Saturday at the Tom Powers Triple Challenge saw a busy day for exhibitors and owners as several two year old and three year old classes saw final results pinned..
Hunter Highlights
Several trainers had a busy morning showing back to back horses in the Three Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Futurity and Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle Futurity. Farley McLendon showed Al Be Bleu for Tali Terlizzi to the win in the Three Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle, and jumped back in the saddle to show again in the Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle in the next class..
Amber Hanson Pickard took Made For Money to the win in the Intermediate Open Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle, showing for Deanna Bailey. In the very next class, she showed Al Be Addictive to tie to win both the Open and Limited Open Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle. The tie was with Mechanical Asset, shown by Patricia Wood for Sandra Morgan..
Powers Sales Stakes Champions
The Tom Powers Sale Stakes Maiden Two Year Old Western Pleasure provided the largest checks of the show to winning exhibitors. Team Moses swept the two divisions with Aaron Moses piloting The Whoo for owner Linda Ball Sargent to win the Sale Stakes Maiden Two Year Old Open Western Pleasure, while Dontflatteryourself, ridden by Aaron’s assistant trainer, Jessica Duffy, riding for Caitlyn Dunsmore, won the Limited division of the class.
“He’s by The Lopin Machine and out of Whoos Cheatin Who, and this was his first time to show,” Aaron said of his Open horse. “He’s been really good. He’s a stallion, and we call him Wyatt. He’s got a lot of talent, and really pretty.”
"We call this filly Emmie, and she’s by VS Flatline. She’s very sweet, and tries very hard. She’s very soft,” Jessica said of the Limited champion.
“This is my first futurity horse and my first two year old to start. I’ve been working for Aaron for 14 months, and I really love starting the futurity horses. You get to start them how you like them and make them your own, and it’s very rewarding,” the Australia native said..
Katy Jo Zuidema won the inaugural Tom Powers Triple Challenge Sale Stakes Three Year Old Open Western Pleasure, held on Friday, showing Shes A Perfect Storm for Robin Shifflet. Jason English took the reserve award with Shes So Southern, owned by Tamara Ray.
“We bought her at the Georgia On My Mind show, and she’s won a little bit in Ohio and in Indiana,” Katy Jo said. “We bought her with this class in mind and will be taking her on to the Big A. She’s a really nice mare and a lot of fun to show. We call her Jess, short of Jezebel, and she’s by Battman.”
Photo courtesy of Holman Photography.
Two Year Old, Three Year Old and Maturity Champions
Some familiar faces from the past showed up at the top of the class in the Three Year Old Open and Intermediate Open Western Pleasure. Jamie English and past Powers champion Batters Up tied to win the Open division with Knockin It Out, shown by Katy Jo Zuidema. Jamie showed for Stanley and Susan Scott while Katy Jo rode for Kathryn Frederick..
In the Intermediate Open, Becky Schooler took Chattanooga Lucy to the win for Alicia Ritsema.
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Adam Mathis showed Made After Hours to win the Open Two Year Old Western Pleasure, with Beckey Schooler returning to win her second Intermediate class of the day aboard If It Aint Dixie, whom she just purchased with Todd Yoder.
Adam pointed to a stellar pedigree for his mare. “She’s by Machine Made and out of Only Ever After,” he said. “We call her Vivi. She’s just so trainable and good minded and that’s what I love about her. She’s probably the best minded two year old I’ve ever had. She started great and this was the goal we were shooting for. She lopes so soft and has so much expression, and I think that’s what the judges liked about her.”
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Becky Schooler was a quick study on her mare If It Aint Dixie, known as Francis. “We just bought her two days ago. I saw Jennifer Stein out riding her around and asked if I could ride her. I loved her after about five minutes, and Tood (Yoder) told me if I found one I loved, we could buy it. She’s just incredible. She’s with me every step of the way and has great feel.”
By It’s a Southern Thing and out of the dam of Rock County Kid, Francis will be showing in the Non-Pro by either Beckey’s daughter, Ty Paris, or Todd Yoder.
The Open Western Pleasure Maturity always proves to be a deep class at the Tom Powers, and this year’s class was no exception. Casey Willis showed the multiple AQHA world champion Suddenly So Easy to win the Open division for Masterson Farms, while Mark Zeitler showed Made U Want Me to win the Intermediate class for owner Lauren Danielson.
“This is always a great class, and it was a great class again today,” noted Ken Masterson. “It’s the best of the best in the business here, and really super nice horses.”
“It’s a lot less challenging to show outside,” added Casey Willis. “It’s a lot like showing at an Open show when you show here. You don’t have the circus atmosphere like you do at the places like the Congress. It’s easy to get ready.”
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“I bought him two or three years ago for my daughter Anya to show,” Lauren said of Made U Want Me, the Intermediate champion in the class.
“He’s six years old, and by Machine Made. He’s such a good mover, and has a sweet disposition. Anya shows her in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure. He looked really good showing today. It was such a tough class – I wouldn’t want to judge it.”.
Super Sires, Super Winnings
Like Beckey Schooler, Becky Galyean became a quick study of her mount. “We just bought him four days ago from Sidney Benes, and she was with Aaron Moses,” Becky said. “He’s a really nice horse, and being eligible for the sale class was a nice plus. The more I’ve ridden him, the better he’s been. He’s really good legged and he wants to be a show horse. We plan to show him at the NSBA World Show and the Congress.”
By Its A Southern Thing, the gelding is known as T-Bo.
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In the Super Sires Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure, two horses and exhibitors tied for the win. Burnin The Cowboys, shown by Jenna Corda, tied with Sure Am Southern, shown by Marlee White, with each receiving $5,972.37. Metamorphic, shown by Tammy Conroy, earned the $500 Novice Bonus and also earned third in the class. If It Aint Southern, shown by Amy Gumz, received the $500 Homebred Bonus and Bikinis Only, shown by Heidi Webb, earned the $500 Color Bonus.
The Tom Powers Triple Challenge continues through Sunday, with several classes having second go-rounds and finals on the last day of the show.
Special Awards
The Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity provided special recognition awards for a stallion participating in the Tom Powers Breeders Trust to Masterson Farms on behalf of RL Best Of Sudden, recognizing the stallion’s offsprings’ 2018 achievements. The award was presented to Ken and Marilyn Masterson, who were joined by their staff for the award.
Sleep Alil Bit Longer was recognized for his achievements as Two Year Old, Three Year Old and Maturity Hunter Under Saddle futurity champion at the Tom Powers Triple Challenge. The award was presented to Farley McLendon. Sleep Alil Bit Longer becomes the second horse to be recognized for his achievements at the Powers.
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BSB Quarter Horses of Sturgis, Michigan, was also recognized as Super Breeders for having bred both special recognition achievement horses in the Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity. ‘The girls’ bred both Sleep Alil Bit Longer and last year’s recipient, Just Like June, owned by Judy Davis.
The Tom Powers Triple Challenge continues through Sunday, with several classes having second go-rounds and finals on the last day of the show.
