2016 AQHA World Show Recap

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72 – January/February, 2017

By Taylor Fabus

As the book closes on 2016, we reflect on fond memories of a successful show season marked by growth and personal achievement. For many AQHA exhibitors, their show season culminated with a trip to Oklahoma City for the World Championship show. The 2016 AQHA Lucas Oil World Championship Show hosted just shy of 5,000 entries, awarded over $2 million in purse money, and added a number of Level 2 Championship classes.

The superstars of the show are no strangers to the spotlight. The All-Around Amateur Exhibitor in 2015, Julie Cole of Burlington Flats, New York, piloted her talented gelding, Size Matters, to claim the title again in 2016. Cole and Size Matters earned a Reserve World Championship title in Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation, placed third in Amateur Working Hunter and Amateur Hunter Hack, fourth in Equitation Over Fences, and eighth in Amateur Jumping. Another repeat champion was the winner of the coveted Farnam Superhorse title, a 2010 grey mare named Snap Krackle Pop, who also took home the award in 2015. Not only is “Brandi” the first mare to win this award multiple times, she’s also the first horse in 15 years to take home back-to-back titles. Snap Krackle Pop is owned by Twylla Lynn Brown of Perry, Missouri, and is piloted and trained by AQHA Professional Horsemen Kendra and Blake Weis of Moberly, Missouri. Snap Krackle Pop won a Reserve World Champion title in Senior Western Riding, placed fifth in Senior Western Pleasure, seventh in Senior Trail. and 10th in Performance Halter Mares.

One of the most memorable moments at the show was when a certain black gelding celebrated his retirement from an illustrious career in the show pen. The 13 year-old gelding, A Certain Vino, owned by the Reeve family of Garden City, Kansas, has been one of the most, if not the most, successful AQHA Western Pleasure horse in history. His natural movement and pleasant expression has helped set the standard by which others are judged. After being named the Reserve World Champion in Amateur Western Pleasure with Darcy Reeve in the saddle, the dynamic duo was joined in the pen by trainers, Ty and Karen Hornick, as well as numerous other individuals who have had an impact on this incredible horse’s career. After one final victory lap around the Jim Norick Arena, Vino’s saddle and bridle were removed for the last time, and his shoes were pulled to mark the official beginning of his retirement.

Click here to read the complete article
72 – January/February, 2017