RPL My Te Cheerful Wins 15th Career World Title With Vern Habighorst in Am. Aged Geldings

By: Brittany Bevis

Amateur exhibitor, Vern Habighorst, was understandably a bit emotional this afternoon when his beloved gelding, RPL My Te Cheerful, won his 15th career World Championship title in the Amateur Aged Geldings at the 2013 AQHA World Show. “Henry,” an eight-year-old gelding by Hear The Cheers and out of My Te Telusive, has won ten World Championship titles for the Habighorst family and fifteen throughout the course of his successful career.

“Henry is Henry,” Rita Habighorst says. “There will never be another Henry. He had colic surgery and spent 36 days in the hospital in March. We didn’t know if he would come back at all really.”

“We thought for sure we wouldn’t be able to show him again,” Vern adds.

But come back he did, and in fine fashion, by winning the title of Youth Grand Champion Gelding with the Habighorst’s granddaughter, Monica Hamm, at the lead. After the Congress, Henry was fit and prepared by Joe Engle, who now plans to take up residence on the Habighorst’s new farm in Texas.

“We bought a little five acre ranch in Whitesboro, Texas this summer,” Rita says. “Our plan was to move the horses there after the World Show. We hired Joe, so he will stay there and take care of the horses from now on.”

Henry is one of seven horses the Habighorst family brought to the World Show this year. Ross Roark will lead Henry in the Open Aged Geldings later in the week.

Unfortunately, Monica and Kaylee Hamm weren’t able to watch their grandfather win his World Championship title today, but Rita is sure both girls will be thrilled.

“They’re going to be very pleased, because Henry is one of their favorites,” Rita says. “I haven’t had a chance to text Monica yet, but I will shortly.”

“Hopefully she’s doing homework!” Vern adds.

Vern commended his beloved aged gelding on his consistency and superior conformation as two of the qualities that helped him achieve his 15th World title today.

“He has the shortest back and strongest back of any horse. Normally, they get weak in their back and they sag, kind of like me. I kind of sag here in the middle!” Vern jokes.

Now that the win photo has been taken and the interviews have concluded, Henry is off to get some well-deserved rest and Vern plans to enjoy a cheese danish to celebrate.

Amateur Aged Geldings–

1-RPL My Te Cheerful/Vern Habighorst

2-Motavated/Sarah Headley

3-Amazin Secret/Dr. Gigi Wood Davis

4-Jbees Private Jet/Johnna Dobbs

5-Intoxikating/Jack Shawver

6-Happy Hour/Larry Lemke

7-Introductions/Jennifer Larson

8-Saint Elusive/Thomas Gauthier

9-IR Dun In Synergy/Shannon Justice

10-Red Ransom/Julie Muench