Today’s APHA World Champions Include Matthews, Hachtel, Kull, Davis, Borcherding, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

Today’s first class saw Adam Matthews at the lead of Brooks Golden Charm to win Amateur Weanling Fillies. The colorful filly is a relatively new purchase for Matthews. He’s only owned her for about 60 days, but she’s already pulled in several big wins. Earlier in the week, Matthews led her to win the Platinum Non Pro Breeders Futurity, and trainer, Fred Tabor, led her to win the Gold Senior Weanling Mares Breeders Futurity.

Matthews describes the filly as being very pretty and balanced. He admits that he’s had quite a lot of interest in her here at the show. He also showed her full sister, Brooks Unique Lady, to a Reserve Championship finish in Amateur Yearling Mares. Oddly enough, her full sister looks quite different. She’s a very minimal bay, while the weanling is colored to the hilt.

The Reserve Champion was Ingrid McPherson with Brooks Obsession. Third place was Andrea Olsen with TNR Sheza Criminal. Fourth was Kevin Williams with Ascendence. Fifth was David Breitberg with Shza Clairvoyant.

Mike Hachtel rode This Scene Is Taken to win Green Western Pleasure for Debi or Loren East. The Reserve World Champion is also a Hachtel-trained mount, Scenic From Here, who was ridden today by Aaron Moses. Third was Wade Parks with Bestlopentheline. Fourth was Sara Simons with Hez Blazin Trouble. Fifth was Scott Suggs with Not To Be Repeated.

3-year-old “Crunch” is by Scenic Impulse and out of Megan East Hogan’s old show mare, Sensational Lollipop. “She’s had seven foals, and we try to name them all something having to do with candy,” Megan laughs. Of Lollipop’s seven foals, there are two that have yet to hit the show pen, a weanling and yearling. All of the others have won World titles for the family.

“I tell Mike that Lollipop and Scenic Impulse are made for each other. It’s hard for us to want to branch out [into different breeding], because each baby has won a title. Every one that we’ve shown with has won. They’re sweet and they want to do their jobs.”

This is the first year in the show pen for three-year-old Crunch, who won the Green Color Western Pleasure at the NSBA World a month ago. Megan’s mother, Debi, also showed Crunch earlier in the week and placed fourth in Masters Amateur Junior Western Pleasure. “We knew, when he was a baby, that he would always become Mom’s horse,” Megan says.

Debi is excited about showing her new mount, praising his soft and easygoing demeanor. “His jog is just like that, naturally. He just doesn’t want to go any faster. The extended gaits are a challenge for him!”

The East family is excited that their hard work in cultivating a broodmare band is starting to pay big dividends. “It’s nice to see the mares that we’ve proven go on to have babies that have proven themselves,” Debi says.

“We have a great broodmare brand,” Megan adds. “It’s been a long process, but every horse that we’ve brought here to the World Show was bred and raised by us.”

Anastasia Kull was at the lead of KR Need A Sugar Daddy to win Amateur Solid Paint Bred Weanling Fillies. “Linda” is by Execute and out of a mare that was raised on her ranch, by her late stallion, DeRenzo.

Although Linda was a relatively late starter, she has come on very well in the last few months. “We actually didn’t enter her in the class until yesterday, so this is unexpected,” Anastasia says. “She was a bit antsy today, but she settled in. You have to anticipate what she’s going to do and watch her before she moves. I do like to hand set the babies, because I like to know that they are comfortable with me.”

Helping to fit Linda is the duo of managers, Dave and Brenda Kellerman, and Christy King. “It’s a big team effort, she says.

GiGi Wood Davis led TNR Delish to win her first-ever APHA World Championship title in Amateur Yearling Mares. “Dee Dee” is by Intensions and out of MD Delicious, a horse the Davis family considering purchasing ten years ago. Earlier in the show, GiGi’s husband, Greg, showed the filly to place third in the Big Money Futurity and Reserve in the WCHA class.

Andy Staton is the trainer of this filly; however, he was unable to attend due to his wife recently having their first child. Stepping in to help out has been a longtime friend, Luke Castle.

GiGi is excited about this filly’s future, because she’s double-registered. After this show, she will be headed to the Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA World Show.

“Her neck and shoulder are just gorgeous,” Gi Gi says. “Her hip is pretty. She’s just so easy to show when you get in the pen. I had little toys with me, [for her ears] but I really didn’t need them.”

The Reserve Champion was Adam Matthews with Brooks Unique Lady. Third was Kayd Byers with She’s So Radiant. Fourth was Bob Cassata with She’s Stylish. Fifth was Carrisa Hansen with Pretty Lookin Allstar.

Kimberly Borcherding was at the lead of a homebred mare named Certain Intentions to win Amateur Solid Paint Bred Yearling Mares. “Belle” is by My Intention and out of Stellabration, a mare that Kimberley’s father once showed to a Pinto World Championship title.

“I think she’s really balanced, and she doesn’t have any holes,” Kimberly says. “I also showed her full brother [Justified Intentions] yesterday, and he was fourth in Amateur Solid Paint Bred Weanling Stallions and Geldings. Last week, he won at the Breeders Halter Futurity, and she was second. Both are double registered- AQHA and solid paint-bred. This is the mare’s third baby, and they’re all really consistently good. They’re pretty babies with a lot of presence.”

Although it was bittersweet for Kimberly, Justified Intentions has been sold and will head off to his new home at Jason and Julie Smith’s ranch.

The Reserve Champion was Kensy Maxwell with Im Money Honeyy. Third was Lorie Garner with ZR Buddys Cool Cash. Fourth was Annette Schobel. Fifth was Kelli Stuard with Only For Tonite.