Morning Halter Winners at AQHA World Show Include Franks, Headley, Weakly, Alderson

By: Brittany Bevis

Halter classes are well underway today at the 2015 AQHA World Show. First up in the Amateur Weanling Geldings, Suzonne Franks led TNR Top of the Ninth to win Amateur Weanling Geldings. Suzonne’s gelding is by The Home Run Kid and out of Top This Pizzazz. The Reserve Champion was Kathleen Williams with Attraxion. Third place was Robin Robinett with Have Your Attencion. Fourth place was Kayle Railey with JCG Kid Throwdown. Rounding out the top five was Lyric Boyle with Ima Cool Kids Dream.

Sarah Headley was at the lead of Vawters Intention to win Amateur Weanling Fillies. The Reserve Champion was Steve Jensen with Attitudz Everything. Third place was Delbert Hostetler with She’s Statuesque. Fourth place was Chris Page with Intentional Ruby. Fifth place was Grace Berton-Beretta with Squires Famous Doll.

Sarah donned her favorite, and lucky, color red to lead Vawters Intention, aka “Gwen,” to a win this morning in a competitive Amateur Weanling Fillies class. “When I was nine years old, I had a red jacket, and I’ve always been partial to that color,” she says. “It’s lucky!”

Gwen is a feminine filly by My Intention and out of The Coolsified Girl. She was bred by the late Jerry and Gwen Vawter of Aubrey, TX, hence her show name. “My parents bought her mother about three weeks before she foaled,” Sarah says. “It was the last true Vawter-bred horse, and that’s why Dad wanted to name her Vawter’s Intention to honor Jerry, who passed away last year.”

Earlier this year, Sarah and Gwen won the amateur division at the Iowa Breeders’ Halter Futurity. Later on this week, Ross Roark will show in the open division here at the World Show.

Sarah praises this filly’s feminine eye appeal and correct and balanced conformation. “She’s feminine, like a filly should be,” Sarah says. “She’s very pretty, has a great back, a pretty hind leg, and is very balanced.”

Later today, Sarah will show a three-year-old mare, Alluring Intentions, that’s a full sister to Gwen. “You can definitely tell in their faces that they’re sisters, and their personalities are similar.”

In Amateur Yearling Geldings, Josh Weakly was at the lead of Legacee for the win. The Reserve Champion was Richard Peden with JCG Game On. Third place was Anneene Miller with Entended. Fourth place was Patti Walker with DMM Secret Sinsation. Fifth was Katie Mitchell with Get Me Some Of That.

Legacee is by I Gotta Cool Secret and out of Ima Winning Clu. He was bred by Scott and Ellen Jordan of Aubrey, TX. Josh purchased “PJ” in January of this year and showed the youngster only once, at the Redbud Spectacular, to qualify to attend the World Show. Later this week, PJ will show in open with Ross Roark at the lead.

Josh was pleased he was able to win with this particular horse, because it’s his trainer’s favorite. “This is Andy’s [Staton] favorite. This one is his baby, so it’s good to do well with this one.”

“PJ is very modern, has a pretty face, and is short backed. He’s a little out of balance right now, because he’s taken a big ole’ growing spurt. It’s hard being a yearling; he’s like a 13-year-old girl who’s going through those [growing pains]. But, he’s got a lot of eye appeal.”

Andrea Alderson led Most Appealing Dream to win Amateur Performance Halter Mares. The Reserve Champion was Chelsea Martz with Onlythebestchocolate. Third place was Angie Watts Schmeck with Only Classy Chips. Fourth place was Brooks Spicer with Lighten Up Rainbo. Fifth was Libby Haydon with Shameless Invitation.

For the last three years in a row, Ross Roark has led Most Appealing Dream to win Open Performance Halter Mares, and Andrea has been at the lead to win the amateur division for two years now.

“Roxi” is a five-year-old bay mare, by A Dream Remembered and out of Lil Bit Impulsive, who also occasionally competes in Western Pleasure events. “When she was a two-year-old, Casey Willis showed her in the Equine Chronicle Masters Western Pleasure at the Congress and did well,” Andrea says. “Then, during her three-year-old year, she started transforming and filling out more and more. At the time, Jon Barry was fitting her, and he asked what we thought about putting her in performance halter. It proceeded from there.”

Jon and Andrea went on to win the AQHA Highpoint award in both the Open and Amateur Performance Halter Mares with Roxi in 2014. The mare also won in both divisions at the World Show and Quarter Horse Congress.

“It’s been an unbelievable ride with her, because there weren’t any expectations. We thought we had a really nice mare, but she continued to get bigger and bigger. Right now, we have a full sister to Roxi who is a black weanling. She could rival Roxi one day. We’re very excited about her.”

Looking forward to next year, Andrea is excited to see what Roxi will produce as a breeding mare. They have two embryos in the oven, one by Winnie’s Willy and one by Lazy Loper.