AQHA World Champions Include Simons, Speck, Stubbs, Ratkowski, Morgan, Fox

By: Brittany Bevis

This evening’s Champions at the 2020 AQHA World Show spanned a wide range of disciplines. Michelle Speck and Keeping It Fancy were crowned the Level 1 Amateur Trail Champions. Michelle has been riding her 6-year-old gelding “Bentley” for just two years, but she has competed in AQHA competition for the past 16. This is the first time she has ever won a major title, and that coveted neck ribbon, and she’s thrilled.

“He really listened to me,” she says. “I had a lot of nerves going, but I just put my hand down and trusted him to go to that pole, and he took me all the way through it. When we got to the end to the back chute, I knew we had it if we could just get around that. It was perfect.”

“I love Trail, because it’s not all about the movement. You have chances to plus things and, if you do mess something up, you have a chance to improve upon the next obstacle.”

In Select Hunter Under Saddle, Sandra Morgan rode her homebred 4-year-old, I’m Willy Good Today, to a repeat win from last year. “Drake” is by Sandra’s late stallion, Good I Will Be, and out of A Walk In The Sky. “He’s big, beautiful, and a really soft mover. He’s a great trotter, really good minded, quiet, and lazy. He’s everything you want.”

Sandra keeps Drake at home, calling him her “baby in the backyard,” and she receives assistance from Terry Cross and Stephen Stephens when she’s on the road. Coming up next year, she’s very exciting about a coming three-year-old by her stallion, Mechanic, named Pretty Mechanics Only.

Sara Simons and Al Of A Sudden were crowned the L1 Trail Champions. Four-year-old “Tulsa” has been in the barn for just one year now, and he’s had great success. He was the Junior Trail Champion at the NSBA World Show, and he was the Reserve World Champion in Amateur Junior Western Pleasure at the APHA World with Mackenzie Preston. Coming up next year, this young all-around horse will learn how to do Western Riding.

“He’s so striking, great through his neckline, and he uses his ears,” she says. “He really stands out and the little bit of extra white he has makes him a little unique. He has such great expression and, when he goes over the poles, he picks up his feet amazingly. It’s crazy how careful he really is. Today, during the lope overs, is probably where he shined the most.”

Pam Stubbs was the winner of Select Hunter Hack with DGS Don’t Tell Tales. Tricia Sarchett was the Reserve Champion with Real Good Reason. Third was Megan Selvaggio with Elite Iron. Fourth was Catherine Schumann with Hail Yes I’m Hot. Fifth was Tina MCelroy with Giv Romance A Chance.

Winning Amateur Hunter Hack was Morgan Ratkowski with Better Buy The Minit. Reserve was Pam Stubbs with A Classic Iron. Third was Dr. Elaine Haw with Last Hawliday. Fourth was Nicholas Furlong with Executive Hotrodder. Fifth was Cindy Triscari with Every Once In Awhile.

Amateur Performance Mares was won by Katie Fox with FR Night Lyfe. Reserve was Andrea Anderson with Most Appealing Dream. Third was Katie Bussing with Phat Tuesday. Fourth was Dylan Price with PK No Doubt I’m Lacy. Fifth was Hailey Flatter with Whenitcomestoluck.