Celebrate APHA’s 2023 Top 20 Winners

By Jessica Hein, PHJ News:

APHA’s Top 20 and Top 10 awards represent a year of competition, dedication and hard work. We’re pleased to honor the 2023 year-end division champions below. The full year-end performance review, including the full list of Top 20 and Top 10 winners, is available in the special year-end digital supplement of the Paint Horse Journal.

Click to read the Paint Horse Journal Year-End Performance Review for 2023

Congratulations to our Top 20 and Top 10 winners

Top 20 Youth 13 & Under winner: Izzy Hostetler & Platinum Cowgirl

Qualifying Points: 220
Hometown: Eureka, Illinois
Horse’s Stats: A 2015 gray overo mare by The Original Cowboy and out of Ms Silver Sensation
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Izzy Hostetler
Horse’s Breeder: Simons Show Horses LLC, Aubrey, Texas

 

Top 20 Youth 14–18 winner: Emma Goffard & Candy Confidential

Qualifying Points: 386
Hometown: Sherman, Texas
Horse’s Stats: A 2015 chestnut overo gelding by All Time Fancy and out of Too Sleepy For Candy
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Emma Goffard
Horse’s Breeder: Susan Juroe, Longmont, Colorado

 

Top 20 Novice Youth winner: Shelby Kee & Onlyalilblackvelvet

Qualifying Points: 173
Hometown: Waldo, Arkansas
Horse’s Stats: A 2013 black overo gelding by By Appointment Only and out of Top Bars Lil Rain
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Shelby Kee
Horse’s Breeder: Julee Thole, Grand Rapids, Minnesota

 

Top 10 Youth Solid Paint-Bred winner: Nicole Renee Ellerbock & Lopin My Spots Off

Qualifying Points: 46
Hometown: Leipsic, Ohio
Horse’s Stats: A 2017 bay solid gelding by Lopin Lazy and out of Made Me Hot (QH)
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Nicole Renee Ellerbock
Horse’s Breeder: Kae & Albert Waterford, Lithia, Florida

 

Novice Youth Rookie of the Year: Gannon English & Big Reputation

Qualifying Points: 129.5
Hometown: Lake Mary, Florida
Horse’s Stats: A 2018 red roan overo gelding by Kissin The Girls (QH) and out of Prinzziple Addition (QH)
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Gannon English
Horse’s Breeder: Debbie Carson, Hayden, Idaho

 

Top 20 Amateur winner: Maggie Griffin & Get The Sensation

Qualifying Points: 421
Hometown: Tomball, Texas
Horse’s Stats: A 2010 sorrel overo gelding by Zippos Sensation and out of Sexy Invitation
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Sally Griffin, Tomball, Texas
Horse’s Breeder: Tim & Cindy Snapp, New Carlisle, Ohio

 

Top 20 Masters Amateur winner: Jamie Ross & Call Me A Cowboy

Qualifying Points: 282
Hometown: Grayslake, Illinois
Horse’s Stats: A 2014 brown tobiano gelding by The Original Cowboy and out of Call Me Sister
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Robert & Patricia Ross, Grayslake
Horse’s Breeder: Marylyn Caliendo, Pilot Point, Texas

 

Top 20 Novice Amateur winner: Hayley L. Forsburg & Factor In The Blues

Qualifying Points: 201.5
Hometown: Battle Ground, Washington
Horse’s Stats: A 2019 chestnut overo gelding by The Wow Factor and out of Blue Skies Ahead (QH)
Owner/Lessee: Hayley L. Forburg, Battle Ground, Washington
Breeder: Nicole Dalton, Waddell, Arizona

 

Top 10 Amateur Solid Paint-Bred winner: Alena Helmcke & Hot Intent

Qualifying Points: 82.5
Hometown: Appel, Germany
Horse’s Stats: A 2013 bay solid mare by One Hot Krymsun (QH) and out of Shes Doolins Nikita
Owner/Lessee/Breeder: Alena Helmcke

 

Top 20 Amateur Walk-Trot winner: Denys D. Buss & Alotta Good Faith

Qualifying points: 366
Hometown: Troutdale, Oregon
Horse’s Stats: A 2016 sorrel overo mare by A Good Zippo and out of Alotta Faith
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Denys D. Buss
Horse’s Breeder: Susan Peed, Fort Dodge, Iowa

 

Top 10 Amateur Solid Paint-Bred Walk-Trot winner: Jessica Heyen & I Know Im Hot

Qualifying Points: 38.5
Hometown: Petersburg, Illinois
Horse’s Stats: A 2009 bay solid gelding by Think Im Hot and out of Ms Dakota Bay Bar Te
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Lori Jackson, Mapleton, Illinois
Horse’s Breeder: Lillian Bruckner, Bloomington, Illinois

 

Amateur Rookie of the Year: Haley Vachter & One N Only Sensation

Qualifying Points: 224
Hometown: Happy Valley, Oregon
Horse’s Stats: A 2014 sorrel overo mare by Zippos Sensation and out of Behind Blue Eyes (TB)
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Haley Vachter
Horse’s Breeder: Simons Show Horses LLC, Aubrey, Texas

 

Top 20 Open Horse winner: Whizin To Tinseltown

Qualifying Points: 170.5
Horse’s Stats: A 2016 bay overo gelding by Gunners Tinseltown and out of Whizin Off Sparks (QH)
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Tracy Billing, Pilot Point, Texas
Horse’s Breeder: Rosanne Sternberg, Aubrey, Texas

 

Top 10 Open Solid Paint-Bred winner: The Poker Face

Qualifying Points: 75.5
Horse’s Stats: A 2014 sorrel solid gelding by Wimpys Little Step (QH) and out of A Gal With A Gun
Horse’s Owner/Lessee: Susan Ensor, Weatherford, Texas
Horse’s Breeder: Jana Leigh Simons, Aubrey, Texas