“We’ve done it the last several years since they’ve created the sale futurity classes, because we think it adds marketability to the yearlings. We raise so many foals that you have to either use the Internet or another method to promote them, and we don’t get the farm traffic we used to. This is a good marketing program.”

Held in conjunction with the American Paint Horse (APHA) World Championship, WCHA had three full days of Halter futurity competition with an impressive 40% growth in entries over the previous record year achieved in 2018. Horses registered with the APHA, Appaloosa Horse Club, American Quarter Horse Association, Palomino Horse Breeders of America, American Buckskin Registry Association and American Roan Horse Association all compete in Weanling and Yearling conformation classes for Non Pro, Intermediate Non-Pro, Open, Color and Owner Breeder and Exhibitor divisions.

The event featured old friends and new faces who enjoyed friendly camaraderie amongst fierce competition; at the show’s conclusion, a handful of exhibitors laid claim to the show’s 15 all-around and high-point awards.

The 2019 APHA World Championship Show has drawn to a close this year, and The Equine Chronicle has been there for all of the action. In case you missed any of our 24-7 coverage including interviews with winners, articles, around the ring photos, and more, we’ve compiled everything into one place. 

Sara completed not only a clean sweep of all the Open Western Riding classes here at the show, a feat she’s never before accomplished, she took the top three spots in Senior Western Riding as well.

“This was only his third Trail pattern ever, and we kind of decided to do it last minute,” Brad says. “At first, his focus on the poles would scare him, but that translated into him honing his skills and becoming more aware of his legs. I have to put him in the right spots, but he can figure it out when he gets there. I thought about showing in a hackamore today, but I thought I would have better steering in a snaffle and then still have the ability to put him on a loose rein and show him.”

“I think he’s a once in a lifetime animal and, as many great horses as HighPoint has had, I think he will be right up there with the best of them.”

“When I looked down, I could see his front leg soaring out there, so it felt really cool. In this pattern, you had to go from a gallop to a slow jog and lope-overs that were really intense to really slow controlled stuff. That’s what’s fun, because he’s so quiet that you can go for the gusto.”