AQHA 2025 World Show Award Recognition Recap
Below find the first of two recaps of eminent award winners from the 2025 AQHA World Championship Show (arena photos by Shane Rux Photography, courtesy of AQHA):
AQHA All-Around Amateur
The AQHA All-Around Amateur Award is presented to the exhibitor-and-horse team that earns the most points in three or more Level 3 amateur events in three categories during the Markel AQHA World Championship Show.
This year’s all-around amateur is Paige Rogers of Dallas, showing Ima Savvy Investment, a 2018 red roan gelding by Hot Sleek N Savvy and out of Dixie Assets by Iota Invest. Paige received $10,000, a neck ribbon, a rose bouquet and a Lisa Perry bronze.
Paige and Ima Savvy Investment competed in the following Level 3 amateur classes: Horsemanship (reserve world champion); hunt seat equitation (reserve world champion); western riding (5th place); showmanship (9th place); and performance halter geldings (10th place) to earn a total of 38.5 points.
The reserve all-around amateur is Angela Fox of Frisco, Texas, and Makin Me Happy, a 2019 sorrel gelding by Makin Me Willy Wild and out of My Invested Machine by A Good Machine. They took home $5,000, a specially designed silver bowl and a neck ribbon.
Angela placed in the following Level 3 amateur classes: Performance halter geldings (bronze world champion); hunter under saddle (fourth place); horsemanship (eighth place); and western riding (10th place) to earn 21 points.
AQHA Select All-Around Amateur
The AQHA Select All-Around Amateur Award is presented to the exhibitor-and-horse team that earns the most points in three or more Level 3 events in three categories during the 2025 Adequan® Select World Championship Show.
This year’s Select all-around amateur is Dana Avila of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Always Do, an AQHA Ranching Heritage-bred 2018 gray gelding by Cat Man Do and out of Greyt Little Steps by Greyt Whiz. Avila received a neck ribbon, rose bouquet, $10,000 and a Lisa Perry bronze.
For a total of 53 points, Avila placed in the following Level 3 classes: Select ranch riding (world champion); Select ranch trail (world champion); amateur working western rail (fifth place); and Select performance halter geldings (seventh place).
The AQHA reserve Select all-around is David Renier of Loveland, Colorado, and Cowpuncher Cadillac, a 2017 bay roan stallion by Royal Blue Quixote and out of Miss Dakota Eyed by Two Eyed Red Buck. They took home $5,000, a neck ribbon and a specially designed silver bowl.
Renier and “Blue” earned 49 points, placing in: Select performance halter stallions (world champion); amateur working western rail (reserve world champion); Select ranch riding (reserve world champion); and Select ranch trail (fourth place).
AQHA Superhorse
For the second year in a row, Sumac Gunnabeflashy has earned the title of AQHA Superhorse, the most prestigious award at the Markel AQHA World Championship Show. The Superhorse is the open-division horse that earns the most points and was shown in a minimum of three Level 3 open classes in at least three categories.
Shown by AQHA Professional Horseman Bud Lyon of Whitesboro, Texas, Sumac Gunnabeflashy was the 2025 world champion in working western rail and senior ranch riding, with a record score of 257. Bud and “Romeo” also competed in senior ranch trail and placed seventh in the senior reining. With owner Leslie Lange, an AQHA Professional Horsewoman from Greeley, Colorado, Romeo also placed seventh in performance halter geldings.
The 2025 AQHA Superhorse prize package includes $15,000, a rose neck ribbon, $2,000 Equibrand gift certificate, a Blue Ribbon custom work saddle and a Lisa Perry bronze.
Sumac Gunnabeflashy is a 2017 chestnut gelding by Gunnatrashya and out of Chics Graceful Whiz by Whiz N Tag Chex. He was bred by Donald Sobey of Trenton, Nova Scotia.
Hot Lopin Lily, who was the AQHA Superhorse in 2023, finished in the reserve Superhorse spot this year.
Hot Lopin Lily was the senior trail world champion, with a record score of 250.5 with AQHA Professional Horseman Blake Weis of Pilot Point, Texas. She also placed fourth in performance halter mares, seventh in senior western pleasure and eighth in senior western riding.
The reserve Superhorse nets $10,000 and a rose neck ribbon.
Hot Lopin Lily, a 2017 bay mare by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Shes A Lopin Machine by A Good Machine, is owned by the Cavallo Family Trust of Staunton, Illinois, and was bred by Twylla Lynn Brown of Perry, Missouri.
About the Show
The Markel AQHA World, Adequan® Select World and Adequan® Level 2 Championships are the premier events in the equine industry for amateur, Select amateur and open exhibitors. The show includes Level 3 and Adequan® Level 2 classes, as well as AQHA Level 1 Champion of Champions classes. The shows feature over three weeks of exciting competition, educational opportunities and a bountiful trade show. For more information, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.
