Gossip Girl and Kenny Lakins took the top spot in The Madness Three Year Old Western Pleasure Futurity on Thursday. They showed for owner Shawn Johnson and earned $1,268 for the win.
Gossip Girl, by Lazy Loper and out of KM Sign Me Up (by RL Best Of Sudden), saw a successful fall last year with Ashley Lakins in the saddle. The duo won the Quarter Horse Congress Super Sale Stakes Two Year Old Western Pleasure and were reserve champions in the Congress Coughlin Two Year Old Western Pleasure Fuuuturity as well as earning the reserve award in the Super Sires division of the class in 2023.
“Melodie had a big break after the Congress, and this is just her second show back,” noted Ashley. “She is such a nice mare. We bought her from Shannon Curl-Holbin and Stephanie Armellini late last summer. Shawn Johnson sold her former show horse, Lazy Holla Dayz, and Melodie is going to be her next Non-Pro show horse. She’s going to be great for her.”
“She’s a doll,” Kenny said of the mare. “I’m having fun showing her this year. We’re looking forward to taking her to the Premier next.”
Although Shawn couldn’t be at The Madness, she was cheering the team on from home.
Gossip girl was neck and neck with the reserve champion, City Limit Signs, in the placings by judges TW Grose, Jeff Mellott, Eric Petersen and Buddy Fisher. Gossip Girl earned two firsts and two seconds, while City Limit Signs earned a first, two seconds and a third to arrive at the composite placings.
The money earners in the class included:
Champions – Gossip Girl, Kenny Lakins for Shawn Johnson, $1,268.00
Reserve champions: City Limit Signs, Aaron Moses for Starland Ranch LLC, $950.00
Third (via tiebreaker): The Town Bluezy, Pasley Puthoff for Nettie Olsen, $475.00
Fourth (via tiebreaker): Wild Cardd, Clay Arrington for Paul Thurston, $475.00
The Madness continues through Sunday, May 12. Friday’s schedule includes Showmanship, Hunt Seat Equitation and Hunter Under Saddle as well as several NSBA futurity classes including the $2,500 Added NSBA Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Western Pleasure, $1,500 Added NSBA $2,500 Rider/$2,500 Horse Western Pleasure, $1,000 Added Three Year Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle, the conclusion of the $2,500 Added NSBA Senior Trail Futurity and Limited Rider Bonus, and the SOQHA Three Year Old and Older Novice Horse Western Pleasure Slot Class. To view complete show results, please visit the Horse Show Tracker app.
