Tuesday Morning Halter Wins at AQHA World Go to Larry Roberts/Secretist, Joy Stehney/Telling Touch, and Lonn Smallwood/Instagram

By: Brittany Bevis

Halter classes are well underway this morning in Oklahoma City at the 2016 AQHA World Championship Show, and there are three new World Champions to congratulate. First up this morning, Lonn Smallwood led Instagram to win Amateur Weanling Geldings. Instagram is by IEm The One and out of Shooz, by Mr Elusive. The Reserve Champion was Josh Weakly with Be My Agent. Third was Kim Anding with Heza Alluring Agent. Fourth was Suzonne Franks with TNR Ecredibly Cool. Fifth was Thomas Coon with Mind Keeper.

Joy Stehney led her pretty, bay filly, Telling Touch, to win Amateur Weanling Fillies. Telling Touch, aka “Susie Q,” is by Telasecret and out of Irresistible Touch, by Time To Touch. Joy hasn’t had the filly for very long; She purchased her at the Bushy Park Sale in July of this year.

“We didn’t take her to the futurities this year,” Joy says. “We took her to the Congress and were really getting ready for this show. This is only her second horse show, but she’s really filled out and come along. She was a bit spooked out there because it was her first time in a big pen with all the people sitting above her. That was kind of scary, but she’s a real sweetheart to show.”

When horse trainer, Jason Smith, picked out Susie Q from the sale and brought her home, the first thing that caught Joy’s eye was her pretty coloring and kind face. “I love bays, and she has this pretty, little baby doll face, which I love. That was the first thing that really caught my eye with her. She’s a really correct filly, and her growth sports have been really correct. You never know when you get here to the World Show what growth spurt they’re going to be in at that point. We got lucky that she’s good and level.”

The Reserve Champion behind Susie Q was Joy’s friend, Thomas Coon, with Inexces. Third was Jennifer Jubb with Hip Hip Haray. Fourth was D Emdonson with ER A Secret Fox. Fifth was Darrin Kraft with Girls Out Playing.

Larry Roberts led Secretist to win Amateur Yearling Geldings. Secretist is by Telasecret and out of Impressive Lady Teko, by Te Coolest. Earlier this year, Wayne Bell was named the World Champion at the Select World with the gelding he calls “Booger Bear.”

 

Initially, Larry hadn’t planned on showing Booger Bear this year, because his siblings have traditionally been late bloomers. “I knew that the mare produces good babies, but they’re always a little late bloomers. Actually, I didn’t think this colt would be as good as he is now as a yearling. I thought we were going to have to wait until he was two, but he started coming on pretty good.”

“I wasn’t even planning on showing him this year. One day, there was a local show in Glen Rose, TX, and Wayne called me the day before and said I should show the gelding. I showed him at one show and got him qualified.”

Assisting Larry and Wayne with the fitting of Booger Bear for the AQHA majors is Ross Roark, who will show the gelding later in the week.

The Reserve Champion in the class was Thoeodre Lincoln with Stallone. Third was Shannon Wacker with There’s No Telling. Fourth was Nancy Dyer with Declined. Fifth was Steve Jensen with TF Headliner.