, Tom Landry, is Trail. “I really do like Western Pleasure, but I’m beginning to like Trail. We get to do that on Monday. I will also show in Horsemanship and Performance Geldings. I named him Landry, because I wanted a powerful name. He was very poised and a great coach.”

Landry is by VS Code Red, making him double registered with AQHA and APHA. Marcie is hoping to qualify for the AQHA Select World next year.