West

October 4, 2012

Great Halter Novice Championship Day

Excitement was in the air on halter day at the 2012 SmartPak West AQHA Novice Championship.

By Christine Hamilton
The American Quarter Horse Journal

The American Quarter Horse Journal caught Kate Castleman anxiously watching her granddaughter, Kaitlyn Coffey, 12, from the alleyway. Kaitlyn was showing Kate’s horse, Sierrative (Adonnis-Perpetual Passion by Perpetualism), in Novice youth aged geldings.

Actually, the two were sharing showing duties on two of Kate’s horses at this first SmartPak West AQHA Novice Championship Show, and having a blast despite their shared nerves.

Kate had already shown her other horse, To Chilly To Streak (Too Yella To Streak-Chill Mister by Mr By Mr), in Novice amateur 2-year-old mares and won.

“We’re from Casper, Wyoming, the halter capitol of the world!” she said with a laugh, adding, “(Halter) is a freaky thing there – we’re surrounded by team ropers.”

But that hasn’t stopped Kate from loving to show halter and getting Kaitlyn hooked, too. They came to Las Vegas fresh from the 2012 Region Two Championship in Rapid City, South Dakota, where Kate’s daughter, Genie, showed To Chilly To Streak to get qualified for next year’s SmartPak West Novice Championship, which she did.

She got up to hug Kaitlyn as she came out, finishing third in the class, and took Sierrative’s lead. They didn’t have much time to celebrate; it was Kate’s turn to show the gelding. They were both smiling as they headed down the tunnel under the stands, headed back to the front entry.

By day’s end, Kate finished third with Sierrative in Novice amateur aged geldings, and Kaitlyn showed To Chilly To Streak to the win in Novice youth 2-year-old mares.

What’s more, To Chilly To Streak took both of them to halter Champion of Champions honors: Kate won the title in the amateur, and Kaitlyn finished second in the youth. A great Novice family team effort!

Word on the street says Kaitlyn wants to start riding, too …