This year, the Appaloosa Horse Club crowned the second Nutrena® Iron Horse at the 2006 World Championship Appaloosa Show in Fort Worth, Texas. The $10,000 award is sponsored by Nutrena, the official feed of the Appaloosa Horse Club.

For more than 40 years, the World Championship Appaloosa Show has united outstanding Appaloosas in the competitive arena. This year’s nine-day event took place October 27 – November 4, showcasing nearly 1,000 Appaloosas from around the world. There were 2,300 class entries in both the non-pro and open divisions competing in 147 classes.

The Nutrena® Iron Horse award recognizes the legendary versatility and athleticism of the Appaloosa. To be eligible to compete for this award, a horse must enter and compete in classes in four of five contest categories and place in the top ten in three of those classes. Contest categories are halter, western, English, games and cattle, and the classes can be open or non-pro events. Points are totaled after the last qualified class at the show. The horse with the highest total wins the award.

The stakes are high with a $10,000 cash award and an original bronze sculpture of an Appaloosa, entitled “Forged from Fire”. Wally Shoop of Stillwater, Minnesota designed the sculpture. Wally is an artist who grew up in the Badlands of South Dakota. He has a great reverence for American Indian tribes and is knowledgeable about the Nez Perce and their history with the Appaloosa horse.

Competition for the Nutrena® Iron Horse award began with the start of the first class at the show and continued for nine days. The award was new last year and was awarded to RECURRING DREAM, owned and shown by Jeff Jirkovsky of Kearney, Nebraska. “R.D.” would not return this year to defend his title, but Jeff Jirkovsky brought the 1998 stallion CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY to make a run at the title. After placing in the top ten in 11 classes and winning the World Championships in Open Senior Judged Tie-Down Roping and Senior Judged Heeling as well as the Reserve World Championships in Non Pro Judged Tie-Down Roping, Hunter in Hand Stallions 4 & Older, and the S.R. Gold Open Rope Race, CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY was crowned the 2006 Nutrena® Iron Horse as well as the World’s Best Appaloosa. The World’s Best Appaloosa award is one of the most prestigious awards in the colored breed community, and CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY became the first horse to win it in conjunction with the Nutrena® Iron Horse award. CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY, sired by COUNTRY CAPTAIN and out of RESTLESS BREEZE, is owned by Jim Jirkovsky of Kearney, Nebraska.

In 2005, CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY was 3rd in the race for World’s Best Appaloosa and 4th for the Nutrena® Iron Horse Award. Other awards he earned at the 2006 World Championship Appaloosa Show included Non Pro Champion Cattle Horse and Reserve Open Champion Cattle Horse. CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY has an impressive show record with includes Bronze Medallions in Junior Judged Heeling, Junior Western Riding, Junior Judged Heading, Rope Race, and Time Tie-Down Roping. He has also earned Superiors in 8 events, and Registers of Merit in 13 events.

The Appaloosa Horse Club would like to extend congratulations to Jim, Jeff, and Sandy Jirkovsky and CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY. This great horse, owned by Jim Jirkovsky of Kearney, Nebraska and shown by Jeff and Sandy Jirkovsky of Kearney, Nebraska, is a true representation of the athleticism, versatility, endurance, and stunning color present in the Appaloosa breed. Make sure to watch for CAPTAIN ZIP AHOY and Jeff Jirkovsky in next year’s race for the Nutrena® Iron Horse award and World’s Best Appaloosa.

The competition for next year’s Nutrena® Iron Horse will no doubt be even more impressive and exciting. The Appaloosa Horse Club also thanks Nutrena for their generosity and support of the Appaloosa breed.

The Appaloosa Horse Club is the international breed registry for Appaloosa horses and is located in Moscow, Idaho. Since 1938, the ApHC has been dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the breed. Agile, intelligent and distinctively colorful, Appaloosas excel in a variety of events and are beloved around the world for their even temperaments and reliability.

Contact: Mary Uravich, ApHC Public Relations Coordinator at (208) 882-5578 ext. 229 or publicrelations@appaloosa.com