Super Horse, RPL My Te Cheerful, Wins Fifth Grand Champion Title at 2014 QH Congress
By: Brittany Bevis
Halter Super Horse, RPL My Te Cheerful, lived up to his larger than life legacy this afternoon at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. Today marks the fifth Grand Champion title “Henry” has received throughout the duration of his show career. In addition, Henry has racked up 17 gold trophies at the AQHA World Show.
When asked to describe the ten-year-old, seemingly ageless gelding, trainer Joe Engle uses the phrases “a freak of nature” and “one-of-a-kind.”
“He has an advantage over every horse out there,” Engle says. “He is so short backed and deep-hearted. He’s so easy; you could jump on his back right now and ride him. As long as he’s healthy, and as long as he wants to show, we’ll keep showing him. He’s just one-of-a-kind.”
We wondered how Engle goes about preparing an aged horse like Henry to compete against the much younger crop of contenders that seem to get more competitive year after year.
“I ask him to come three weeks before a show to get ready, and he just metamorphosizes. For most shows, he’s on six pounds of grain, so he’s not overloaded.”
Owner Vern Habighorst was as proud of his beloved gelding today as he was the first time Henry stepped out of the ring with a Grand Champion title.
“[We’ll keep him] forever,” Habighorst says. “He won’t go any place.”
RPL My Te Cheerful’s Congress Grand Champion Record
- 2014 Open Grand Champion Gelding
- 2013- Youth Grand Champion Gelding
- 2011- Open Grand Champion Gelding
- 2010- Open Reserve Grand Champion Gelding
- 2009- Open Grand Champion Gelding
- 2008- Open Grand Champion Gelding
