By: Brittany Bevis
It was a busy weekend for the Western Pleasure industry with several major futurities taking place at two different horse shows in different parts of the country.
First, on Friday, Cleve Wells rode Amblin Potential to a $3,952.50 payday in the $7,500 Open Novice Horse Western Pleasure Slot at the 2017 March To The Arch Horse Show in Lake St. Louis, MO. Winning the Highest Placing Limited Rider title and $2,000 was Joshua Brown with Lazy Lopin Moonlight. The Highest Placing Intermediate Rider was Jonathan Meilleur with Thepartysgettinghot; the pair earned $1,000 for their efforts.
Then, Tessa Lynch rode Relaxx Monn to win The Equine Chronicle $10,000 L1 Non Pro Western Pleasure on Saturday, also at the March To The Arch. Lynch was presented with a $4,000 check for her efforts. The Reserve Champion was Rikki McNana with Gotta Certain Touch winning $3,000. Third place was Taylor Punt with Whatwazshethinking, earning $2,000. Dena Veno and Extremely Impulsive placed fourth and won $1,000.
Meanwhile, in Lexington, Virginia, at the Spring Breakout Show, Bret Parrish rode Pistol Packin Mann, owned by Richard Baumann, to win the 2017 Hylton Maiden Western Pleasure and a check for $25,000. The Reserve Champion was Taft Dickerson with Gone Viral for owner Jason English. The team received $11,375. Third place was Andy Cochran with Don’t Skip This Loper, owned by JCM Ranch Operating, winning $8,312.50
Placing fourth was Gil Galyean with Best Kisses Ever for owner Nancy Mowrey. The team earned $5,687.50.Fifth place was Randy Wilson with Rock On Diesel for owner Gail Wilkerson. The team won $4,375. Sixth place was Ty Hornick with KM Genuinely best for Gavin Patterson, winning $3,937.50.
Seventh was Aaron Moses with Easy Breezy for Kathryn Frederick, earning $3,500. Eighth was Kenny Lakins with Betcha Im Easy for Steve and Tonya Relander, winning $2,625. Ninth was Danny Desmond with Midnight Dreamer for John McNichol, winning 2,187.50. Finally, RJ King rode Roscoe P Coltrane for Joel Stein, earning $1,750.