The A Sudden Impulse Futurity is halfway through its futurity event at the World Equestrian Center on Wednesday, and the classes keep building toward the two maiden events on Friday and Saturday. The Way To Go caught up with some of the day’s champions.
Open Color Western Pleasure
Cole Baker piloted Nettie Olsen’s Livin Da Dream to win the Open Color Western Pleasure on Wednesday, earning $566. The unusually colored gelding with the ‘birdcatcher’ spots is double registered with AQHA and APHA.
“He’s just such a natural mover, and a big and slow horse with a level head,” Cole said.
“He’s so laid back and is easy to prepare. Nettie showed him for the first time here earlier in the week and was reserve with him. He’s fun to show.”
First Time to Show, First Time Futurity Champion
Garrett Streit showed in a futurity class for the very first time Wednesday morning and came away with his first futurity championship aboard Made To Ride, winning $929.60 for owners Jud and Gail Heflin.
“I’ve been working for RJ King and Blair Townsend for about eight months,” Garrett said. “It feels pretty good to win. We call this mare Foxy, and she’s really easy to prepare. She doesn’t take a lot of prep. She just flows when she moves, and she cracks that hock and just goes so consistent.”
Novice Non-Pro Western Pleasure
For 15 year old Natalie Anderson, Geez Whata Breeze was a breeze to show in the Novice Non-Pro Western Pleasure due to the special connection they have. They won the class and earned $476.35.
“We call her Geezy, and I just love her,” Natalie said. “She is such a sweet mare, but she’s picky about who she likes. She always does her best for me and I love showing her. She’s very consistent and I think the judges like how she moves.”
Three Year Old $1,000 Novice Horse Open Hunter Under Saddle
The third time was a charm for Joy Wheeler and Nuthin To It. They won the Three Year Old $1,000 Novice Horse Hunter Under Saddle for owner Waukegen Farms, earning $1,016.60.
“We call him Connor,” Joy said. “The first time I showed him, we were reserve in the Virginia Maiden, and the second time we showed we won the Green Hunter Under Saddle at Georgia On My Mind.
“He has a lot of talent and a lot of personality. He has a great presence in the show ring and a neat style about him. He’s so pretty and he just does his job.”
Maturity $2,500 Limited Horse Open Hunter Under Saddle
Jamie English was glad that owner Wendy Whittington gave Just One Last Chance a chance to prove himself as a show horse.
“That was the most fun I’ve had at a show in a long time,” Jamie said. “We just got Chase this year, and Wendy let me try him in our program. He just gets better the older he gets. He’s a sweet guy and he loves his job.”
Three Year Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure
The Grand Arena made the perfect backdrop to the final classes on Wednesday afternoon.
Starting the classes in the main arena was the Three Year Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure. Mallory Wachob piloted Eyell Be The Rock to win the class and the $1,036 first place prize.
“Judd and Jennifer Paul raised her, and she’s by The Rock,” Mallory said. “I was over at the farm last year and they told me to just hop on this two year old. We just clicked.
“’Robin’ gets better every time we show, and honestly she’s always good and I’m still learning. She’s so quiet, and she goes along so soft. She’s easy to ride.”
Maturity Intermediate Non-Pro Western Pleasure
Deanna Green proved to have the golden touch and the golden horse in the Maturity Intermediate Non-Pro Western Pleasure. She showed palomino mare Ima Golden Machine for Rusty and Katie Green, earning $929.60 for the win.
“We always laugh and say she’s just a horse from the corn field,” Deanna said.
“She’s by Machine Made, and I got to show her a little bit last year. She’s really Katie’s ride, and she just shares her with me a little bit. She showed really well today. She had a great top line and I could put her wherever I needed to.”
Three Year Old Open and Intermediate Open Western Pleasure
The final placed class of the day Wednesday saw two sets of results from the Open Three Year Old Western Pleasure exhibitors.
Andy Cochran and Start Ur Engines racked up another win for Capital Quarter Horses LLC, earning $2,373. “I watched him grow up with us at Capital,” Andy said.
“He’s probably one of the strongest three year olds I’ve had in a long time. He’s a waspy little horse, but he can move. He comes from a great family with Machine Made, and we love his mother, Momma Knows Best.”
Andy and the gelding won the Three Year Old and Older Novice Horse Western Pleasure at March To The Arch, and Hillary Roberts showed him to win the Premier Sires Non-Pro Western Pleasure.
In the Intermediate division, Blair Townsend added another win on the day for Made To Ride and the Heflin family. The recent mother just had baby boy Westyn James King two weeks ago and is already back in the saddle.
The A Sudden Impulse Futurity continues through Saturday, May 1. To learn more, visit worldequestriancenter.com.
