Starnes, Nelson, Mathia Are Afternoon World Champions at APHA World Show

By: Brittany Bevis

This afternoon’s classes at the 2019 APHA World Show kicked off with a guy showing the ladies how to get things done in Amateur Horsemanship. Cory Mathia rode his 8-year-old gelding named Can I Get Your Number, aka “Stewart,” to a win.

Cory has been riding Stewart for three years, after losing his former gelding to colic surgery. They compete under the guidance of Carly and Wade Parks. Earlier at the show, they were Reserve in Amateur Senior Western Pleasure and won the Intermediate division. Today, they won the Intermediate division of the class as well. It just goes to show that you should never give up, even when things don’t exactly go your way.

“So, I came here last year, and we had a big bobble in Showmanship, so I didn’t make the finals,” Cory says. “Then, we were eighth in Western Pleasure, and I missed Horsemanship because I had to fly back home for school.”

Thus, this is Cory’s first win at the APHA World, and he’s ecstatic. In a word, it’s “awesome.”

“Stewart was so good. He’s still pretty green in his lead changes, but Carly really works hard to prepare him. He’s a little tired, because we’re on day six of the show, so he’s ready to go home, but he was excellent today.”

Horsemanship is Cory’s favorite class, and he considers himself to have some natural aptitude for the precision and agility that’s required. But, he says that doesn’t mean there isn’t always room for improvement.

“Carly has the eye to be able to critique anything, so there’s always something to work on, which I love.”

In addition, they’ve started working on Trail and perfecting their flying lead changes.

The Reserve Champion was Alexis Miller with Thanks For Zip En Me. Third was Christine Weiser/Zimmerman with Coin Machine. Fourth was Erin Bradshaw with John Simon. Fifth was Raigen Furness with BMQ Invest In Dreams.

The next Horsemanship World Champion of the day was Julie Nelson with Mr Verifiable in Masters Horsemanship. A popular horse on the show circuit, 10-year-old “Wilson” has been shown by Julie’s daughters, Andrea and Amanda, for many years. Now that both girls are in college, it’s momma’s turn.

“Since they’re both in college, they let me take Wilson over,” Julie says. “In today’s pattern, I smoked my turn around, and I felt good about my extended lope to the collection. I went for it, because it’s my last class of the show, so I let it all out.”

Earlier in the show, Julie and Wilson placed third in Hunter Under Saddle, Halter, and Western Pleasure, so she was wanting a neck ribbon pretty badly. She was very excited to be named the World Champion in today’s class, and she’s very thankful to her trainer of over 15 years, Sandi Morgan, for helping to make it happen. “She always finds the positive. She’s taught my girls and I a lot, and she’s always pushing us to do better.”

The Reserve Champion in the class was Michelle Vondran with Gotta Take A Chance. Third was Kelly Holden with A Painted Good Machine. Fourth was Pamela Heisinger with Sensational Cookie. Fifth was Marcie Griffin-Michaels with Gotta Glo Slo.

Finally, rounding out the evening was the 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure, which saw Jay Starnes riding the double-registered mare, Never Had I Ever, to a win. Earlier in the show, they also won the Breeders Trust 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure Futurity.

“Madonna” was born at the Starnes’ ranch. She’s by No Doubt I’m Lazy and out of A Certain Illusion. “Her owners bought her as a weanling and took her home for a year, and they sent her back last year, a month before the Congress. When I started riding her, it was clear that everything was going to be easy for her. No matter what you did, everything was just easy.”

While she’s very even-tempered and easy-going for a young horse, she does live up to her namesake. “She’s a little bit of a diva. Let’s just say that she knows she’s pretty.”

However, her quiet mind is a big reason why her owner, Dakota Andrie, a 13 and under competitor, will be able to show her in the Non-Pro futurities at the Quarter Horse Congress. “She’s super quiet and nothing bothers her. Next year, she will show in some of the youth classes, while I show her in the 3-year-old futurities.”

The Reserve Champion was Sara Simons with A Sensational Paint. Third was RJ King with I Ain’t In No Hurry. Fourth was Wade Parks with Good To Know. Fifth was Dave Archer with Sensational Sangria.