Today’s classes at the 2021 APHA World Show will focus on English disciplines, specially Over Fences and Equitation. This morning’s events kicked off with high flying action in Green Working Hunter with the winner being crowned as No Doubt This Is Hot and Jamie Rowland. Mason Lyon rode The Big Bang Theory to a Reserve finish. Third was Mason once again with Talk About A Debut.
Top talent was on display at the 2019 APHA Youth World Championship Show, which took place June 24–July 7 in Fort Worth, Texas. Seven Youth exhibitors captured eight all-around and high-point awards, taking home loads of prizes and bragging rights along with plenty of World Show memories. Check out full results online at
All-Around Novice Youth: Taylor Daniel & Who Sez
It only took a few strides for Taylor Daniel to know she and Who Sez would have a spectacular ride through the Novice Youth Western Riding 18 & Under class.
“I rode in, he jogged off really nicely, got over the pole and right when he loped off he curled his neck a bit, I loosened the reins and just thought, ‘This is going to be great,’ ” the 18-year-old from La Mirada, California, said. “I came out of the pen thinking, ‘That was it.’ ”
The self-professed perfectionist often finds small critiques in each of her rides, but she had little to worry about for her and “Howard’s” first—and last—Youth World Show together. The duo teamed up in late 2018, and spend the year riding toward the goal of clinching the All-Around Novice Youth award at the World Show. Smooth rides in Western riding and more made that dream come true, and the team picked up a world championship in Novice Youth 18 & Under Western Riding and reserve world titles in Novice Youth 18 & Under Hunter Under Saddle and Novice Youth 18 & Under Western Pleasure, along with Top 10 awards in other events.
“We made that plan to come here and chase the All-Around Novice Youth title, and we worked hard all year to get ready,” Taylor said. “To come here and actually achieve it is just so cool.”
Who Sez is a 2003 bay overo gelding by HBF Iron Man and out of Achy Breaky Zippo.
Youth 13 & Under: Kaylynn Heitman & Hunting Blue Skies
With a full slate of classes on her docket, covering both Youth 13 & Under and Novice Youth events, Kaylynn Heitman’s goal of buckling in every class was a tall order. And though she fell just a touch short of that ambitious objective, Kaylynn captured a far bigger accolade: the All-Around Youth 13 & Under award.
Returning to the Youth World Show for the second time aboard Hunting Blue Skies, Kaylynn used her dual-division schedule to be extra prepared for her Youth 13 & Under classes.
“This year, I came in with more confidence and knew what to expect,” she said. “I wanted to do better in the Youth classes because it’s my last year in 13 & Under, so if I had a mistake in my Novice classes, I knew how to fix it for the Youth classes.”
The strategy paid off, and the team walked away with World Championships in Youth Showmanship 13 & Under and Youth Trail 13 & Under, a Reserve World Championship in Youth Hunt-Seat Equitation 13 & Under and Top Fives in Youth Hunter Under Saddle 13 & Under, Youth Horsemanship 13 & Under, Youth Western Pleasure 13 & Under and Youth Performance Halter Mares. That’s in addition to three more buckles earned in Novice Youth events, too.
Kaylynn added more than $3,000 to her college fund, thanks to the Youth World Show scholarships she earned with “Skye.” With big goals of riding on the Southern Methodist University varsity equestrian team, those funds will be useful. First, though, she’ll need to tackle high school and a move into the Youth 14–18 division—a prospect to which she’s looking forward.
“I’m really excited to move up to 14-18 after how we’ve done this year,” she said.
Hunting Blue Skies is a 2014 gray overo mare by Impulsified and out of Blue Skies Ahead (QH).
All-Around Youth 14–18: Samantha Stubblefield & Even More Sensational
It was love at first ride for Samantha Stubblefield and Even More Sensational, the 2013 bay overo gelding by Zippos Sensation and out of Good Enchantment (QH) she purchased in April of 2018. “It was an instant match,” the 17-year-old from Montgomery, Texas, said. “Our personalities work well together and ‘Dillon’ tries so hard for me. He’s just so goofy and that’s what I need to not get so serious; Dillon makes showing more fun.”
The duo wasted little time getting up to speed with one another, and their rigorous preparation through the year launched them into their second Youth World Show with the precision and momentum needed to dominate their classes all week long. Together, Samantha and Dillon walked away with World Championship titles in Youth Hunt-Seat Equitation 18 & Under, Youth Trail 18 & Under and Youth Western Horsemanship 18 & Under; Reserve World Championships in Youth Performance Halter Geldings and Youth Western Riding 18 & Under along with multiple other Top Five placings.
Though each win was derived from hours of sweat equity, Samantha says the pinnacle achievement—the All-Around Youth 14–18 Award—was not something she planned.
“[To win this] is insane. It’s something I never really thought would happen,” Samantha said. “Dillon is a great horse, but it’s really hard to win an all-around award because there are horses that go out there and also do events like jumping and barrels. It’s really special that I get to have the honor of winning with just all my all-around classes and my horse.”
All-Around Youth Solid Paint-Bred: Fallon Owen & Sensational Lilo
Fallon Owen of Scurry, Texas, only started riding Sensational Lilo, a 2004 bay solid gelding, four months ago, but the pair bonded almost immediately— with determination and hard work, Fallon and “Lilo” were able to transform into a talented duo in a short period of time. Despite being a new team, Fallon says she was confident in their abilities and partnership going into the World Show.
“Lilo is super laid back and chill,” Fallon said. “No matter what, he always keeps trying and has such a big heart. He didn’t have much of a personality when I first started riding him; I kind of had to get him to come out of his shell, but once I started riding him, his personality came through. Now it’s my favorite thing about him.”
Fallon and Lilo’s bond helped them win almost every class they entered. They earned World Championship titles in Youth Solid Paint-Bred Hunt-Seat Equitation 18 & Under and Youth Solid Paint-Bred Hunter Under Saddle 18 & Under. In the Western classes, they won the Youth Solid Paint-Bred Showmanship 18 & Under, Youth Solid Paint- Bred Western Horsemanship 18 & Under and Youth Solid Paint-Bred Western Pleasure 18 & Under, with a Top Five placing in the Youth Solid Paint-Bred Geldings. Three of their World Championships were unanimous under all five judges.
“I knew James Saubolle, my trainer, had Lilo prepared for the patterns and that we were ready,” Fallon said. “I was really looking forward to showing showmanship, because I won the Novice Youth Showmanship here last year with another horse. But I didn’t think we were going to get a high-point—it was a great surprise.”
As for the $2,500 in scholarships that she won, Fallon will put them to good use when she attends Texas A&M University in the fall.
High-Point Walk-Trot: Delaney Good & Kewl Zippin Strider
In 2017, Delaney Good and Kewl Zippin Strider tied for the High-Point Youth Walk- Trot award, but fell short in a tiebreaker. In 2018, she won the coveted high-point award for the division outright; and in 2019, Delaney and “Dewey” repeated their win at their last show together as a team.
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Delaney said. “I’m excited to have a new horse and figure out how to work and ride him. But I’m kind of sad because I’ve had Dewey for seven years. It’s amazing that we were able to get this award again at our last show.”
The 11-year- old equestrienne from Boone, Iowa, and the 18-year-old gelding won World Championship titles in Youth Walk-Trot Hunt-Seat Equitation and Youth Walk- Trot Trail, a Reserve World Championship in Youth Walk-Trot Hunter Under Saddle and Top Five placings in Youth Walk-Trot Showmanship and Youth Walk-Trot Western Pleasure. This earned the team 111 points, putting them at the front of the pack for the Youth Walk-Trot division.
“Dewey is super fun to ride and show,” Delaney said. “To get ready for this year’s World Show, we went to some shows in Cedar Rapids and rode at home a lot. My trainer, Shannon Vroegh, coaches me on things I can do better—she helps me a lot.”
Kewl Zippin Strider is a 2003 chestnut overo gelding by LS Legacy and out of Kewl Zippn Rita May (QH).
High-Point English Youth: Ady Kallay & Gotta Be Sensational
You might not know it from just looking, but the rockstar team of Ady Kallay and Gotta Be Sensational often have butterflies fluttering around their tummies before they compete. Once they’re inside the pen, however, the duo settles in, focusing on the task at hand and their shared trust in one another to push those feelings aside and lay down championship-worthy performances.
“After a while, when we’re doing a pattern or showing on the rail, they just sort of go away,” Ady said about her nerves. “You never know [how you’ll do] until you try. The World Show is just for you to have fun and to have new experiences.”
This year, Ady and “Joey,” who she’s been riding for about a year, added jumping to their repertoire, snagging a world championship in Youth Hunter Hack 13 & Under; that was in addition to a World Championship in Youth Hunt-Seat Equitation 13 & Under, a Reserve World Championship in Youth Hunter Under Saddle and Top Fives in several other events.
“I just wanted to have a clean ride [in the hunter hack],” said the 12-year-old equestrienne from Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada. “He’s very fun to jump. I didn’t jump before him; this is new to me. It’s fun and I trust him very much, so that makes it easier.”
Their solid efforts in hunt-seat classes rocketed Ady and Joey to the top of the High- Point English Youth list. Though Ady can’t pinpoint a favorite event, she says the partnership she shares with the towering gelding is the best part of all.
“He is like my best friend and I love him very much. He’s a very hard worker and he’ll do just about anything I ask,” she said.
Gotta Be Sensational is a 2008 chestnut overo gelding by Zippos Sensation and out of Unlaced Opinion.
High-Point Western Youth & High-Point Power Performance Youth: Sydney Shaw & Gay Bars Cat
“Don’t joke about that,” said Sydney Shaw, when she found out she’d captured the show’s Youth Power Performance and High-Point Western Youth awards—and the two saddles that came along with them. The pair of awards weren’t on Sydney’s radar at all, and to say she was surprised to learn she’d won was an understatement.
“These are the first saddles I have ever won—I never thought I would win two at the same time,” Sydney exclaimed. “It was really exciting, and it makes me so proud of her because she was essentially homegrown. We’ve never sent her to a trainer, so it feels good that it was a family effort—we did it!”
Showing in both ranch and speed events, Sydney and her 2007 red roan tobiano mare Gay Bars Cat racked up 93 points toward the titles. They won Youth Barrel Racing 18 & Under, were Reserve in Youth Ranch Rail Pleasure 18 & Under, third in Youth Pole Bending 18 & Under and fourth in Youth Ranch Riding 18 & Under. Not too shabby, considering the rope-bred “Number One”—whose by Delta Bunnys Cat and out of Gay Bars Dixie—started barrel racing out of convenience and has only shown in the ranch events three times.
“I didn’t start riding her until I was asked to be on the county drill team; those girls barrel race, and we hosted small playdays and events,” Sydney explained. “A week before one of those barrel events, I decided to try it—I didn’t ask her to run hard, and we ran a 19-second run, and that was just with seven days of work!
“There aren’t many horses you can ask to go run barrels and then turn around and show. I do a lot of different things on her, even jumping. I don’t want her to just have one job; I like my horses to be versatile and useable.”
The 18-year-old from Winnie, Texas, racked up nearly $1,200 in scholarships as part of the Youth World Show this year, bringing her grand total from three years of competition to almost $2,000. That will come in handy as she heads to Sam Houston State University in the fall to major in criminal justice. Number One is coming along too —they’ll be joining the rodeo team—and Sydney appreciates the opportunities afforded to her by the little roan mare with the great big heart.
“Partnership is the most important component in being successful with your horse,” she said. “A horse doesn’t want to come out here and do this on their own; they do it because they want to make you happy. That’s what she’s shown me the most.”
It’s been a busy day at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, and the two disciplines that have been at the forefront couldn’t be more different. In the Celeste Center, high flying Quarter Horses took to the sky for Over Fences classes. First, Jessica Johnson rode DGS Vintage to a win in Level 1 Working Hunter for owner, Robin DeGraff.
“I bred his mom, and I bred his dad,” Degraff says. “His dad is DGS Vestastic, and he’s by Vested Pine and out of Krymsun Hot Invite. The mom is DGS Indyspirational, so she’s by Indian Artifacts and out of Viva Valentina, and every one of Valentina’s babies out of Chief has been at least Congress Top 5 or higher.”
“Luke” is a five-year-old gelding that has been under the guidance of Jessica Johnson for some time now. Earlier this year, he was crowned a NSBA World and Reserve World Champion. He was also named the High Point Open Horse at the show.
DeGraff is a horse industry veteran, but she’s been away from the show scene for a while. “My husband died last October, so it’s been a year, and it’s been a different year for me. I think he was riding with them…”
The Reserve Champion was Chuck Briggs with Al Lad Dan. Third was Jessica Johnson with Cloaked In Honor. Fourth was Chuck Briggs with Al Amaze You. Fifth was Lainie DeBoer with Undressed N Radical.
In Progressive Working Hunter, Jerry Erickson rode Awesum Blue Skies to a win. “Blue” has been in the barn for a year and a half. Jerry says his owner, Bobbi Raub, who lives on a ranch in New Mexico, is going to delighted to hear the news of her horse’s win.
“She just loves him. She’s never seen him show, but she’s going to the World Show to watch and that will be the first time. She has been really good and allowed me to do whatever I think the horse needs. Sometimes, she volunteers things I didn’t even think he might need. She really thinks the world of him, so this will be a very nice treat for her.”
Jerry explains that the Progressive division has helped to give Blue some confidence after a year of competing in the Green division. “He’s a really good jumper. He’s a little bit intimidated by the jumps sometimes, so that’s why last year I showed in Green because I thought he needed an extra year to mature. That’s why the Progressive division is so great, because it gives them an extra year to mature.”
The Reserve Champion was Linda Crothers with Al Wayz On Your Mind. Third was Jessica Johnson with Cloaked In Honor. Fourth was Ryan Painter with Thrift Shop. Fifth was Jessica Johnson with Miss American Pi.
Finally, our Equine Chronicle cover boy, Al Wayz On Your Mind and one of his favorite people, Linda Crothers, were named the Congress Champions in Junior Working Hunter. Earlier in the day, they also placed Reserve in Progressive Working Hunter. Later on today, his owner, Gerri Leigh Pratt, is very excited to see how the gentle giant performs in the Congress Open Hunter Classic.
Meanwhile, over in the Coliseum, Tom Robertson led Most Appealing Dream to win Performance Mares. The Reserve Champion was Jeffrey Pait with Do Ya Dream Of Me. Third was Wade Parks with She Had Me At Hello. Fourth was Luke Castle with Shes Showin Off. Fifth was Jason Smith with Gracious.
Then, Jason Smith led Bittersweett to win Yearling Fillies for Susan Darr. Susan has had “Dani” since she was a weanling, and she’s been with Jason for the past ten years. Dani is by I Gotta Cool Secret and out of a Mister E mare.
“She was just so beautiful standing in the stall that there was no other one that even compared to her. She looks just like her mother. She has a great personality, and she’s good to work with. She’s an all around good horse. She’s beautiful inside and out.”
This is the first time that Dani has competed at the Congress and she’s taken a win. Susan will hope to repeat that performance when she shows the mare in the amateur division later in the week.
Reserve was Tom Robertson with Stella Finest Rose. Third was Dewey Smith with Sheza Premadonna. Fourth was Ted Turner with Shez Got Ya Lookin. Fifth was Mike McMillian with TNR Cali Cool.
Jeffrey Pait led Shes That Radiant to win 2-Year-Old Mares. Reserve was Tom Robertson with Apleezing. Third was Joe Engle with Pretty Charming. Fourth was JT Mitchell with Caught Ya Lookn. Fifth was Rose Santos with TB A Classic Secret.
Winning 3-Year-Old Mares was Luke Castle with Creeola for Dan Fox. Reserve was Ted Turner with Shez Pure Elegance. Third was Dewey Smith with Blue Ribbons N Lace. Fourth was Jeffrey Pait with ER A Secret Fox. Fifth was Joe Engle with Partee Down Kid.
Dan purchased Creeola last year from Jason Smith. She’s a Mr Elusive mare, and Dan simply loves her personality. “She definitely got her height from her daddy, and she’s a really sweet mare. I showed her last year, and this year, and she’s going to the World Show. I just switched over to John Shepard for training her, and he’s done an awesome job in just 30 days, and Luke did an awesome job of showing her.”
Winning Aged Mares was Jeffrey Pait with Can’t Touch Her Guns. Reserve was Tom Robertson with Baby Im Worth It. Third was Ross Roark with Scarlet O Harra. Fourth was Jason Smith with Wisshes. Fifth was Dewey Smith with Equities.
To round out the day, not only did Jeffrey Pait have the Grand Champion Mare with Shes That Radiant, he ALSO had the Reserve Champion Mare with Cant Touch Her Guns. Stay
Interestingly enough, today’s World Champions in Hunter Hack have several things in common. In addition to being top females in their respective disciplines, Jessica Johnson and Lainie DeBoer were student and trainer, not too many years ago.
“She’s done such a great job with that stallion [DGS Vintage],” Lainie says. “She was my student as a youth, starting when she was eleven, and then through being an amateur. And now she’s a professional, so it’s very special.”
Jessica was in the irons of DGS Vintage to win Junior Hunter Hack, while Lainie rode DGS Don’t Tell Tales to win Senior Hunter Hack. Both ladies were the unanimous World Champions in their classes.
DGS Vintage is the 2014, bay stallion by DGS Vestastic and out of DGS Indyspirational, the full sister to DGS Replicated. He’s owned by Robin DeGraff.
Jessica got “Luke” in the barn at the end of his three-year-old year, and the stallion is five now. Just a few weeks ago, they won Level 1 Working Hunter at the Congress. Also here at the show, they will compete in Junior Hunter Under Saddle, Junior Pleasure Driving, and Progressive and Junior Working Hunter.
“He’s very pretty and one of the best horses to be around,” Jessica says. “He’s very quiet to be a stallion. He’s so lovely to be around every day. At home, he’s the perfect gentlemen, so I cannot wait to see his offspring. He will stand in 2020 at DeGraff Stables.”
In addition to his talent over fences, Jessica hopes Luke passes along his great mindset to his offspring. “He’s so great minded and quiet, and that’s important for a Hunt Seat horse.”
Meanwhile, Lainie rode DGS Don’t Tell Tales to win Senior Hunter Hack for owner, Pam Stubbs. Lainie rode “Dillon” in the junior division last year, and this is his first year “playing with the big dogs” in the senior.
This World Championship marks the 22nd for Lainie, making her the female who has won the most AQHA World Championship titles.
“It’s really unreal,” she says. “It was a big goal of mine. I came to this show 26 years ago, and I thought I’d study and see who was winning. Every year, we get this program and it lists the exhibitors and their World Championships, and Sandy Vaughn was the top woman at the time. I thought I need to look forward to that.”
“I tucked it away and honestly didn’t think much about it. It wasn’t consuming me, and then last year it kind of hit me that I had reached 20. I waited all year to get the souvenir program. It’s probably the longest reaching goal that I’ve ever achieved. When I was a kid, I wanted to ride in the Olympics, and that wasn’t really doable; but, with this, I made my mark.”
But no rider can achieve a World Championship without a great horse underneath them, and Dillon has helped Lainie to claim quite a few of her total.
“He’s such a good show horse. He’s all business. He hands everything over to me. We have such a good relationship, because we’ve known each other for so long and he trusts me so much. He knows that I’ve got his back. I’m going to do my job, he will do his, and we will meet in the end. That’s kind of our arrangement. And then he gets lots of cookies…”
“What’s so great about him is his rhythm. He has such great rhythm at the canter, and it’s so easy to see the jumps when you’re on his back. He’s very easy to rate, and he pulls just a little on the bit. It’s just enough to say he’s there but not enough to say he’s taking over. But, I think his claim to fame will always be his showmanship.”
Today’s classes at the 2021 APHA World Show will focus on English disciplines, specially Over Fences and Equitation. This morning’s events kicked off with high flying action in Green Working Hunter with the winner being crowned as No Doubt This Is Hot and Jamie Rowland. Mason Lyon rode The Big Bang Theory to a Reserve finish. Third was Mason once again with Talk About A Debut.
In the next class, it was time for Mason to enter the winer’s circle in Junior Working Hunter with Talk About A Debut. Reserve was Jamie Rowland with No Doubt This Is Hot. Third was Mason Lyon with Talk About Eye Candy.
Mason bred and raised this 5-year-old mare and showed her sire, I Got Em Talkin, during past APHA World Shows. She’s now owned by Morgan Rogers, who had great success thus far with a win in Novice Amateur Hunter Hack and a Reserve finish in Novice Amateur Working Hunter. Mason also placed third in Green Working Hunter and was Reserve in Junior Hunter Hack.
“When she was four and COVID hit, we needed a project,” Mason says. “We pulled her out of the pasture, and she was barely broke. We showed her here last year, and she did well. We have continued on, and she keeps getting better.”
“My favorite thing about her is that, from the beginning, she was super dependable. She comes around the corner and locks in. She knows it’s her job. I never worry about her.”
Coming up next, Mason will show Talk About A Debut at the NSBA World Show and The Championship at WEC-Ocala in the fall.
In Novice Amateur Working Hunter, the winner was Wicked Red Flyer and Sydney Caldwell. Reserve was Talk About A Debut and Morgan Rogers. Third was Secret Treasure and Amy Novacek. In Novice Youth Working Hunter, the winner was Big Shoes To Fill and Summer Skrabanek. Reserve was Welovepie and Addison Krause. Third was Too Cool To Catch and Gianna Brown.
The Amateur Working Hunter class provided an emotional win for Sarah Elder Chabot and her longtime partner, A Well Dressed Man.
Sarah and her longtime partner, a 13-year-old gelding named “Calvin,” achieved an emotional win today. “Four years ago, we didn’t have a great AQHA World Show, and it really shook my confidence,” she says. “Previously, we’d won Equitation Over Fences and Amateur Working Hunter. He’s been turned out for four years since then. This was kind of a big heart moment for us. I got him up about six weeks ago, and we started putting the pieces back together.”
When Sarah first purchased Calvin as a four-year-old, he was AQHA and APHA Solid Paint Bred; but, thanks to the recently rule change, he now has Regular Registry APHA papers. Sarah’s longtime trainer, Karen Evans Mundy, found Calvin for her client, and the trio has been a team for ten plus years now.
“He always shows better than he rides in the warmup pen,” she says. “He has great expression and is a touch brighter when he shows, so he’s careful with his legs. He’s a really good partner, and we’ve been together for a long time.”
Following this interview, Sarah and Calvin continued their winning ways with a World Championship in Amateur Equitation Over Fences. Coming up next, they will compete in Amateur Equitation and Halter.
