“This is a dream 57 years in the making.”
Mark Owen of Derry, New Hampshire, was on Cloud 9 as he left the John Justin Arena at the 2022 APHA World Championship Show. The reason for his euphoria? A unanimous win in the Breeders’ Trust Non-Pro 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes aboard his dream horse, the 2019 bay roan tobiano gelding Im Slow Blue.
“I’ve always wanted a bay tobiano—I love the tobianos, I support the tobianos,” Mark said. “I purchased him as a weanling and I put him in training with Anthony [Leier], and we had an unbelievable yearling year, winning over $20,000. In his 2-year-old year, he held his own but we were hoping his 3-year-old year would be good. Danny [Desmond] showed him in the Open 3s [at the APHA World Show] and came in third and won over $5,000; I just showed in the Non-Pro 3s and won unanimously, which is a dream come true. I feel so blessed.”
For the win, Mark earned $3,267. “Blue” is by VS Code Blue (QH) and out of KWS Only Silk; he was bred by Jay and Jan Williams of Whitesboro, Texas.
Breeders’ Trust 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes
$37,000 was up for grabs in the Breeders’ Trust 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes, and it was Aaron Moses and Obsessed To Be Best who loped their way to the top of the judges’ cards. The pair scored $9,435 for the class overall win.
“They’re really doing a good thing for the Paint Horses,” Aaron said; he’s from Pilot Point, Texas. “It’s a big draw and definitely brought us here.”
Obsessed To Be Best is a 2019 bay overo gelding by The Lopin Machine (QH) and out of Its Best To Be Hot; he is owned by Susan Juroe of Longmont, Colorado, and was bred by Rawlings Enterprises LLC of Summerton, South Carolina.
Limited Champion: Pat Trebesch & Vital Signed Required
Maiden Champion: Scott Weiss & Ridealized
Overall Champion: Aaron Moses & Obsessed To Be Best
Breeders’ Trust 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes
Katelyn Bonte of Charlotte, North Carolina, piloted XXX Factor to the win and a $3,312 payday in the Breeders’ Trust Non-Pro 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes at #PaintWorld. The class paid out more than $5,500.
XXX Factor is a 2019 sorrel overo mare by The Wow Factor and out of Choice Rewards; she was bred by Jessica Kopp of Round Top, Texas.
Breeders’ Trust 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes
Results of the Breeders’ Trust 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes were revised following routine drug testing conducted at the show.
The Breeders’ Trust 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Stakes champion is Shez Up To Code and Keith Miller. The 2019 red roan overo mare by VS Code Red (QH) and out of Charismatic Turn is owned by Debra Olschansky of Grand Junction, Colorado. She was bred by Lauretta Johnson and Jan Larsen of San Diego, California.
Limited Champion: Morgan Ilic & Watch What I Got
Maiden Champion: Laura Spell & Promo Code
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[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provided back to apha.com.]
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 in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.