Horse Illustrated Magazine

The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) hosted the 2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show at Will Rogers Memorial Center, where nearly 600 of the best horses in the breed were in attendance. This marked 30 consecutive years that the prestigious event has been held in Fort Worth, Texas. France and Italy, two Canadian provinces and 43 U.S. states were represented at this year’s show.

The ApHC was established in 1938 with a mission of preserving, promoting and enhancing the Appaloosa breed and has since registered more than 700,000 Appaloosas, which are known for their distinctive color, intelligence and their even temperament. True to their reputation as an extremely versatile breed, Appaloosas can be found in nearly every discipline, including racing and endurance riding, and they make reliable family horses. The international breed registry is headquartered in Moscow, Idaho, the heart of the Palouse region, the Appaloosa breed’s namesake and point of origin.

The nine-day event consisted of 85 non-pro and 97 open classes, as well as 37 specialty classes hosted by the Appaloosa Cutting Horse Association (ApCHA), Appaloosa Reining Horse Association (ApRHA), Appaloosa Halter Futurity (AHF), Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association (ApPHA) and the Appaloosa Game Horse Association (AGHA). Participants who took part in these classes showcased the skills and abilities of their horses while also receiving cash and prizes. Throughout the course of the show, 2,200 entries were shown. Classes with the most entries included non-pro ranch riding and senior trail, with 31 and 33 entries, respectively.

A highlight of the show included the Open Most Colorful at Halter class, sponsored by Flying W Appaloosa Ranch in memory of Jim Wild where the first-, second- and third-place winners received memorial awards totaling $1,500. Like the impressive coat patterns of Appaloosas in Most Colorful, another class that catches the attention of spectators each year is Freestyle Reining, where exhibitors perform original choreographed patterns to music. This year’s title was claimed by NU Circle N Sign, ridden by Jane Cairo to the tune of Marie Laveau by Bobby Bare.

The Progressive Social is always a special evening during the show and a great way to mix and mingle with other show attendees. This year it was held Sunday, October 27, with courses sponsored by Sue Scobee, Maestas Show Horses, Carol Jones–American Acres, and John and Debby Letham. Attendees not only enjoyed delicious food, they also entered for the chance to win prizes donated by sponsors, vendors, members and local businesses.

The Appaloosa Horse Club was thankful to the members, exhibitors, and sponsors who make the World Championship Appaloosa Show possible. A passion for the Appaloosa brings people together each year for this memorable event.

The ApHC is now beginning preparations for the 73rd National Championship Appaloosa Show & 2020 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, June 26–July 4, 2020. Visit www.appaloosa.com for the most up-to-date information regarding this upcoming event.

For additional coverage of the 2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show, pick up your copy of the January 2020 issue of Appaloosa Journal.

To learn more about the Appaloosa Horse Club and its events, please visit www.appaloosa.com or call ApHC at 208-882-5578.

2019 World Championship Appaloosa Show Award Standings

– World’s Best Appaloosa: Mr Shining Gun, owned by Jim Jirkovsky of Whitesboro, TX, bred by Dennis M. Herman of Maiden, N.C.
– Reserve World’s Best Appaloosa: Shes Sleepin Single, owned by Taylor Wiemers of Ruthven, Iowa and Debra K. Gerber of Bixby, Okla., bred by Margaret Ann Jentz of South Bend, Ind.
– World Show Leading Breeder: Char-O-Lot Ranch of Myakka City, Fla.
– Open Overall High-Point Exhibitor: Cody Wayne Crow of Johnstown, Colo.
– All-Around Non-Pro: DeeAnna McBride of Costa Mesa, Calif., on A Spotless Blue Boy
– Champion Cattle Horse: Mr Shining Gun, owned by Jim Jirkovsky of Whitesboro, Texas, bred by Dennis M. Herman of Maiden, N.C.
– Champion Western Horse: Shes Sleepin Single, owned by Taylor Wiemers of Ruthven, Iowa, and Debra K. Gerber of Bixby, Okla., bred by Margaret Ann Jentz of South Bend, Ind.
– Champion English Horse: William Grant, owned by Michael Shepherd of Aubrey, Texas, and Holly Janak of Shiner, Texas, bred by Nancy Magnussen of College Station, Texas
– Reserve Champion English Horse: CQ Royal Blue, owned and bred by Kathleen Byrd of Natchitoches, La.
– Champion Games Horse: Sold As Iz, owned by Amy Hudson of Finleyville, Penn., bred by Becky Johnson of Coal City, Ill.
– Champion Ranch Horse: NU Circle N Sign, owned by Jane Cairo and Rene Cairo of Live Oak, Fla., bred by Jim Dobler and Heather McLevin of Delburne, Alberta, Canada
– Open High-Point Over Fences Horse: Downtothelastdetail, owned by The Hulcher Family of Pilot Point, Texas, bred by Jennifer Marcom of Whitesboro, Texas
– Open High-Point Over Fences Horse: William Grant, owned by Michael Shepherd of Aubrey, Texas, and Holly Janak of Shiner, Texas, bred by Nancy Magnussen of College Station, Texas
– Non-Pro High-Point Over Fences Horse: Hez So Irresistible, owned by Janet Murray of Hampstead, N.H. and Amanda Soffron of Dedham, Mass., bred by Sheree L. Koehler of Roberts, Wisc.
– High-Point Non-Pro: Richard Schlough of Reedsburg, Wisc.
– High-Point 35 & Over Non-Pro: Kelley Sweeney of Broad Brook, Conn.
– High-Point Masters Non-Pro: Dr. Ted Zajak III of Coopersburg, Penn.
– High-Point Novice Non-Pro: Katelyne Tiffany of Belchertown, Mass.
– High-Point Walk/Trot Non-Pro: Stephanie Troup Sonnenberg of Lambertville, Mich.
– Champion Non-Pro Games Horse: LM Red Hot Special, owned by Heather Faeth and Lynn A. Faeth of Fort Madison, Iowa, bred by Larry Meadows and Diane Meadows of Mize, Miss.
– Champion Non-Pro Cattle Horse: Taris Lucky Draw, owned by Richard Schlough of Reedsburg, Wisc., bred by Jody Rafel and Jorlyce Rafel of Hillsboro, Wisc.
– Champion Non-Pro Ranch Horse: Highly Spotageous, owned by Teresa Job of Sonora, Calif., bred by Gillian Baxter Galligan of Petaluma, Calif.
– Champion Non-Pro Halter Exhibitor: Abigail Beck of Stockton, Calif.
– Champion Non-Pro Western Exhibitor: Ty Wilkerson of Slippery Rock, Penn.
– Champion Non-Pro Showmanship/Equitation Exhibitor: DeeAnna McBride of Costa Mesa, Calif.
– Champion Non-Pro English Exhibitor: Amanda Soffron of Dedham, Mass.
– Non-Pro Sportsmanship Award: Tina Jackson of Canton, Kan.
– Elite Custom Saddles Open Sportsmanship Award: Jamie Phillips of Ninnekah, Okla.