APHA World Champions Include Ferguson, Stratton, Hansen, Smith, Overway, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

Today wraps up the end of Open Halter classes here at the APHA World Show, with the exception of Performance Halter, which will take place next week. Also on the schedule at this fast-paced show has been Trail, Showmanship, Western Riding, and Hunter Under Saddle classes in Open, Amateur, and Youth divisions.

Ted Turner led Made In Its Likeness to win Yearling Geldings. Reserve was Heza Classy Legend and Erin Henderson. Third was I Am Virtuous and Andy Staton.

The winner of Yearling Stallions was Hes All Cool and Andy Staton. Reserve was Hesa Stylistic and Jason Smith. Third was Jake From State and JT Mitchell. The winner of SPB 2-Year-Old, 3-Year-Old, and Aged Stallions was Steve Ferguson and FG Commander In Chief. Reserve was Sail On Sailor Too and Clint Fullerton. Third was Hesa Classic Secret and Kelley Stone-Wainscott.

Steve Ferguson led FG Commander In Chief to a win for owner, Ricardo Rejon of Mexico. “This stallion is balanced, pretty, and has muscle structure,” Steve says. “He’s by Execute and out of Phenomenal Miss. This was my first time showing him, but I’ve showed for Ricardo and Joaquin (his trainer) before. It fits well. Joaquin does a great job picking out horses and fitting the horses, and Ricardo is a great owner and has a lot of nice horses back in Mexico too.”

The winner of 2-Year-Old Geldings was Ronald Stratton with That’s Sole. Reserve was Intriguing Secret and Joshua Larman. Third was Heza Cool Clue and JT Mitchell.

Ronald first spotted “Huey” when he was judging at the APHA World Show last fall. “I judged this show last year, and this horse was being shown in Amateur Yearling Stallions. When I got home from the horse show, I called these folks and asked if the horse would be for sale. They said it would be for sale to me. We bought him and picked him up, and, by the next morning at 8 am, he was a gelding! I loved him last year, and I still love him today.”

Ronald explains that Huey is by Hes So That and out of a daughter of Western Gunslinger. He’s owned by one of Ronald’s favorite people, Karen Evans Mundy.

“He’s so square-built, high-necked, and low-hocked, and those are three of my favorite things I look for. He’s gorgeous with a lot of eye appeal.”

Winning 2-Year-Old, 3-Year-Old, and Aged SPB Geldings was Lexi Hansen with Sierra Slammer. Reserve was I’m Stylyn N Profylyn and Timothy Jackson. Third was Southern Yella and Chris Byrd

Lexi is actually a youth exhibitor competing in the open division. She purchased “Slammer” as a two-year-old from a horse auction and has done all of the training herself. “I’ve been showing him for six seasons now,” she says. “He’s kind of a diamond in the rough. I didn’t really know anything about Halter. I bought him, honestly, because I fell in love with him in the sale pen.”

This fine gelding is AQHA, APHA-SPB, ARBA, and IBHA bred, and he’s by Grandslam Touchdown. “He has been with me forever, and I think he will be with me forever.”

Jason Smith and Swole were named the winner in 3-Year-Old Stallions. Reserve was Fake News and Steve Ferguson. Third was Secret Virtue and Fred Tabor. The Non Pro 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Sweepstakes was won by Allie Littlefield and Blu Skies To Sleep By. Reserve was Lights N Sirens and Anita Newbigging. Third was Evening Indulgence and Rebecca Heckel.

There was a very happy, little boy who won a big Leadline class here at the show. Hank Overway was named the champion with Talk About Lazy. Reserve was RR Can’t Stop A Feeling and Brock Groome. Third was Onlyalilblackvelvet and Rhett Kee. Fourth was As Seen On TV and Belle Sayers. Fifth was Scenic Freeze Frame and Reese Groome.

Winning 18 and Under Trail was Margaret Applegarth with Get The Sensation. We chatted with Margaret a few days ago when she was Reserve in 18 and Under Showmanship. Click here to read.

Reserve was Monie Man and Kaylynn Heitman. Third was Sharp Dressed Zippo and Margaret Applegarth. Fourth was Alotta Vested Pine and Lauren Hall. Fifth was Simon Always Says and Kimber Cobbs.

Lauren Gralla rode One Flashy Sensation to win 18 and Under Western Riding. We talked with Lauren when she won 18 and Under Equitation earlier in the show. Click here to read.