The 2023 Back To Berrien Futurity continued in Berrien Springs, Michigan, Friday with big payouts to exhibitors and a large amount of cash raised for the NSBA Foundation’s Crisis Fund.
Western Wins
Camden Calland started the day with a win and an NSBA bronze with Made Just In Time, showing for Debbie Daugherty, and earning a paycheck of $704.56 in the $1,000 Added Novice Rider Novice Horse Three Year Old Western Pleasure. He later added another futurity win when the duo won the $5,000 Added Three Year Old Limited Rider $2,500 Limited Horse Western Pleasure, earning $2,505.
“He listened really well and jogged really well,” Camden said. Camden has worked for Jamie and Jason English since December. It was the second bronze for Camden, who had a previous win in Ohio. The unanimous champions in the class left no doubt about the winner. ‘Brisket’ is by Machine Made.
Kenny Lakins and VS Bettin On Jacks earned the win in the $5,000 Added Four Year Old $5,000 Limited Horse Western Pleasure, winning a pay check of $2,505.39 for owner Melissa Wilkes.
“Having this class for the four year olds was great, especially for this horse,” Kenny said. “He missed all of his three year old showing year last year, and is just now getting to show. It’s great to have the opportunity to get to show and win some extra money for a horse like this.”
“Kenny did a great job taking his time training this horse, because he had a freak injury and didn’t get started riding him until really late,” added Lisa Wilkes. “It was beautiful to watch, and so easy for him, with lots of rhythm. We love having all these great additional classes at Back To Berrien, like this one and the 50 & Over Three Year Old class. They are very much appreciated.”
Lisa Wilkes added her own futurity championship with VS Bettin On Jacks, who is known as Sheldon, in the $1,000 Added Non-Pro $2,500 Limited Horse Maturity Western Pleasure, earning $670.72. Sheldon is by VS Code Red.
R We There Yet and Chelsea Seegert put a new partnership to the test in the $1,000 Added Limited Non-Pro Three Year Old Western Pleasure, and won their first class in their first show together. They earned $726.08 for the first place finish.
“We just got Kaleb less than a month ago,” Chelsea explained. “Blake and Becca Britton found him for me. He is a sweetheart, and the kindest three year old I’ve ever met. He loves my daughter, Charlie too. Our go today was just phenomenal. He was a rock star. Since it was just my third ride on him, I didn’t have very high expectations, but he sure exceeded them.”
R We There Yet is by Machine Made and out of Diamonds R Best.
In the Super Sires Limited Non-Pro Three Year Old Western Pleasure, Waffle House and JR Pickard took home the win and the big pay check of $5,100.
“Waffles is really easy to show,” KR said. “I got to show her for the first time in Kentucky and she won and was reserve there. I’m looking forward to getting to show her at Ludington, the AQHYA World Show and the Congress, and in the Non-Pro at the NSBA World Show.
Waffle House just began her show career at the Madness, where JR's mother, Katy Jo Zuidema, showed her to win the Madness Three Year Old and Older Open Western Pleasure. Waffles is by The Born Legacy and out of BestSeatNTheHouse.
Start Ur Engines and Becca Britton took the top spot in the $1,000 Added Limited Open Western Pleasure Maturity for owner Kylee Wiseman, earning $704.56. “Richard is so much fun to show,” Becca said. “He’s very honest, and there is no cheat to him. It was a really good start, because Kylee gets to show him later.”
Kylee purchased Richard earlier this year to begin her Amateur show career. Bred by Katie and Rusty Green, Richard is out of Machine Made and was the first foal out of Momma Knows Best. He was shown successfully by Andy Cochran, Hillary Roberts Timchak and Susan Roberts under the ownership of Capital Quarter Horses LLC.
The Cooki Monster and Susan Roberts earned the first place spot and a big pay check in the $5,000 Added Non-Pro 50 & Over Western Pleasure, earning $2,438.28. “Hillary showed Cher last year, and I’ve just started to show her in 2023,” Susan said. “My first show with her was in Kentucky, and we won there, and now here - so far so good! She’s so soft, and what you ask, she will do. She’s the sweetest. Our ride today felt really awesome.
“It’s been really strange for me because I haven’t had Hillary and Eric (Timchak) here or in Kentucky to cheer me on, but they were on their honeymoon and are just catching back up. I can’t thank them enough for their help, too. I’m looking forward to showing Cher at the NSBA World Show, Congress and the AQHA World Show this year.”
Hunter Highlights
In the $1,000 Added Novice Horse Novice Rider Hunter Under Saddle, Sydney Anson showed her horse Pardymode to the win and $640.35. “We’ve really had some good success so far in his three year old year,” Sydney said. “He won the Trail here the other day and we won in Kentucky and at the Madness.
“We bought him at the AQHA World last year. He’s so big and pretty and is so naturally talented, especially for the All Around. He’s really a long-term project. He’s already doing Trail and Showmanship, which is a lot for a three year old, and next year we’ll add Horsemanship and Equitation.”
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Best Hidden Agenda, with Dawn Baker riding for Denny and Vickie Strickland, won the $1,000 Added Maturity $2,500 Limited Horse Hunter Under Saddle, and $704.56.
"This horse is out of Vickie's good show mare, Hidden Agenda, and by Good Better Best," Dawn said. "I loved everything about our go today! We will continue to show in the Novice Horse classes this show season.
Dawn and Best Hidden Agenda were reserve champions earlier this year in the Virginia Maiden Three Year Old and Older Maiden Hunter Under Saddle in Lexington, Virginia.
Flat Stanley and Elizabeth Baker showing for Lauren Danielson, winning the $1,000 Added Limited Open Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle and $680. It was a catch ride for Elizabeth, who showed for trainers Mark and Judy Zeitler.
"He was a lot of fun to show," Elizabeth said. "Mark and Judy did a great job preparing him," Elizabeth said. "Stanley is a full brother to Line Up Behind, by VS Flatline and out of Shez Immortal. It was really fun to get to show a sibling to a horse we've had in our barn for so long."
"We got Stanley from Capital Quarter Horses really as a Western horse," explained Judy. "He was really started Western, but I watching him go and thought he could make a nice Hunter Under Saddle Horse, so about in March I started moving him out. His trot is really starting to get good, and he cantered really well on his own. He's a fun horse to ride."
Other winners included Susan McGillivray and Right Hott won the $1,000 Added Non-Pro 50 & Over Hunter Under Saddle
More Than $100,00 Raised For NSBA Foundation Trainer Crisis Fund
Exhibitors and friends gathered for a free sponsored dinner and a live auction of donated items that were sold to benefit the NSBA Foundation’s Trainer Crisis Fund, and attendees poured out their hearts to raise more than $100,000 for the fund. The auction raised more than $50,000 and a generous pledge by Susan and Blair Roberts at Capital Quarter Horses LLC matched the funds raised by the auction.
Several professionals, including Jon Barry, Jason Ducharme and Troy Oakley spoke to the crowd about how the Trainer Crisis Fund had impacted them following health issues that stopped them from earning income for a period of time.
The Back To Berrien Futurity concludes on Saturday, June 24. To view complete show results, please visit the Horse Show Tracker app.
