Nearly 1,000 Appaloosas from around the world converged in Fort Worth, Texas at the Will Rogers Memorial Center to compete at the 2006 World Championship Appaloosa Show October 27 – November 4.
The nine-day event showcased the world’s top Appaloosas competing for World Championship titles in 147 classes including cattle, western, English, jumping, games and halter. The show accumulated more than 2,299 class entries in both the non-pro and open divisions.
Specialty classes were also an important component of the show this year, offered by the Appaloosa Reining Horse Association (ARHA), the Appaloosa Cutting Horse Association (ApCHA), the Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association (ApPHA) and the Appaloosa Games Horse Association (ApGHA). Participants who took part in these classes showcased the skills and abilities of their horses while receiving cash and prizes.
The World Championship Appaloosa Horse Sale, hosted by the Appaloosa Horse Club, was held on one night this year, with a combined Yearling Incentive and Select Sale on Wednesday, November 1. The night of the Sale, 79 Appaloosas went through the sale ring. The top five selling horses averaged $15,970 while the top ten selling horses averaged $12,005.
The highest selling horse in the Yearling Incentive Sale as well as the highest selling horse overall was IMPULSIVE KISS for $30,000, consigned by Cathy Wood, and purchased by David and Lauree Adair. The high-selling horse in the Select Sale, consigned by Terri Rakosky, was RK LADS DREAM, who sold to David Beck for $10,000.
The Yearling Incentive Sale featured 54 yearlings now eligible to compete at the 2007 World Championship Appaloosa Show for a special Sale Incentive purse that currently exceeds $33,000. Complete sale results can be viewed at www.appaloosa.com.
Saturday night brought the Most Colorful at Halter, SR Gold Rope Race, and Freestyle Reining classes into the arena for the final performance of the Show. The evening began with the U.S. Marine Corps presenting the colors as well as taking donations and toys for the Toys for Tots program. “Spectators at the performance contributed nearly $700 and 250 toys for the Fort Worth Toys for Tots campaign”, said Captain Kenneth Stephens of the Marine Corps Reserve.
Throughout the week, spectators got a jump-start on their holiday shopping at the 2006 Best of the West Gift Expo. More than 60 vendors exhibited a variety of merchandise including jewelry, tack, fine art, clothing, horse trailers, trucks and more.
At the close of the week, a special award ceremony honoring several of the best performances took place. Two of the awards included World’s Best Appaloosa and the $10,000 Nutrena Iron Horse Award.
This year the prestigious World’s Best Appaloosa award went to CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY, sired by COUNTRY CAPTAIN and out of RESTLESS BREEZE. Owner Jim Jirkovsky of Kearney, Nebraska, received the award for their 7-year-old stallion, along with one year’s use of an aluminum Featherlite trailer compliments of Featherlite Manufacturing, Inc., a Silver Mesa trophy saddle compliments of Sergeant’s Western World and a bronze trophy and check for $1,000 compliments of the ApHC.
CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY also took home the exciting Nutrena Iron Horse Award. This award is given to a horse that competed in 4 of 5 contest categories and placed in the top ten in 3 of those categories. Contest categories are in Halter, Western, English, Games and Cattle. The award was $10,000 cash and a custom bronze sculpture entitled “Forged From Fire”. The competition for this award was close and exciting, and came down to the rope race event on Saturday night, the last night of the show. CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY became the first horse ever to win the World’s Best Appaloosa and Nutrena Iron Horse Award in the same year.
Yearlings sold at the 2005 Yearling Incentive Sale were eligible for over $33,000 in prize money in the 2-Year-Old Sale Incentive Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, and Halter classes. The high selling horse from the 2005 Sale, MIDNIGHT HUNTER, ridden by Vicky Holt and owned by Noelle Schmidt and Joseph Geraci of Newton, New Jersey, won the Sale Incentive Hunter Under Saddle class, taking home $8,285. CHOWCHILLA CHOCOLATE, ridden by Darren Vincent and owned by Terrie and Kevin Koch of Corona, California took home the World Championship in the Sale Incentive Western Pleasure class, winning $8,156. The winner of the Sale Incentive Halter class was IMA COOL SECRET, shown by David Parlier and owned by Earl and Ronna Steinert of Springfield, Missouri, who won $8,148. Stay tuned for next year’s action, as the 2006 Yearling Incentive Sale horses step into the show ring.

Additional Special Winners and Awards Are Listed Below:

OPEN AWARDS

Champion Western Horse was awarded to DZS MAC DANDY Donna French of Amherst, Virg., received a $1,000 check from the ApHC and a custom-made sterling silver belt buckle designed by Gist Silversmiths.

Reserve Champion Western Horse was awarded to ONE HOT CHIP, owned by Bethany White of Gainesville, Fla. Awards included a custom-made silver Gist Silversmiths belt buckle.

Champion Games Horse was awarded to LOCAL BAR owned by Kimberly Hansch of Amarillo, TX received a check for $1,000 from the ApHC and a custom-made sterling silver belt buckle designed by Gist Silversmiths.

Reserve Champion Games Horse was awarded to CLASSIC ORDER, owned by Richard and Jeff Lankford of Princeton, Indiana. Awards included a custom-made silver Gist Silversmiths belt buckle.

Champion English Horse was awarded to HAND ME A ZIP, owned by Erica Lacher of Newberry, Florida and Elise Lacher of Seminole, Florida. Awards included a custom-made sterling silver Gist Silversmiths belt buckle, an English saddle package courtesy of Schneiders, and a check from the ApHC in the amount of $1,000.

Reserve Champion English Horse was awarded to ACADAMY AWARD owned by Mallory and Mackenzie Allen of Bellingham, Washington. Awards included a custom-made sterling silver belt buckle by Gist Silversmiths, and an English bridle and embroidered bridle bag, from Schneiders

Champion Cattle Horse was awarded to LAST DAY LITE owned by Julia Jordan Young of Marshall, NC. Awards included a check from the ApHC for $1,000 and a custom-designed Gist Silversmiths sterling silver belt buckle.

Reserve Champion Cattle Horse was awarded to CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY owned by Jim Jirkovsky of Kearney, Nebraska. Awards included a custom-made silver GIST belt buckle.

Leading Breeder was awarded Lewis and Marilynn Feuerstein of Creston, CA.

NON-PRO AWARDS

All-Around Non-Pro was awarded to Mallory Allen of Bellingham, Washington and her horses STRONG PRINCIPLES and ACADAMY AWARD. Mallory received a Silver Mesa trophy saddle compliments of Sergeant’s Western World, one year’s use of an aluminum horse trailer compliments of Featherlite Manufacturing, a sterling silver belt buckle sponsored by Gist Silversmiths, and a check for $500 from the Appaloosa Horse Club, and a gift certificate from J Bar J towards a pair of Lucchese Boots.

High-Point Non-Pro was awarded to Mallory Allen of Bellingham, Washington. Mallory received a Silver Mesa trophy saddle compliments of Sergeants Western World, a sterling silver belt buckle sponsored by Gist Silversmiths, and a check for $250 from the Appaloosa Horse Club.

Reserve High-Point Non-Pro was awarded to David Beck of Stockton, California. David received a custom-made sterling silver belt buckle compliments of Gist Silversmiths.

High-Point Novice Non-Pro was awarded to Le Anne Ellsworth of Grass Lake, Michigan. Le Anne received a sterling silver belt buckle from Gist Silversmiths compliments of Raggio Ranch and a gift certificate to J Bar J towards a pair of Lucchese Boots.

Reserve High-Point Novice Non-Pro was awarded to Daniell Nielsen of Fresno, California. Daniell received a custom-made sterling silver belt buckle designed by Gist Silversmiths.

High-Point 35 & Over Non-Pro was awarded to Dawn M. Bluhm of Issaquah, Washington. Dawn received a custom-made sterling silver belt buckle compliments of the Allen Family of Bellingham, Washington

Reserve High-Point 35 & Over Non-Pro was awarded to Russ Kimbrell of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Awards included a custom-made belt buckle.

High-Point Masters Non-Pro was awarded to Randi Yocum of Fayetteville, TX. Awards included a custom-designed sterling silver Gist Silversmiths belt buckle in memory of Bill Aregood
.
Reserve High-Point Masters Non-Pro was awarded to Barbara Adcock of Raeford, NC. Barbara received a custom-designed Gist Silversmiths sterling silver belt buckle.

Non-Pro Cattle Horse was awarded to CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY, ridden by Jeff Jirkovsky of Juniata, Nebraska. Jeff received a Gist Silversmiths belt buckle sponsored by the William “Joe” Baker Memorial.

Non-Pro Games Horse was awarded to ROCKET TWO STEP owned by Ron Renner of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Awards included a custom-made silver Gist Silversmiths belt buckle compliments of Harks Appaloosas.

Non-Pro Halter Exhibitor Award was given to David Beck of Stockton, California. David received a GIST Silversmiths belt buckle compliments of Answered Prayers Ranch.

Non-Pro Sportsmanship Award was given to Lori Truhe of Sanger, Texas. Lori received a custom-made silver GIST belt buckle sponsored by TOP Step Farms in memory of Sherri Tissing.

Non-Pro Showmanship/Equitation Exhibitor Award was given to Mallory Allen of Bellingham, Washington. Mallory received a custom-made silver GIST belt buckle sponsored by Dean's Ranch.

Non-Pro English Exhibitor was given to Megan Wagner of Greenwood Village, Colorado. Megan received an English Saddle package compliments of Schneider’s Saddlery and a custom-made sterling silver belt buckle designed by Gist Silversmiths

Non-Pro Western Exhibitor was awarded to Mallory Allen of Bellingham, Washington. Mallory received a Gist Silversmiths belt buckle compliments of Direct Action Company Horse Vitamins and Minerals.

Louis B “Buddy” Sluder Memorial Open High Point Over Fence Horse was awarded M I EVERANEXAMPLE, owned by Janet Murray of Hampstead, New Hampshire.

Louis B “Buddy” Sluder Memorial Non-Pro High Point Over Fence Horse was awarded TOO COOL TO COUNT, owned by Celeste Foster of Davie, Florida.

Agile, intelligent and distinctively colorful, Appaloosas excel in a variety of events, and are beloved around the world for their even temperaments and reliability. Since 1938, the ApHC has served as the international breed registry and is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of this versatile breed.

Contact: ApHC Show Dept. (208) 882-5578 ext. 400, show@appaloosa.com; Mary Uravich, Public Relations Coordinator, (208) 882-5578 ext. 229, publicrelations@appaloosa.com