By Abigail Slaubaugh
Photography by Larry Williams Photography
Judy Zeitler’s first APHA World Championship Show is on fire—both literally and figuratively. After a hot start to their journey—her truck blew its transmission and caught fire on their way down to the show—Judy’s settled into a groove in Fort Worth, capturing a win in the 2021 Breeders’ Trust 3-year-old Maiden Hunter Under Saddle Stakes aboard All Im Gonna Do for owner Marchelle Everhart of Thomasville, North Carolina.
Judy and “Davy,” who is by All Time Fancy and out of Sensational Chenille, took his first under saddle class in stride. Decked out with a blue championship neck ribbon that matched the 2018 bay overo gelding’s blue eyes, Davy gave Judy a veteran-worth performance, even though it was just his first time to show.
“Whenever you show a maiden horse, there’s a lot that goes into preparation because you’re not sure how they’re going to react to the environment. It was a lot, but it paid off!” Judy said.
The horsewoman for Abrams, Wisconsin, and Davy took home a $9,878 check for their win—a sweet incentive to take a shot with a maiden horse at the APHA World Show. Judy and her husband, Mark, usually show Quarter Horses, but when their customer Marchelle offered Judy with the opportunity to ride Davy, she decided to give it a shot. Judy was astonished by the payout.
“It was a good class! We got a five-minute warmup in the John Justin Arena before the class started, which was a big surprise,” Judy said. “There were only six of us, so it was kind of unnerving, as sometimes there’s safety in numbers. But it was good for our first time showing!”
With their vehicle saga behind them—and behind the wheel of a brand new truck—Judy and Mark knew their World Show experience would be full of memories. The Breeders’ Trust stakes win added a pleasant twist on the trip.
“It was a very exciting start to the week! I told myself it can’t get worse than a burnt truck.” Judy laughed.
Factory Girl and Shannon Gillespie was the reserve stakes champion; they took home $7,612. Factory Girl is a 2018 sorrel overo mare by The Wow Factor and out of Myassetsaredetailed (QH), owned by Rebebkah Kazakevicius of Temple, Texas.
Taking home a $4,350 payout for third was Alyse Roberts and Thanksforthenite, a 2018 sorrel overo mare by Awesome All Night and out of Graceful; the mare is owned by Jenna Tolson of Mcpherson, Kansas.
The class’ limited champion was Tessa Dalton showing No Sheik Sherlock for owner Coleen Bull of Reed City, Michigan. The duo took home $7,250 for the limited win. The 2018 chestnut overo gelding is by Its All In My Jeans and out of KM Radically Sheik (QH).
The Breeders’ Trust Pleasure Stakes classes at the 2021 World Show feature maiden horses competing in their first horse-show classes for total purses worth more than $50,000. To learn more and to read about modifications to 2022 Breeders’ Trust Pleasure Stakes classes, visit apha.com/worldshow/breeders-trust-pleasure-stakes/.
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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. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.