The second annual Back To Berrien Futurity has been well underway at the Berrien Springs Youth Fairgounds in Michigan this week, and Thursday saw a slate of Longe Line, Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure classes
Dollars On The Line
Thursday began with the English and Western Non-Pro Longe Line classes, and Super Sires divisions of the two classes ran concurrently and were also awarded.
Derek Williams showed a yearling that was bred and raised at his farm, Body Lika Hour Glass, to win both the Berrien and Super Sires portion of the Non-Pro English Longe Line. They earned $640.35 and $1,050 respectively. “She was 46 inches tall when she was born, and we had to pull her,” Derek said. “I kept telling everyone that I was going to show her in Longe Line.”
The pretty grey overo filly is by Count The Minutes. “Our go today was pretty perfect,” Derek said. “We will show in the Color Breed Longe Line at the NSBA World Show.
The Western Non-Pro Longe Line saw 23 entries which were split into two sections before the winner was determined. Peter Meade showed Makin Moonlite to win both the Berrien and Super Sires division of the class, earning $743 and $5,000 respectively.
Pete took over the Longe Line prospect at the request of trainers Kenny and Ashley Lakins, who raised the filly. “Val is by Makin Me Willy Wild and out. Of an Only In The Moonlite mare,” Pete said. “I was going to retire from showing Longe Line, but Kenny and Ashley kept saying that I needed to show this filly.
“I haven’t been working with her very long. I took her down to Kentucky just to work her, we didn’t show there. It’s so easy for her. She wants to go slow and wants to be nice. I just love her jog.”
The first and second place horses were by AQHA stallion Makin Me Willy Wild with Heather Caplinger’s Wilde Child earning second. The third place horse, My First Minute, shown by Robert Herman, won the $500 color bonus.
Thursday ended as it began, with Longe Line – this time with the $1,000 Added Open English Longe Line. The class saw Anthony Leier take The Sanddmann to the win for owner Kevin Griner, earning $678.42.
“He’s one of the first foals by Outlaw Enterprise,” Anthony said of the APHA stallion. “Carolyn LaRose bred him. He’s very soft and slow legged, and listened to all my cues. We’ll take him to the NSBA World Show but he is for sale so we’ll go from there.”
Western Winners
Dark Ladie took Shannon Curl Holbin to a first place finish in the $5,000 Added Limited Open Three Year Old Western Pleasure, with the duo earning $2,550 for owner Haley Purkapile.
“Cher is always in a good mood, her ears are forward and she’s the same every time,” Shannon said. “She was super soft. You always know what to expect when you show her. Since she’s for sale, I think Haley did not want to start doing Non-Pro with her because she might get attached.
“John and Beth McNichol raised her, and we liked her so well that we bought her full siblings that are a yearling and two year old. Cher is by Mr Sherlock Holmes and out an RL Best Of Sudden mare.”
The winning continued for the Holbin team when Tyler Schultz catch rode Purljam to win the $1,000 Added Novice Rider Novice Horse Maturity Western Pleasure, earning $670.12 for owner Barbara Crawford as well as a trophy saddle for the class win.
“I loved her,” Tyler said. “She’s just so talented. She listens to your feet and is so good in her head and neck. She was a lot of fun to show. Shannon had her ready, and put what we call the ‘Special Curl’ on her. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to show her.”
Jessica Landry and Truth And Alibi have not been partners very long, but that didn’t stop them from winning the $1,000 Added All Age Novice Non-Pro Western Pleasure. They won $640.35. “I’ve had him for about eight months now,” Jessica said of the seven year old gelding by Lazy Loper.’’
“I showed as a youth, and wanted to get back in, but I told Blake and Becca Britton that I needed a horse that was very broke to teach me to ride, and they found Napoleon. He’s been really great and so steady for me to ride. We’ve been to both Venice shows and the Premier and now here. He does what he is supposed to do.”
Melissa Wilkes showed Lopin Like No Other to win the $1,000 Non-Pro Select Three Year Old Western Pleasure. “It was great that they offered this class for Select riders. It gave us an opportunity to show on an even playing field and we’re grateful for this class,” Lisa said.
Lisa Feinberg and Good Vybes were the champions in. the $1,000 Added Limited Non-Pro Maturity Western Pleasure. They earned $726.08, and Blake Britton showed KM Slot Machine to win the $1,000 Added All Age Color Breed Open. Western Pleasure, earning $704.56.
Hunting Big Payouts
‘Ned the Magnificent’ proved up to his barn name in the $1,000 Added Non-Pro Maturity Hunter Under Saddle, guiding his owner Kristen Ramirez to the win and $655.
“He was so good,” Kristen said. “It’s been such busy year for me, I got married at the beginning of the year and haven’t spent that much time with him, but he did everything I asked for and he’s always up for a challenge.”
The four year old gelding is by Good Better Best and out of a Too Sleepy To Zip mare. “I hadn’t shown Hunter Under Saddle in three or four years, and I needed something that was really quiet and could teach me, and he does!”
In the $1,000 Added Open Three Year Old Novice Horse Hunter Under Saddle, another Good Better Best horse was at the top of the standings when Jamie English piloted Super Freek to the win and $635 for owner Kelly Smith.
“I just like how he carries himself,” Jamie said. “Everything is just so easy for him.”
Keeping the momentum going for the Good Better Best offspring was Smoke N The Best, shown by Lauren Deeds to the win in the $1,000 Added Non-Pro Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle.
“I just showed her the first time at the Premier,” Lauren said. “We bought her in August of last year. She’s so locked and loaded and ready to go – she does whatever you want. We call her Mary Jane. Today she was the softest she’s ever felt, and she was right there with me.”
Standing at the top of a new class, the $5,000 Added Open Four Year Old Hunter Under Saddle was The Luxury Line and Dawn Baker, who won $2,550 for owner Beth Hartman. The Allocate Your Assets stallion out of Spurs N Diamonds was bred by Courtney Battison.
“We bought him as a. coming two year old from Katy Jo and Tim Zuidema, and he’s just been great. He won the Congress Open Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle and won a world championship in the Open Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle, and now here.
“We’re excited to finish out this year showing him and then take him to the breeding shed. I think one of the biggest things he brings is his ring presence. He loves to show and he’s easy to prepare. He has great expression.”
Dawn was appreciative of the new class. “This was a big strong class, and we loved having the opportunity to show a horse that didn’t have to show against the senior horses,” she said. “I think this is the direction things are going, and we appreciate the opportunity to have one moe class and one more happy customer.”
At the close of the day on Thursday, exhibitors enjoyed a dinner of pizza. The Back To Berrien Futurity paid out a total $36,000 on Thursday alone, and when the Super Sires purses were added, the show paid out more than $50,000 on Thursday alone.
The show continues through Saturday at the Berrien County Fairgrounds. For complete show results, please visit the Horse Show Tracker app.
