Morning Winners at AQHA World Show Include Anderson, Mitchell, Dyer, Schmeck, Headley

By: Brittany Bevis

This morning at the 2015 AQHA World Championship Show, 20-year-old Rebecca Anderson of Nebraska led her horse OK She’s Unzipped to win a World Champion title in Amateur Showmanship. This is Rebecca’s first trip to the World Show as an amateur. She and “Invy” were named the World Champions in Showmanship at the 2013 AQHA Youth World Show.

“We got Invy when she was three years old,” Rebecca says. “It’s really a special story, because we put a lot of love and effort into her, and we’re here now. I’ve had such great support along the way, and all of the guidance has been incredible.”

Rebecca and Invy didn’t come with a trainer this year; instead she relied on the guidance of her mother and the support of her sister. “I’ve had some great guidance in the past with people who have really helped me learn about myself and my horse, so I’m pretty blessed,” she says. “Invy is a great showmanship horse, so I knew, going in, that I had everything I needed to make her a World Champion. I wanted to show her to the best of my ability.”

In today’s pattern, Rebecca was very pleased with Invy’s ability to complete tight left turns and hit her marks perfectly. “The pattern was very unique,” she says. “I was able to show off my trot and stop, so I was happy with that. I wanted to hit the marks, present her well, and enjoy the moment, because that’s what everything is about.”

The Reserve Champion was Eric Mendrysa with Only By Moonlight. Third place was Angela Fox with The Company You Keep. Fourth place was Daniel Carlson with Are You Charlie. Fifth was Kaleena Weakly with Hours Yours and Mine. Sixth place was Whitney Walquits-Vicars with Western Revolution. Seventh place was Patty Bogosh with Earn An Invitation, your L2 winner from just a few days ago. Eighth place was Brittany Morgan with Lil Bit Western. Ninth place was Tony Anderman with Goodness I’m Green. Tenth place was Michelle Forness with Stretch Machine.

In Amateur Weanling Colts, Katie Mitchell was named the World Champion with her homebred Pistol Peete. Katie has been riding and competing with horses, in multiple breeds, since she was four years old. If she had to pick one word to describe this milestone moment in her career it would be relief.

“I’ve been coming to this World Show since I was eight years old, and it’s been a lifelong dream to get that gold trophy,” Katie says. “I’m 44-years old, and I finally did it! It’s a very, very special win for me. It’s so stressful, every year, trying to find one that you think could do it, or to raise one, which is even harder. It’s been a lifelong thing for me.”

“Pete” is by I Gotta Cool Secret and out of the multiple World Champion mare Emagination. Pete was the last horse foaled out of the mare that will help Billy Rex Lawrence achieve his 50 year breeder award with AQHA. “I lease Emagination each year and breed her to the stallion of my choice,” Katie says. “But for this one, we didn’t do the breeder’s paperwork, so Billy could get his 50-year breeder award.”

“By the time Pete was two weeks old and he started putting on that muscle, we kind of knew he was going to be something good. My goal was to get him ready for the Breeders’ Halter Futurity in Iowa, and he did really well there. We were the highest placing non pro team in the open class.”

This win is also exciting for Katie because she’s done all the work on this colt herself. “I fit him and taught him how to stand up,” she says. “It was just him and I out there, really. We didn’t even know anyone else was in the class. We were just doing our thing and it ended up working out very well.”

The Reserve Champion in the class was Shelly O’Hara with Exceptional Bachelor. Third place was Mark Williams with Showin Tell. Fourth place was Shannon Wacker with There’s No Tellin. Fifth place was Theodore Lincoln with Unforgettable.

Nancy Dyer was at the lead of Entensions to win Amateur Yearling Colts. The Reserve Champion was Anastasia Kull with KR He’s Xceptional. Third place was Brian Lane with Zs Celebrity GQ. Fourth place was Amber Eirich with Epic. Fifth place was Will Semien with FG Mr Sinful Fella.

In Amateur Performance Halter Stallions Angie Watts-Schmeck was named the World Champion with Inspirado. The Reserve Champion was Ellen Jost with Hez Unstoppable. Third place was Jamie Oakley with Certainly A Vision; this team was also the L2 champion.

Finally, the World Champion in Amateur 2-Year-Old Stallions was Sarah Headley with Rumorz. The Reserve World Champion was Jerrid Nightingale with Kid Shine. Third place was Richard Donnelly with Hez Outa the Box. Fourth place was Kathy Bauman with My Good Intention. Fifth place was Marvin Wieneke with Incognito Sirprize.

Sarah Headley led the stunning seal-brown stallion Rumorz to a unanimous win in the class. Not only was Rumorz the Congress Champion Open and Amateur Stallion this year, he was also the unanimous Congress Grand Champion Open and Amateur Stallion. This final unanimous win caps off a perfect year of competition for Rumorz and the Headley family.

We chatted with Steve Headley just prior to the class, and he was both excited and nervous. “We’ve had so many people come up to us and tell us good luck,” he says. “I guess it just shows how many people really like this horse. But you never know what will happen at the World Show…”

Now that he’s had such success in the show pen, the Headley family is very excited to see what Rumorz will produce in the breeding barn. In 2016, he will stand at Griffey Equine Center in Ohio. Rumorz also happens to be our beautiful cover stallion for the World Show edition of The Equine Chronicle, so a very special congratulations!