An Overall View of the 32nd Show

AMARILLO, Texas – For more than two weeks, American Quarter Horse Association members, owners, competitors and spectators filled the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City during the 32nd AQHA World Championship Show, November 5-19. MBNA America® Amateur competitors and FedEx Open exhibitors competed for 86 world championship titles in halter, English and western events. This year, AQHA celebrated 30 years in Oklahoma City with several special events.

Cash and prizes for the event surpassed the $2.2 million mark including nearly $1.5 million in cash that was awarded. This year’s show featured 2,989 entries from 49 states, seven Canadian provinces and Brazil, Germany, Italy, Australia, Argentina and the United Kingdom.

2005 AQHA World Championship Show Quick Facts
ENTRIES: 2,989
Amateur 1,119
Open 1,870

LARGEST CLASSES:

Largest amateur halter class – weanling fillies – 27 Largest amateur performance class – amateur reining – 70, amateur team penning – 72 (24 teams) Largest open halter class – weanling fillies – 37 Largest open performance class – senior heeling – 79, team penning – 96 (32 teams)

NUMBER OF HORSES: 1,991

TOTAL PURSE: $2,292,286

WITH ALL PROBABILITY Claims Sooner Trailer Superhorse Title
WITH ALL PROBABILITY is owned by Jim and Michele Holland of Bucyrus, Kansas. He was shown by Brad Lund and Kory Koontz in four events including senior working cow horse, senior tie-down roping, senior heading and senior heeling. He earned 36 points winning a world championship in senior heading and a reserve world championship in senior heeling. The 1997 bay stallion is by Taris Catalyst out of Jack E Eleven.

For the 16th consecutive year, Sooner Trailer presented a trailer to the Superhorse. Jim and Michelle Holland were presented a three-horse Sooner Equine gooseneck trailer valued at more than $27,000, a WeatherBeeta embroidered fusion contour western blanket and an original Lisa Perry bronze.

Capturing the Sooner Trailer Reserve Superhorse was SILVER GUN, owned by Fairlea Ranch of Badger, California. He was shown by Todd Hampton in senior heading and heeling and Benny Guitron in senior working cow horse. The 1998 gray stallion earned 26 points winning a world championship in senior heeling and placing seventh in senior heading. The Reserve Superhorse took home $2,500 and a silver bowl.

Third through fifth place each received $1,000 and are as follows:
Third – SO MUCH POTENTIAL, owned by Joanne Garnett of Lincoln, Nebraska, earning 26 points.
Fourth – RS LILLY STARLIGHT, owned by Kurt and Angie Harris of Whitesboro, Texas, earning 24 points.
Fifth – Movin Artfully, owned by Carrie Von Uhlit of Winters, California, earning 21 points.

C.J. MURPHY WINS SOONER TRAILER ALL-AROUND AMATEUR
The 2005 Sooner Trailer All-Around Amateur was C.J. Murphy of Marietta, Oklahoma, and Bald N Shiney. Murphy was one of only two men in the running for the title this year, and his horse Bald N Shiney was the only horse showing in cattle events. This is the first time in All-Around Amateur competition history that a cow horse has earned this title, and only the second time the title has been earned by a male. Murphy and the 1994 sorrel gelding, owned by his sister Nelle Murphy, competed in five classes, making the finals in every class. The duo earned a total of 46 points, including a reserve world championship in tie-down roping and a world championship title in heading.

AQHA Corporate Partner Sooner Trailer of Duncan, Oklahoma, also presented Murphy with a three-horse Sooner Equine gooseneck trailer valued at more than $27,000. He also received a specially commissioned Lisa Perry bronze and a WeatherBeeta blanket.

The Reserve Sooner Trailer All-Around Amateur winner was Julia-Dawn Taylor of Dallas, Texas, and Zippo LTD, her 1987 bay gelding. Taylor and ZIPPO LTD competed in four classes: showmanship at halter, western riding, trail and western horsemanship, earning a total of 44 points. Taylor earned a reserve world championship title in amateur western riding.

The 2005 Sooner Trailer Reserve All-Around Amateur claimed a prize of $2,500 while third through fifth-place finalists received $1,000 each.

Third – Joetta LeeAnne Bell and Sweet Talkin Jeannie
Fourth – Alisa Bernhard and KEEPIN THE IMAGE
Fifth – Carrie Russom and HOT N IRISH

Jason Martin wins 2005 Professional’s Choice Leading Exhibitor award

Martin competed in eight classes at this year’s World Show, earning 73 points toward the Professional’s Choice Leading Exhibitor award. He won world championships in junior pleasure driving and senior working hunter. He won a reserve world championship in senior hunter hack, as well as several top-10 finishes.

As the Professional’s Choice Leading Exhibitor, Martin was awarded a $7,500 prize package, including a $5,000 check, an original Lisa Perry bronze and a $1,000 Professional’s Choice gift certificate.

Claiming the Professional’s Choice Reserve Leading Exhibitor Award was Bobby Lewis of Clovis, New Mexico. Lewis competed in 12 classes at this year’s World Show, earning 28.5 points. He earned a third in senior heading, as well as top-10 finishes in junior cutting, junior tie-down roping and senior cutting. Lewis received $2,500 and a $500 Professional’s Choice gift certificate.

Rita Crundwell Claims OKC Leading Owner Title
Rita A. Crundwell of Dixon, Illionis, earned the OKC Leading Owner Award, an award presented by the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce to symbolize its appreciation to all of the owners at the AQHA World Championship Show.

Crundwell’s horses earned four world championships in amateur yearling stallions, amateur 2-year-old mares, amateur aged mares and open aged mares, as well as numerous top-10 awards. Her horses competed in several events from halter and western pleasure to working hunter and roping.

The 2005 OKC Reserve Leading Owner was the Peter J. Cofrancesco Jr. Estate of Sparta, New Jersey, with 63 points. The Cofrancescos earned three reserve world championships in amateur 2-year-old stallions, amateur aged mares and aged mares. They also had third-place finishes in 2-year-old stallions and amateur 3-year-old geldings.

CHARIS THORSELL TAKES THE WORLD BY THE REINS
Especially for the 2005 AQHA World Championship Show, singer-songwriter Charis Thorsell performed her original song “Take the World by the Reins” November 17-19 at the State Fair Park.

AQHA World Championship Show Sale
The 2005 AQHA World Championship Show Sale, managed by Professional Auction Services of Leesburg, Virginia, was held November 17-19. The average price for the 400 head was $5,771. Total gross sales were $2,308,500.

This year’s sale topper was I NEVER KID (by Im Kiddin and out of Shesa Approval), a 2001 sorrel mare, purchased by John and Barbara Hoffer of Auburn, Kansas, for $68,000.

Jessica Tate WInS A Ford Truck
AQHA Corporate Partner Ford Motor Company gave AQHA World Show patrons an opportunity to win an all-new, AQHA-customized 2006 Ford SuperDuty F-250 truck through a giveaway held on Ford night, November 18, at the show. Jessica Tate of Omaha, Arkansas, was this year’s lucky winner!

Ford Motor Company is the world’s largest producer of trucks and the second-largest producer of cars. In May 2002, AQHA introduced Ford as the official vehicles of AQHA.

NBC SPORTS SPECIAL TO HIGHLIGHT AQHA WORLD SHOW
American Quarter Horses take center stage on Sunday, January 8, 2006, on NBC Sports at 4 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Pacific for the Ford/AQHA Western World Championships presented by Fort Dodge. The one-hour special, which showcases the American Quarter Horse lifestyle, is based at the recent AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City and highlights the reining and cutting competitions along with other features. The announcing team includes veteran sports announcer Tim Ryan and former jockey-turned reporter Donna Brothers along with analyst AQHA Professional Horseman Robbie Boyce of Jacksboro, Texas.

2005 AQHA World Championship Show Sponsors:
Bayer, Farnam, FedEx, Ford, John Deere, Justin Boots, Markel Insurance, MBNA America®, MD Barns, Montana Silversmiths, Nutrena, Professional’s Choice, Sooner Trailer, Tex Tan, WeatherBeeta, Wrangler, Cripple Creek, The American Quarter Horse Journal, Kiser Arena Specialists, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, NetJets, Professional Auction Services Inc. and State Fair Park

These partners provided financial support and products for World Show exhibitors.

Results from the 2005 AQHA World Championship Show can be found on AQHA’s Web site at aqha.com. Winning runs and interviews for each world champion can be viewed through the Web site. For additional World Show information, contact AQHA at (806) 376-4811 or write to P.O. Box 200, Amarillo, Texas 79168.

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