2014 APHA Western Riding World Champions Are Hull, Prince, and Foster

By: Brittany Bevis

Three big winners were crowned in this evening’s Western Riding classes at the 2014 APHA World Show. First, Wendy Hull and All Star Sensation loped to a World Champion finish in Novice Amateur Western Riding. Coming in second was Taryn Hardwick with Coosadas Luck. Third place was Belinda Crisp with Sheiks Winning Colors.

Hull and 8-year-old “Jay Bird Olena” have been a team for the past five years. They currently compete under the guidance of Karen Qualls of California. Earlier today, Hull and Jay Bird were named the Reserve World Champion in Masters Amateur Trail and they made the Finals in Horsemanship.

“He’s fabulous,” she says. “He’s very talented and does the prettiest lope-overs ever. They are amazing. He is good-natured and always happy. He always has his ears forward.”

“This is maybe my third or fourth go in Western Riding and the same in Horsemanship. I thought it was pretty good; I didn’t know it was this good! I just like to go out there and get my changes and not hit the log, because we were just a Reserve World Champion in Trail! I don’t think about the next class until I finish the one I’m doing.

Coming up tomorrow, Hull and Jay Bird will compete in Masters Amateur Senior Western Pleasure and then Qualls will hop in the saddle to compete in Senior Western Riding and Senior Trail.

In the Classic Amateur Western Riding, Taylor Lynn Prince won her second unanimous World Champion finish of the day. Just a few hours ago, she was named the unanimous World Champion in Classic Amateur Trail. The Reserve Champion in Western Riding tonight was Tami-Dietrich Dobbs with Seems Like Heaven. Third place was Desarae Gilley with A Sudden Legacy.

Finally, Kelli Foster claimed her third World Champion title of the show in Masters Amateur Western Riding. The Reserve Champion in the class was Christine Kemp with Im Sensational. Third place was Sid Karr with Uaintgonnatouchthis.

Earlier in the show, Foster and “Travis” won both the Masters Amateur Horsemanship and Masters Amateur Equitation. Today’s World Champion title in Masters Amateur Western Riding marked a big milestone because it was their 15th APHA title.

“We’ve won Western Riding before, but the goal this year was to really try to improve the pattern classes, Equitation and Horsemanship. Those are new for him, so that was big.”

Travis is 17 years old now and has been a part of the Foster family for the past 10 years, first showing in youth competition with daughter Alison Foster. Although he might be getting a little long in the hoof, Foster says he still feels young, strong, and smooth.

“Two things [have made him last so long],” she says. “One is just [his personality]. He loves showing and he never pins his ears. He really likes it. He’s the one that wants to be on the trailer, and I think it’s the way Sandy [Morgan] trains. We don’t overdo it. We practice, but if I need lots of repetition I don’t always do it on him.”

Looking towards the future, this 15-time World title earning team has aspirations to one day make the ever-elusive Showmanship finals.

Classic Amateur Western Riding-

1-One Flashy Sensation/Taylor Lynn Prince

2-Seems Like Heaven/Tami Dietrich-Dobbs

3-A Sudden Legacy/Desarae Gilley

4-Gotta Take A Chance/Michelle Vondran

5-Sensational Blonde/Chelsea Bain

6- A Subtle Impulse/Jennifer Humphries

7-Nighttime Sensation/Christine Wilder

8- Heza Texas Hobo/Ashley Wildes

9-See You At Seven/ Shay Lynn Vorhees

10- Jza Little Leaguer/Tristin Morgan Chastain

 

Novice Amateur Western Riding–

1-All Star Sensation/Wendy Hull

2-Coosadas Luck/Taryn Hardwick

3-Sheiks Winning Colors/Belinda Crisp

4-Too Hot To/Emma Stubblefield

5-Jettn Champagne Chex/Linne Beason

6- Aintlonesomenomore/Jennifer VanHal,

7-Who Painted Me/Kimberly Love

8- Don’t Try This At Home/Taunya Momberger

9- Hez Got It Go N On/Diane Luckey

10- Keepin It Sensational/Avery Fisher

 

Masters Amateur Western Riding–

1-Fleets Serenity/Kelli Foster

2-Im Sensational/Christine Kemp

3-Uaintgonnatouchthis/Sid Karr

4-Surely A Star/Steven Rissman

5-Ima Charming Zippo/Shari Brown

6-Sheiks Winning Colors/Belinda Crisp

7-Vr Knockyour Socksoff/Melissa Haberkorn

8-Hez Got It Go N On/Diane Luckey

9-Zips Royal Flush/Tracy Billing

10-Timeless Assets/Coleen Bull