Several horses found themselves with multiple wins on the second day of the Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity, being held this week at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio.
Spouse Rivalry
Heather Caplinger began the day by watching her horse, Make N Money, win the Open Color Yearling Longe Line with Kenny Lakins on the lead, and ended the day as co-champion with her husband Brett, who showed Martini Time, in the Super Sires Non-Pro Longe Line.
Announcer Tom Powers and Super Sires executive committee member Joan Schroeder urged the Caplingers to do a 60 percent/40 percent split of the more than $6,600 that the couple split for tying as first and second.
The Caplingers laughed at the thought of having a spouse rivalry. “When one of the judges pulled me out first, she asked if Brett was related to me, and so I had to tell her he was my husband, and I thanked her for pulling me out in front of him,” laughed Heather.
Since the couple started raising and showing Longe Line horses five years ago, they began looking for Super Sires stallions to breed their mares to. “When we first went to the Tom Powers and saw how much money the program was paying out, we knew we wanted to put these stallions at the top of our list,” Heather said.
“We’ve tried to breed at least one of our mares to a Super Sires stallion, or more if we think it will be a good cross. It’s a great program for the small breeder who wants to raise and promote their prospects. There’s nothing that pays as well and as deep as it does. We love it,” Brett added.
The Super Sires Non-Pro Longe Line class saw 14 entries and paid six places, with a total purse of $9,800.
Open exhibitor Kenny Lakins noted that he’s partial to Make N Money, who is known as Cash. “I showed his daddy, Makin Me Willy Wild, so he’s one of my favorites,” Kenny said. “He’s big, strong and very talented. He has so much natural talent that it’s easy for him. And he wants to go slow.”
Rock N Motion... Rocked It
Rock N Motion was the unanimous champion in the Three Year Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle with Stephanie Armellini in the irons and later unanimously won the Three Year Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle with owner Sarah Nimigan.
“The Premier was our first show together,” Sarah said of the gelding. “Wayne and Judy Davis raised him, and so we call him Bob Davis. When Wayne and Judy raise one, you have to take notice. We sort of kept him in the family because he’s with Katy Jo (Davis) Zuidema and Stephanie.
“He’s so laid back, and he’s really fun to show. You just put him in a gear and he finds the rhythm and never changes.”
MadeFourIt Makes Another Win
Katy Jo Zuidema continued the wins with MadeFourIt, unanimously winning the $2,500 Limited Horse Three Year Old Western Pleasure. The stallion, who is owned by Stephanie Armellini and Dennis Oyer, won the Powers Three Year Old Limited Open Western Pleasure on Wednesday.
“He just seems to get better the more we show him,” noted Katy Jo. “He’s really coming together.”
Hot Without A Doubt Was… Hot
Hot Without A Doubt was another double Powers champion on Thursday. The gelding known as Frazier won the Three Year Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure with owner Caitlin Dunsmore Miller aboard, and later won the Color Breed Open Western Pleasure with Cody Conover in the saddle.
“We bought him as an almost unbroke two year old, and we took him to Aaron Moses,” Caitlin said. “He’s by No Doubt Im Lazy. We were attracted to his movement, and the breeder was really good to us and let us try him. He seemed to really be in the zone today. This was my first time to get to show him.”
First Time’s A Charm
Julie Marweg had never been to the Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity, but that changed this week when she showed Al Be Large for owner Kathy Corrigan Frank. “I’ve had a great time here,” Julie said. “It’s a lovely facility.”
Julie showed Al Be Large to win the Open Hunter Yearling Longe Line Thursday morning. “Kathy bred and raised this filly,” she said. “She’s by Living Large. She has already won a Pinto world championship, and Kathy will debut showing her in the Non-Pro at the NSBA World Show.
“She’s been so easy to train, and just has a natural way of going.”
More Champions Crowned
Tali Terlizzi spent a busy day in the English irons and the Western saddle, and piloted Al Be Bleu to win the Maturity Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.
“He was really good today,” Tali said. “I’m proud of all my horses.”
Dawn Baker rode what she describes as the ‘easiest catch ride ever’ when she showed Hoo Sleepin With Hoo for owner Kelsey Bell. The four year old gelding is by Too Sleepy To Zip.
“He’s super sweet and easy going,” noted Kelsey. “We’ve had him since he was two. He’s really consistent, and he just went out and did his job. He was great and Dawn did a great job showing him.”
In the Maturity Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure, Natalie Anderson showed her show partner of the past three years, Geez Whata Breeze. The mare’s barn name is GZ.
“We were attracted to her because of the way she looked and the way she moves, and she’s been great,” Natalie said. “She was really easy, and she was a lot of fun to show today."
The Maturity Limited Open Western Pleasure saw several ties, including naming co-champions. Geez Whata Breeze, shown by Stephanie Armellini for Jamie Anderson tied with She Isa Crowdpleaser, shown by Robert Fowler for Matt Main, for the win.
Aaron Moses took Ima Golden Machine to the win in the $2,500 Limited Horse Maturity Western Pleasure, showing for Linda Neece. Aaron has been a quick study of the mare, whom Linda bought from Rusty and Katie Green at the Sudden Impulse Futurity in April.
“We’re getting to know each other a little more,” Aaron said. “She’s really doing well. We’re excited for Linda to get to show her in Non-Pro events a little later.”
In the Powers’ Novice Horse Novice Rider Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle, Ali Hubbell showed Bennjammin to the win. The day also included several NSBA qualifying classes for Youth, Novice Youth, Select Amateur and Senior Hunter Under Saddle.
The Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity continues through Sunday, July 4.
