FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Prevailing during the pandemic, the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) successfully rescheduled its Youth World Championship Show to run concurrently with its World Championship Show for the first time ever October 29 – November 8 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. This year’s show saw an increase in both horses and entries across multiple disciplines, sold a record amount of sponsorships, and added new payback classes. Germany, Mexico, Canada, and 44 states were represented, and the 5th Annual Stars & Stripes Spectacular, a show for Veterans and Equestrians with Disabilities, hosted 60 riders in 22 classes.
“While we were all disappointed by the cancellation of the National Show, it opened the door to trying something new, different and exciting,” said ApHC President Ken Johnson. “Holding the two World Shows together, which has never happened before, truly made our show a ‘family affair.'”
In the innovative move to adapt to the pandemic, the ApHC added 72 youth classes and two extra days to the schedule of the premier Appaloosa event of the year for its 31st appearance at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The Appaloosa Youth Association hosted a few fun and safe fundraising events, including a costume contest, pumpkin decorating contest, and a silent auction. School was able to continue for all students with the addition of a study room on grounds with free WiFi, snacks, and volunteer tutors to help with homework and studies.
Enthusiasm for this year’s show was evident months before the event started. The ApHC is happy to report that all sponsorship opportunities for the show were fulfilled, and more than $250,000 in sponsorship revenue was raised. ApHC Advertising & Marketing Director Hannah Cassara said, “It was amazing to see the equine community and our Appaloosa family come together in support of this show and the ApHC.” Advertisers also helped raise enough funds to make the live feed of the event free to everyone via the webcast on 321ActionVideo.com and on the ApHC Facebook page.
Over the course of the 11-day event, 619 of the best horses in the breed competed for championships, showing an increase from last year. The 2,613 overall entries in both open and non-pro classes was also an increase over 2019 with ranch and cattle classes in all divisions seeing a particular boost in participation.
New to the schedule this year were the two $2,500 added Champion of Champions Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle classes held Friday, November 6th. Sponsored by Beck Farms, 3-G Performance Horses and Rockin’ MD Ranch, the two classes were open to the top-three placing in each Open and Non-Pro Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle class. Winners received 100-percent payback of the added money and entry fees.
“We are so grateful we were able to hold our event in such an unpredictable year as 2020,” said Show Manager Keri LeForce. “We would like to thank our sponsors, exhibitors, judges, Owen Farms Arena Team, Will Rogers Memorial Center, and our staff who made it all possible.”
After a year full of so many challenges and cancellations, the Appaloosa community came together to enjoy this huge success. Please join the ApHC in congratulating the following award winners at this year’s show.
2020 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP APPALOOSA SHOW AWARD WINNERS
Champion Cattle Horse
NIGHT TIME MADAM, owned by EARL A. STEINERT JR TRUST of STRAFFORD, MO
Reserve Champion Cattle Horse
HICKORY HOTROD, owned by RICHARD SCHLOUGH of REEDSBURG, WI
Champion Non-Pro Cattle Horse
RIDE AND SLIDE, owned by CLIFFORD & CINDY HUTCHINSON of CHAPMAN, KS
Champion Non-Pro Western Exhibitor MAKENNA KNIGHT of PILOT POINT, TX
Champion Non-Pro Halter Exhibitor DAVID W. BECK of STOCKTON, CA
High-Point 35 & Over Non-Pro
KELLY SWEENEY of BROAD BROOK, CT
Reserve High-Point 35 & Over Non-Pro TARA HAYES of APPLE VALLEY, CA
Champion Non-Pro English Exhibitor MARY LOUISE BECK of STOCKTON, CA
Champion Non-Pro Showmanship/Equitation Exhibitor TARA HAYES of APPLE VALLEY, CA
High Point Non-Pro Over Fences Horse
DADDYS A HERO, owned & ridden by JANA RODES of ARGYLE, TX
High Point Over Fences Horse
LADS PLAYBOY, owned by TERRI & SIDNEY KARR of ROYSE CITY, TX
Champion English Horse
LADS PLAYBOY, owned by TERRI & SIDNEY KARR of ROYSE CITY, TX
Reserve Champion English Horse
WILLIAM GRANT, owned by MICHAEL SHEPHERD of AUBREY, TX & HOLLY JANAK of SHINER, TX
Champion Western Horse
IM VICKI VALE, owned by ARTURO MAESTAS of PILOT POINT, TX & MEGAN HOLTMEYER of PARKER, CO
Reserve Champion Western Horse
INVALUABLE, owned by MEGAN HOLTMEYER of PARKER, CO
Champion Games Horse
LM RED HOT SPECIAL, owned by HEATHER & LYNN A. FAETH of FORT MADISON, IA
Reserve Champion Games Horse
LUCKY CHUCK, owned by DESTINY ZEIDERS of MIFFLINTOWN, PA
Champion Non-Pro Games Horse
SLIDE ME A WHIZ, owned by RICHARD & JEFF LANKFORD, ridden by JEFF LANKFORD of PRINCETON, IN
High-Point Non-Pro Walk/Trot
PAMELA PRENTICE of PITTSBORO, NC
Reserve High-Point Non-Pro Walk/Trot
RACHEL ELIZABETH SCHROEDER of ELKHORN, WI
High Point Novice Non-Pro
DELANIE REBEKAH GREER of TACOMA, WA
Reserve High Point Novice Non-Pro TAYLOR PEARSON of WOODBURN, KY
High-Point Masters Non-Pro
DEBRA EIDEMILLER of LITITZ, PA
Reserve High-Point Masters Non-Pro
SHELLEY GOLDEN DRURY of WHITESBORO, TX
Champion Non-Pro Ranch Horse
ONE BUFF JERSEY, owned by SIDNEY & TERRI KARR, ridden by SIDNEY KARR of ROYSE CITY, TX
Champion Ranch Horse
NU CIRCLE N SIGN, owned by RENE & JANE CAIRO of LIVE OAK, FL
Reserve Champion Ranch Horse
NEON JERSEY, owned by GALEN LOSEKE of KEARNEY, NE
High Point Non-Pro
DAVID W. BECK of STOCKTON, CA
Reserve High Point Non-Pro
CODY HUTCHINSON of CHAPMAN, KS
Karen Grimm Memorial Overall High Point Exhibitor JESSE JONES of PILOT POINT, TX
Non-Pro Sportsmanship Award
SHAWNA MITCHELL-HOEGH of REDMOND, OR
All-Around Non-Pro
TARA HAYES on KING OF SWING, owned by DREW & TARA HAYES of APPLE VALLEY, CA
World Show Leading Breeder
M. WADE SMITH of GEARY, OK
World’s Best Appaloosa
NEON JERSEY, owned by GALEN LOSEKE of KEARNEY, NE
Reserve World’s Best Appaloosa
DUN JACKED MY HEART, owned by BROOKE DRYDEN FAMILY of ARGYLE, TX
Zippos Sensation High-Point Youth Over Fence Exhibitor AMY LAMBERTH of GEORGETOWN, TX
High-Point 18 & Under Equitation Rider CASEY JOHNSON of ROSE HILL, NC
Champion Youth Ranch Horse
TATTOO DUN IT GOLD, owned by RENE CAIRO, ridden by HAILEY CAIRO of LIVE OAK, FL
High-Point Walk-Trot Youth, 10 & Under AMBER GREGORY of PARMA, MI
Reserve High-Point Walk-Trot Youth, 10 & Under EMMA WENZEL of BRYAN, TX
High-Point Walk-Trot Youth, 11-18 SARAH HARNISH of PROSPER, TX
Reserve High-Point Walk-Trot Youth, 11-18 KOBYN GREATHOUSE of BAIRD, TX
High-Point Novice Youth, 18 & Under TAYLOR KELSEY KENNEDY of JUSTIN, TX
Reserve High-Point Novice Youth, 18 & Under SAMANTHA CICHOS of BELLEVUE, WA
High-Point Youth, 13 & Under
CAMILLE ELISE KENNEDY of JUSTIN, TX
Reserve High-Point Youth, 13 & Under ALEXIS PROULX of GRISWOLD, CT
High-Point Youth, 14 – 18
CASEY JOHNSON of ROSE HILL, NC
Reserve High-Point Youth, 14 – 18 LORI GIRRBACH of TIPTON, MI
High-Point Youth Games Exhibitor LORI GIRRBACH of TIPTON, MI
Breyer Youth Sportsmanship Award
JENNA PASTOUR of MITCHELLVILLE, IA
Randy Cutbirth Memorial Buckle – High Scoring Youth Reiner HAILEY CAIRO of LIVE OAK, FL
Overall High-Point Youth
CASEY JOHNSON of ROSE HILL, NC
All-Around Youth
TAYLOR SMITH on LOPIN IN CHOCOLATE, owned by ROBERT YOUNG & TAYLOR SMITH of COLLEGE STATION, TX
