The turn of the fall season marks not just the beginning of winter, but the time of year when the world’s most talented and colorful Appaloosas head to Fort Worth, TX, for the most prestigious event in the Appaloosa industry—the 2009 World Championship Appaloosa Show. Exhibitors, owners, trainers, equine enthusiasts and nearly 900 Appaloosas participated. The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) counted the event a continued success, as the number of open and non-pro entries was identical to last year’s with a total of 2,383!

The annual nine-day international showcase, held October 23-31, featured Appaloosas and exhibitors competing for amazing prizes and prestigious titles in 149 classes, including cattle, Western, English, jumping, games and halter. The ApHC also offers unique classes, including the S.R. Gold Rope Race, World Sale Incentives and Most Colorful at Halter with large cash prizes at stake.

Death Wish, with Rose Synder aboard, earned $5,000 and the World Champion S.R. Gold Rope Race title. Death Wish is proudly owned by IB Stables of Noblesville, IN.

The World Sale Incentive classes are comprised of Appaloosas consigned to the incentive portion of the 2008 World Appaloosa Sale. The three World Sale Incentive classes offered $10,000 to each champion. Zipped On Champagne, owned by Serge Castella of Spain, was World Sale Two-Year-Old Western Pleasure Incentive World Champion; A Horse Called Wanda, owned by Cedar Springs Farm of Galatia, IL, earned top honors in the World Sale Two-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Incentive class; and Hez All Cajun, owned by Maxine Morrison Kanata of Ontario, Canada, was World Champion in the World Sale Two-Year-Old Halter Incentive class.

The Most Colorful at Halter class featured some of the most colorful Appaloosas in the world and awarded thousands in cash prizes, courtesy of Dubai To Vegas Equine, LLC, with owners of the top-placing mare, stallion and gelding receiving $2,500. Supreme Court Dream, owned by Earl Steinert, Jr., Trust of Strafford, MS, won the World Champion title and was the top-placing stallion. An Impressive Secret, owned by Sharon Haddock of Mardela Springs, MD, earned third and was the highest-placing gelding. Awesomely Special, owned by Wilburn Archer of Ontario, Canada, placed sixth and was the top-placing mare.

Two of the most coveted honors in the Appaloosa industry were also awarded at the 2009 World Championship Appaloosa Show: the Nutrena Iron Horse and World’s Best Appaloosa.

Ima Touch DZ left the World Championship Appaloosa Show as the 2009 Nutrena Iron Horse. Debbie Sigler of St. Charles, IL, is the proud owner of the talented Ima Touch DZ. Sigler took home $10,000 and the beautiful “Forged From Fire” sculpture by artist Wally Shoop, courtesy of Nutrena.

The World’s Best Appaloosa title was bestowed to Doczips Scarlet Lady, proudly owned by Donna Redmer of Dundee, IL. Donna received a plethora of prizes, including $1,500, a saddle from KO Trading, a show halter provided by Kathy’s Show Equipment and one year’s use of a trailer sponsored by Featherlite Trailers. Doczips Scarlet Lady was also named the Overall High-Point Timed Roping Champion Horse, receiving another saddle sponsored by Luskey’s/Ryon’s and one ton of Nutrena feed.

The following Appaloosas also received top honors at the 2009 World Championship Appaloosa Show:

• Champion Western Horse: Chocolate Impulse, owned by Gloria S. Gifford of Columbus, NJ
• Champion English Horse: All Hands On Romeo, owned by Jeffery and Marilyn Klein of Ithaca, NY
• Champion Cattle Horse: Ima Ipana Doc O Lena, owned by Tracy Green of Blanco, TX
• Champion Games Horse: Dynamic Dude, owned by David and Nettie Olsen of Waxhaw, NC
• High-Point Over Fence Horse: McCuiston, owned by Dianne Donaldson of Sheridan, AK
• Non-Pro Champion Cattle Horse: Jack Nasty, owned by Derek and Sue Bettenhausen of Milton, WI
• Non-Pro Champion Games Horse: Zan, owned by Christopher Guesthouse of New Harmony, IN
• Non-Pro High-Point Over Fence Horse: Dun Travelling, owned by Kaytlin Joy Aurand of Lewistown, PA

For more information and complete coverage of the honors awarded to Appaloosas at the 2009 World Championship, pick up your copy of the January 2010 issue of Appaloosa Journal.

The 2009 World Championship Appaloosa Show is proudly supported by Arena Werks, Cowboy Magic, Dubai To Vegas Equine, LLC, Featherlite Trailers, Kathy’s Show Equipment, Larry Williams Photography, Mark Shaffer Show Horses, Montana Silversmiths, Mustang Productions, MyHorseForSale.com, Now There’s Hope, Nutrena, Royal Wire, Schneiders Saddlery, Simply Jewelicious, SmartPak Equine, S.R. Gold, Tioga Territory, Twin Cities Featherlite and many fine individuals and organizations.

The ApHC is beginning preparations for the longest-running, single-breed show in the nation, the 63rd National Appaloosa Show, held in conjunction with the 2010 World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show, June 21–July 3, 2010 in Jackson, MS. Stay tuned to www.appaloosa.com for the most up-to-date information regarding this upcoming event!

The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) was established in 1938, with a mission of preserving, promoting and enhancing the Appaloosa breed. The ApHC has since registered more than 690,000 Appaloosas, which are known for their distinctive color, intelligence and even temperament. True to their reputation as an extremely versatile breed, Appaloosas can be found in nearly every discipline, including racing, endurance riding or serving as reliable family horses. The international breed registry is headquartered in Moscow, ID; the heart of the Palouse region, the Appaloosa breed’s namesake and point of origin.