Taft Dickerson and Made By J Win $32,762 in Hylton Maiden 3 and Over Western Pleasure
2015 Hylton Maiden Champion- Taft Dickerson and Made By J
By: Brittany Bevis
At the conclusion of the Hylton Maiden 3-Year-Old and Over Western Pleasure this evening, Taft Dickerson and Made By J loped out of the pen at the Virginia Quarter Horse Classic with an impressive check for $32,762.50. Coming in Reserve was Steve Reams aboard Southern Comfort Zone. The pair scored a nice $12,554.75 payday and won an additional $6,000 for being named the Intermediate Champion.
After chatting with Dickerson following his big win this evening, we discovered there’s an interesting connection between the first and second place horses.
“I got Jolene a week before the World Show,” he says. “Steve Reams actually bought the horse he was Reserve on from us, and he brought me this horse on the same day.”
Dickerson’s partner for the class this evening was Jolene, a 3-year-old bay mare by Machine Made and out of Dark Jasmine. From the first time he swung a leg over her saddle, Dickerson was certain she was a special animal.
“She’s probably the best horse I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned some really good ones,” he says. “I feel like she’s got a front leg to go with her hock. It all matches up and you don’t have to make her do a lot. What she did tonight was pretty much on her own. Good horses make good horse trainers. She makes it easy. She’s always been really talented at her job, but tonight she was really good.”
Following the class this evening, Jolene will head off to her new home at Gil Galyean Quarter Horses with Candice Hall and Corey Seebach, who just happen to be the owners of Jolene’s father, AQHA stallion Machine Made.
“I feel really excited and really blessed,” Dickerson says. “There must be someone looking down on me. I’m so thankful for Steve and my dad and all of the people who have gotten me here.”
Reserve and Intermediate Champion Steve Reams and Southern Comfort Zone.
The Limited Champion and only non-pro rider in the class this evening was Courtney Chown with Chum Machine, who won a $4,000 bonus in addition to the ninth place check of $2,414.
Congratulations to everyone!
Photo courtesy of Eric Hardesty/Excalibur Photography.
Hylton Maiden 3-Year-Old and Over Western Pleasure Results:
1- Made By J/Taft Dickerson- $32,762.50
2- Southern Comfort Zone/Steve Reams- $12,554.75 + $6,000 Intermediate Champion
3- Im Hot In Blue/Pat Heeley- $9,174.63
4- Life Is A Breeze/Brian Baker- $6,277.37
5- Rolling In Hot/Katy Jo Zuidema- $4,828.75
6- Momma Knous Best/Katie Green- $4,345.87
7- The Monie Man/Cole Baker- $3,863
8- She’s A Lopin Louise/Kristy Starnes- $2,897
9- Chum Machine/Courtney Chown- $2,414 + $4,000 bonus Limited Champion
10- Wisely Kopin/Brian Rastall- $1,931,50
