November 8-23, 2013, Oklahoma City

Amateur Dally Team Roping Heading

John East and Colonel C Lovey repeat as amateur heading world champions at the 2012 AQHA World Championship Show.

by Larri Jo Starkey
The American Quarter Horse Journal

John East of Linn, Texas, is fond of his mare Colonel C Lovey.

Not just because this is the second year in a row that she has taken him to a world championship in amateur heading.

“She’s a mare that my father-in-law gave us for a wedding present, and she means a lot to us,” John said in his Journal Winning Run interview.

John and “Lovey” scored 222.5 to take the gold at the 2012 AQHA World Championship Show.

“It all happened so fast,” he said. “I’ve got really great help and they walked me through it step by step. Steve Orth was heeling for me, and (AQHA Professional Horseman) Jess Elrod, he trained her, and so he helps me through it beforehand.”

Colonel C Lovey is a 2000 sorrel mare by Colonel Clout-Colonel Sassy Frass by Colonel Freckles. She was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Waters of Utopia, Texas, and as a 2-year-old, she celebrated John’s marriage to Summer.

“We’ve been married 10 years,” Summer said. “She was a 2 year old when we got her.”

In addition to the amateur win, Lovey was world champion in senior heading in 2009.

“(Winning) feels great,” John said. “(It) feels really good.  It’s better (this time). My wife is here this time. She wasn’t here last time. She flew up this afternoon.”

The Easts planned to celebrate by packing up for the trip home.

“We’ve got a long drive, like right now,” John said.

“We’ll celebrate at McDonald’s,” Summer added.