Jason Smith and Hey Coach Win Congress Two-Year-Old Geldings For Proud Owner, Joy Stehney
By: Brittany Bevis
Twice in the past week, Jason Smith has led one of Jeffrey and Joy Stehney’s Halter horses to a unanimous win here at the Quarter Horse Congress. Just a few days ago, it was Bee Jewelled in Yearling Mares. This morning, it was Hey Coach in Two-Year-Old Geldings.
“Bee Jewelled was first under all four judges in Yearling Mares and then we sold her,” Joy Stehney says. “I raised her, so those were big tears for me. It was hard for me to do, but I’m glad I love Coach this much.”
The Stehney family bought Coach one year ago just prior to the major fall futurities. “We bought him last year when he was still a yearling,” Joy says. “He was still a stud, and I don’t like to show studs, so we gelded him. We took him to Des Moines, and he won everything there. This year, he’s won every time we take him out. We took him back to Des Moines this year, and he was named the National Halter Champion. It’s been a fun journey, and I love him.”
The gelding by A Coolest Touchdown originally caught Joy’s eye because of his smooth muscling and fine features. “He is a great horse to show,” she says. “He is so pretty and not radical. He has this face you want to kiss all the time!”
Next week, Joy will show Coach in the amateur division of the class. We wondered if she feels a bit better now that Coach already has one win under his belt, or if she’s feeling the pressure…
“There is pressure,” she says. “I’m very competitive, so I want to come out and be first under all four judges also. I want to do it the same way.”
The Reserve Champion was Tom Robertson with Wind This Toy for Beverly Sue Koke. Third place was Joe Engle with SS Rampage for Vern Habighorst; this team was also the Limited Champion. Fourth place was Rick Baker with BPF Telatommy for Sherri Baker. Fifth place was Dewey Smith with PF Chrome Rimz for J L Robinson.
In Three-Year-Old Geldings the winner was Luke Castle with Be A Gunslinger. The Reserve Champion was Jeffrey Pait with Hez Packing Heat. Third place was Ross Roark with It’s Gameday. Fourth place was Dewey Smith with BPF Tella Kid. Fifth place was Andy Staton with Kids Classic Secret. The Limited Champion in the class was Doug Landon with Ima Cool Catch.
