Shelby Ratliff/Willy Has Potential Win Am. HUS, Hillary Roberts/Momma Knows Best Win Am. WP
By: Brittany Bevis
Two World Champions were crowned in the premiere rail classes here at the AQHA World Show this afternoon.
First, Shelby Ratliff rode Willy Has Potential to, believe it or not, her first World Championship title in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. Just last week, Beth Case, rode “Willy” to win Senior Hunter Under Saddle, their third World Championship as a team. “Beth has always won with him here,” Shelby says. “This is my first time to win with him at the World Show!”
Shelby and “Willy” have been a team for five years now and, during that time, trainer, Beth Case, has ridden Willy to win three World Championship titles. Shelby’s win today brings his total up to four.
“He’s so fun. Do you know how everybody has that one horse that makes you love this sport and horses in general? Willy is that horse.”
Because Willy is an older boy, he knows his job well and needs little preparation. “We longed him on Monday, and by longed, I mean he loped one lap and called it a day. I rode him every day and today I trotted him a bit and went in. He knows his job. I don’t think people give enough credit to their horses, but he does it all and I give him all the credit, and Beth obviously.”
Willy’s trademark style is his sweepy canter with extended front leg that seems to go on forever. Shelby admits that it’s nice to sit up tall in the saddle and watch him in motion. “His ears are always forward, and he’s always happy. He’s happy doing his job at all times. His canter is pretty nice. You sit up there and watch and think, Wow.”
Suffice to say, Willy isn’t going anywhere, any time soon. “He’s going to be a Ratliff forever.”
During our interviews over the years, we enjoy teasing Shelby about the possibility of adding more events to Willy’s repertoire. “Maybe, one day, I will show in Equitation. You never know. I could do Equitation, if the world froze over…” All joking aside, Shelby does have another event she likes to compete in, that’s actually very similar to showing horses. “Just like with AQHA, they have bodybuilding and they have different classes. I do what’s called bikini competition, and it’s the less muscled stage. It’s a mental sport and it’s a judged sport. You may be the flavor of the day, and you may not. You have to be ok with beating your best. They also have something called peak week, which is when you’re exhausted, tired, have no water, and no carbs.” Sounds very similar to a horse show come to think of it…
The Reserve World Champion was Alicia Porter with Hubbout A Dance. Third was Angela Fox with HP The Rusty Fox. That makes the top three horse and rider pairs all competing under the guidance of High Point Performance Horses.
Hillary Roberts rode her 6-year-old mare, Momma Knows Best, to win Amateur Western Pleasure. Just last week, Andy Cochran rode “Myrtle The Turtle” to win Senior Western Pleasure. Last year, Hillary and Myrtle were Reserve in this class, so she was hunting for the win today.
“She was really locked in, in the warm up pen, and I thought I could maybe do it this year. She’s such a good horse, but she’s not always the easiest to show. Today, I felt like it might be one of those rides. It was, and I was really happy.”
The Roberts family purchased Myrtle just prior to the Hylton Maiden Western Pleasure during her three-year-old year. Deanna Green showed the mare for a few years and won a Youth World Show title. Hillary has also achieved several top Congress finishes with the mare. She’s eagerly anticipating next year, because there are quite a few Myrtle babies on the horizon.
“I’m excited about all of them. I have a VS Flatline yearling and two Machine Mades. We bred to Gone Viral this year. It was fun to get to show with him all year knowing that’s her cross for next year. I think it will be really cool.”
The Reserve Champion was Kristen Galyean with VS Lady In Red. Third was Kari Craft with Gone Viral. Fourth was Deanna Green with UF Rockin The House. Fifth was Candice Hall with Made By J.
