When asked, Mike Hachtel pointed to one thing that took him to the top of the judges’ cards on A Jellybean Impulse: consistency.
“Every time you look at that horse, he’s the same,” Mike said. “He’s a very consistent horse. He walks, he jogs, he lopes, and every time you look at him, it’s the same. If you can create a consistent picture, nine times out of 10, you can stay on top.”
That consistency proved vital in the Farnam 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes, which took place November 8 at the APHA World Championship Show. Mike and “Jellybean” won the class under four judges, making them the newest champions in the Farnam series of stakes classes. For their win, they took home $11,451 of the total $35,784 purse.
Jellybean, a 2012 chestnut overo gelding by A Scenic Impulse and out of Sensational Lollipop, was bred and is owned by Debi and Loren East of Bountiful, Utah.
“It takes all of us to make this work, but Farnam has stepped up to the plate and hopefully they feel like we’re representing them with really good horses,” Mike said.
Earlier in the evening, the first Farnam Non-Pro 3- & 4-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes saw Get The Sensation and Carlee McDuffie of Morganton, North Carolina, take home the win and a $6,125 paycheck. The new non-pro class paid out more than $13,600.
Carlee, who trains with Wade and Carly Parks, purchased the 2010 sorrel overo gelding earlier this spring. “Nick,” who is by Zippos Sensation and out of Sexy Invitation, was bred by Tim and Cindy Snapp of New Carlisle, Ohio.
The Farnam 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes and inaugural 3- and 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes took place November 7. All Ways A Diva and Katy Jo Zuidema took home more than $6,300 for their win in the Farnam 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes, which paid out more than $14,000. The 2012 bay overo mare is by All Time Fancy and out of Future Diva, and was bred and is owned by James Jorgensen.
Classy Invitation, a 2011 sorrel overo mare by Ultimate Charisma and out of Pretty Invitation won the inaugural Non-Pro 3- and 4-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes with Beth Yoak of Grove City, Ohio.
Read more about the Farnam Hunter Under Saddle Stakes winners here. Check out the January Paint Horse Journal to learn more about the Farnam classes .
About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses.