The APHA World Championship Show is heading into its final week at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The show combined Youth, Amateur and Open events into its schedule after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the association to postpone its Youth World classes in July. "We were planning to combine the Youth with our Open and Amateur classes in 2021, and this just made us do it a year earlier than we planned," noted Jessica Hein, APHA senior director of MemberCare and Publications. The 2020 APHA World Championship Show will award $1.2 million in cash and prizes.
.
Keith Miller's Trio of Champions
Keith Miller had a day to remember at the APHA World Championship Show on Monday, September 28. He showed three different horses to world championship titles.
He started the afternoon with a world title in Junior Hunter Under Saddle showing EPR Face It Im Fancy for Samantha Gardner, added a world championship as well as the Southern Belle Breeders award with All Time Vandal for Allie Littlefield in the Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle a short time later, and capped the night by winning the Breeders Trust Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle with The Pleasure Code, showing for Kristin Syburg.
EPR Face It Im Fancy had been the bridesmaid several years at the APHA World Show before earning the world title, Keith noted. “I’m so glad for this horse, especially because its his last year as a Junior horse,” Keith said.
“He’s been reserve champion here several times and he’s a great horse. He shows with a lot of expression, he trots through his shoulders really well, has such a soft canter and really covers the ground – it’s effortless for him. Samantha won the Amateur with him this year too.”
Troy Lehn and All Good earned the Intermediate title in Junior Hunter Under Saddle
Keith took All Time Vandal to a world championship title that adds to the stallion’s stellar career, which also included a win in the Three Year Old Non-Pro Breeders Trust with owner Allie Littlefield last week at the APHA World Show. “It’s hard to believe he’s only three, because he has done so much already,” he said. “He’s so much fun to ride.”
In Junior Hunter Under Saddle and Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle, Keith shared his victory lap with Brian Isbell Garcia, who was named reserve champion. Brian showed Party All The Time to the reserve title in Junior Hunter Under Saddle and RC Wowed Me to earn the reserve award in Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle.
A catch ride led Keith to win the Breeders Trust Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle with The Pleasure Code, earning more than $8,000 for the win.
“Brad Ost and Troy Lehn asked me if I had a horse for the Breeders Trust, and I didn’t, so they asked me if I would ride Kenny,” Keith said.
“He might not be the biggest in the class, but he can definitely keep up, and moves so naturally. Kenny has an amazing momma in Shesa Real Pleasure. One of her babies won the Amateur Western Riding this morning and I’ve won classes with two different siblings of Kenny’s.” The Pleasure Code is by VS Code Red.
Western Champions
Western horses also saw arena time on Monday, with Mike Hachtel taking the world championship in Two Year Old Western Pleasure aboard Go Scenic Or Go Home. He showed for Debi and Loren East. The reserve champion, Sittin Sideways and Jeffrey Gibbs, also earned the Southern Belle Breeders award.
Like Keith, Mike likes both sides of the pedigree on the sorrel overo stallion he calls Heath. “He’s by A Scenic Impulse and out of Sensational Lollipop. He’s the fifth baby out of that mare, and every single one of them is a world champion.”
Former Congress Masters Western Pleasure Limited champion RR Cant Stop A Feelin and owner Nettie Olsen took top honors in the Non-Pro Three Year Old Western Pleasure Sweepstakes, earning $1,560 for the win. Nettie is making the most of the opportunity to show her horses, especially since COVID-19 slowed her season down.
“This is just the second time I’ve got to show Sniper,” Nettie said. “The first time was at the NSBA World Show, and we won the Color Three Year Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure there and now tonight. I wasn’t able to go ride him in Texas because of COVID-19, so I came here to the show early and probably rode him three times before our class tonight. He’s really one in a million for me. Tonight’s ride felt really good, controlled and soft. He was real quiet, so I just let him do his job and stayed out of his way.”
Nettie is juggling showing horses in two locations this week. "I'm flying to Arizona on Tuesday to show my other horses at the Arizona Fall Championship Show and the Pinnacle circuit," she said.
Some of the other world champions named on Monday included On The Scene and Sara Simons, Green Western Riding; A Subtle Impulse and Haley Sims, and Amateur Horsemanship; Mr Lazy and Sarah Beth Carr; and Call You Later, All Age Green Western Pleasure, Jeffrey Gibbs for Pat and Nancy Trebesh and Intermediate All Age Green Western Pleasure, No Doubt Im An Asset, Marissa Phillips for Patty Douglas.
The 2020 APHA World Show continues through Sunday. To view complete show results, please visit www.apha.com/worldshow/results.
