It wasn’t all fun and games on Wednesday at the Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity in Berrien Springs, Michigan, but attendees went from serious arena competition during the day to serious gamesmanship in the evening during the NSBA Foundation’s fundraiser to benefit the Crisis Fund.
Let The Games Begin
LEight intrepid training teams prepared for battle in a relay race that involved spinning around the bat, a three-legged race, a wheel barrow race and a team race to the finish while juggling a beach ball on their legs. Prior to the race, teams were auctioned Calcutta-style to the highest bidder.
The Cody Parrish team, which included Cody Parrish, Travis Duit, Denton DeBuhr and Alex Collins, crossed the finish line first. When asked about his winning strategy, Cody noted “Just to go fast, and we had a really good anchor.”
Other teams represented Kelby Hutchinson, Katy Jo Zuidema, Hatten Pleasure Horses, Baker Futurity Horses, Jason and Jamie English, Shannon Vroegh and Aaron Moses.
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Longe Line Champions
Due to a heavy thunderstorm on Tuesday night that had knocked out power to the ground sfor a few hours and left arenas muddy, Wednesday morning saw the Open and Non-Pro Color Longe Line classes take place in the indoor arena. Nancy Ditty showed The Best Ticket to win the Non-Pro Color Longe Line for Stanley and Susan Scott LLC. By No Doubt Im Lazy and out of Nancy’s show mare Best Ticket In Town, the gelding is double-registered APHA and AQHA.
“We liked him from day one,” Nancy said. “He’s so slow legged and very mature.”
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Reserve champion Jessica Wazny showed in Longe Line for the first time with her dun gelding Dun Lopin, by The Lopin Machine. “I was pretty excited to show it, but it is a little nerve wracking too,” she said.
“Alan Wood got him in March, and I couldn’t have asked for more in getting him ready for me. He’s very quiet, willing and strong. We named him Cecil after Rick Cecil who bred him.”
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In the Open Color Longe Line, Kenny Lakins showed Best By Design to the win for Brett and Heather Caplinger. The Caplingers raised the colt known as Griffin, who is by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Shes Good N Sultry. “He’s just a phenomenal-minded colt,” Kenny said. “We will show him at the NSBA World and the Congress.” Jon Barry showed the Scott’s The Best Ticket to the reserve award.”.
Hunter Champion
Farley McLendon piloted Al Be Bleu to win the Three Year Old Novice Horse Hunter Under Saddle for Tali Terlizzi. “He’s by Allocate Your Assets and out of a Skys Blue Boy mare, BlueThru N Thru,” Farley said.
“I liked him as a two year old last year and tried to buy him then. I got him earlier this year from Jason and Jamie English after his was reserve in the Premier Hunter Under Saddle class. I’ve shown him at the March To The Arch and Cornhusker and he’s been very good. He has so much self-carriage, a great profile and a great trotter too – he’s coming to the party and he’s stepping up to be a great show horse.”.
Western Winners
Dr. Laura Bracken showed Born Sophisticated to win the Color Breed Non-Pro Western Pleasure. The four year old mare, known as Scarlett, is by her stallion Sophistication Only and out of a RL Best Of Sudden mare named Coalminers Daughter. She is APHA and AQHA registered.
“Today was my first time to get to ride her in a while,” Dr. Bracken noted. “She’s so easy and so good minded. We’ve qualified her for the AQHA World Show in Amateur and Junior Western Pleasure, and Kenny is showing her in the Open Color classes.”
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Pasley Puthoff got her 2019 Tom Powers off to a good start by winning the Two Year Old Color Western Pleasure aboard VS Code OF Gold, riding for David and Tasha Winterfeld. The golden palomino stud colt is by VS Code Red.
“He was dropped off at Gil (Galyean’s) during the AQHA World Show, and it’s been a team effort with everyone at the barn working with him,” Pasley said. “His barn name is Waldo. He’s so great minded, especially for a stud colt. He’s easy to work with.”
In the Three Year Old Limited Open Western Pleasure, Stephanie Armellini showed Shootin The Breeze to the win for owner Katheryn Frederick.
“Since I come from the Trail and Western Riding and Hunter Under Saddle classes, the Western Pleasure is new to me,” Stephanie said. “Shooter is the funnest horse to show and a great one for me to learn with.”
Several first gos of Western Pleasure futurity classes were also held throughout the day, with a second go and final placings to occur later in the week.
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Ranch Riders Ring Out the Day
New to the Tom Powers in 2019 were Open, Green and Non-Pro Ranch Riding classes. “I was pretty instrumental in having the Ranch Riding classes added to the Tom Powers show schedule,” noted Jon Barry. “The classes are a lot of fun, and they’re really becoming very popular.”
Jon and his two entries, Im Dun Sparkling and A Biker Chic Dream were first and second in the Open Ranch Riding. He showed for Chloe Smith and Dana Hunt Smith, respectively.
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17 year old Audrey Barnes showed TC Casual Attire to win both the Green and Non-Pro Ranch Riding classes. “I really like the Ranch Riding, and when we saw it was on the showbill here and we were bringing my horse to Ludington next week, we entered it here,” Audrey said.
“My gelding, Ollie, is by Willy Be Invited and he’s 14 years old. He has a lot of Western Pleasure points, and now we’re taking him into something different. I have showed Ranch Riding at the Novice Championship Show and a few Michigan shows. I also have a three year old that I’m showing in Hunter Under Saddle.
AQHA past president Ken Mumy showed a gelding he raised in Non-Pro Ranch Riding. "I probably have the only Too Sleepy To Zip horse that is doing Ranch Riding," he said, "It's a lot of fun, and it got me back in the saddle again."
The Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity continues through Sunday, June 30.
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