Top Horse-Show Moments of 2015
[source: AQHA.com]
To read the full article on AQHA.com.
1. First, we tip our hats to the American Quarter Horses who went viral this year. Back in April at the FEI World Cup in Las Vegas, reined cow horse professionals traded saddles with show jumpers. While the cow horse guys were certainly entertaining to watch jump, we think the star of the show was Reymanator, ridden in Las Vegas by grand prix jumper Tanya Levorchick. “Frozen” fans worldwide are still talking about Laura Sumrall’s mesmerizing performance at the Kentucky Reining Cup aboard Wimpys Top Model. En route to the 2015 freestyle reining world championship, the team let it go in a “Frozen”-inspired routine. And last, but certainly not least, “Smokey the Pony” captured the hearts of America, garnering as much attention throughout the year as his best equine buddy, Triple Crown and Grand Slam winner American Pharoah (TB). Before he was purchased by owner Bob Baffert to serve as an escort, or pony horse, to Thoroughbred racehorses, Smokey (registered as This Whiz Shines), got his start as a reining horse, and even competed at the 2012 National Reining Horse Association Futurity. Smokey returned to his roots in December, when he was invited back to Oklahoma City to be a celebrity guest at the 50th running of the NRHA Futurity.
2. Sydney Scheckel and A Perfect Pleasure’s breath-taking showmanship pattern. Their performance at the Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show was so incredible that it earned them a near-perfect score – a 297. When you consider that a perfect score in showmanship is a 100 (or 300 at AQHA world shows), you can appreciate just how phenomenal their performance truly was.
3. Sweet As Time secured her spot in tie-down roping lore. She won both the AQHA-Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association tie-down roping horse of the year award and AQHA senior tie-down roping world championship, plus helped Marcos Costa finish fifth in the average at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and 11th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings.
4. Kid Coolsified became the halter industry’s first $1 million sire. Every segment of the American Quarter Horse industry has its legendary sires, those who have made significant impacts on the breed and etched their names in history. Add to the distinguished list Kid Coolsified, who secured his place in history in September by becoming the first million-dollar halter sire.