The 2021 Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity had a perfect weather day to show outside in the beautiful Stone Wall Arena at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio on Saturday.
Deja Vu In Longe Line
Saturday started inside with the Open Yearling Longe Line, and familiar faces prevailed among the winners. Kenny Lakins showed Martini Time to the gelding’s fourth 2021 Tom Powers championship. Earlier in the week, Owner Brett Caplinger showed Martini Time to a co-championship with his wife Heather in the Super Sires Non-Pro Yearling Longe Line, and Brett and the gelding also won both the Non-Pro Yearling Longe Line and the Brad Borton Memorial Limited Non-Pro Yearling Longe Line.
Enticing Weather, Enticing Champions
When the Tom Powers classes moved outside on Saturday morning, Amber Pickard Hanson had a picture-perfect ride aboard Enticed, showing for owner Gretchen Deeds, winning the Three Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle.
Amber followed up with a second Tom Powers win in the Two Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle aboard Big Game Changer, showing for Brett Husky. It was an emotional win for Amber.
“The gentleman who raised this mare recently passed away, so it means a lot to get this win,” she said. “I was there when she was born, and we’ve had her in training as a two year old.
“She’s big, strong and slow legged, as well as being great minded. Honestly, I love showing the young ones. The two year olds are young enough that they don’t know enough to be bad, and they just try to please you.”
Beckey Schooler showed The Red Dirt Road to win the Limited division of the Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle, following up on the success her daughter Ty Paris had in the Non-Pro division of the class on Friday.
“He was really good,” Beckey said. “Nothing phases him. He has such a happy expression, and he seems to love to do his job.”
Knockin It Out Knocks Out A Maturity Win
In a deep Maturity Western Pleasure class, it was Knockin It Out and Gil Galyean, showing for Richard and Betty Jo Carr, who took the win. The duo followed up on the success Betty Jo had in the Select Amateur Western Pleasure on Saturday.
“She was really good today,” Gil said of the mare known as Pipa.
Betting To Win: Bettin The Goods Earns Intermediate Class
In the Maturity Intermediate Open Western Pleasure, Bettin The Goods, shown by Wade Parks for William and Melissa Wilkes, took the top spot.
“His legs were so good today,” noted Melissa of the six year old gelding known as Hunter. “He’s one that we raised, so it’s really special to win with him. He’s by Keeping It Good and out of Betting With My Heart. He did really well in Georgia, and we’re looking forward to showing him at the NSBA World Show. Carly Parks will be showing him in Trail and I will be showing him in the pleasure.
Catching A Win: Aaron Moses and Pinball Machine
A catch ride turned into a Tom Powers championship for Aaron Moses and Pinball Machine. Aaron piloted Pinball Machine for Tali Terlizzi. “We loved everything about their go today,” noted Kelby Hutchinson, who trains the gelding with his wife, Caitlyn.
“He’s the epitome of everything you want in a Western Pleasure horse. He has that flow, the forward momentum and the self-carriage. It’s all there.”
Cashing In: KM Slot Machine
Blake Britton and KM Slot Machine continued their winning ways, earning first in the Three Year Old Intermediate Open Western Pleasure, showing for owner Libby Trucco.
Blake, his wife Becca and owner Libby Trucco and the gelding have had impressive shows at the Madness and the Premier, as well as placing in the top three in the Carl Yamber Memorial Novice Horse class at the Tarheel Classic in recent weeks.
Two Year Old Western Pleasure Winners
Katy Jo Zuidema piloted KM Bit Of The Best for her dad and stepmother, Wayne and Judy Davis, in the Two Year Old Open Western Pleasure.
“We’ve had a lot of fun with her,” Katy Jo said. “We got her from Clay Arrington in early April, and her barn name is Bam Bam. She’s by Machine Made and out of a Good Version daughter.
“She would love to live in our house, honestly. She’s the coolest horse. It’s so early for the two year olds, but she has so much self-carriage, and she doesn’t want any trouble. She just checks all the boxes.”
In the Limited division of the class, Dillon Hatton piloted VS Got A Line to the win. “He’s by VS Flatline, and was bred by his owner, Patrick Ramsey,” Dillon said.
“He’s super easy-going. He has such a big hock, and he has so much try.” Dillon will be showing the dun gelding at the ABRA World Championship Show and he will then travel to Tulsa for the NSBA World Show. “I’ll show him in the Color classes and Patrick will be showing him in the Non-Pro,” Dillon said.
Super Night for Super Sires
The Western Pleasure Super Sires program presented two classes for Non-Pro exhibitors during the 2021 Tom Powers Triple Challenge.
In the Super Sires Limited Non-Pro Three Year Old Western Pleasure, Rick Smith showed I Broke The Internet to the win and a check for $5,000. “I bought her from Denton and Drew DeBuhr, and sent her to Pepe Lieurance and Jeff Cochran to start in March,” Rick said.
“She’s by The Lopin Machine and out of a daughter of A Certain Potential. I just love her. She was fifth at The Madness in the maiden class earlier this year. This was my fourth time to ride her. Pepe and Jeff had her prepared really well. I normally show in Amateur Select.
“I appreciate so much the Super Sires program for giving an opportunity for people like me to come and show. It’s a great progam and it pays really well. This was my first big win of any kind.”
In the Super Sires Non-Pro Three Year Old Western Pleasure, Its A Krymsum Belle and Mallory Vroegh showed to the first place spot and won $5,000.
“It’s actually a miracle that we were able to show today,” Mallory said. “Ginger had an abcess the first part of this week, and it just came out yesterday. We really weren’t sure if we were going to be able to show, but my mom (Shannon Vroegh) and Aaron Moses kept checking her and she wanted to show today.
“I got to ride her once before we showed today. I wasn’t nervous though, because I trust my mom and Aaron. I have the best team behind me. That’s type of horse she is - she wants to be a show horse. She’s shown at The Premier and in Ocala and done really well.
“We are incredibly grateful for the Premier Sires program. My mom has made a living raising horses and doing programs like this, and it’s so nice to get paid back. It was an easy sign up to enroll in the program and it’s run so well – you just have to get ready and show.”
Saturday also included several NSBA qualifying classes, including Youth, Novice Youth and Select Amateur Western Pleasure.
The Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity concludes on Sunday, July 4.
