The American Quarter Horse Journal, November 6, 2009 -- A little red roan mare proved herself the toughest and the best November 4, as she was named AQHA Horse of the Year for the U.S. Team Penning Association.
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| Cotulla Blue and Bob Jamison |
Cotulla Blue, a daughter of Mecom Blue, had $3,436.97 in USTPA earnings entering the national finals, which she qualified for by being the top horse in Region Seven. At the finals, she competed against seven other regional finalists to earn the AQHA bronze for owner Robert "Bob" Jamison of Evans City, Pennsylvania.
“We’ve had her about eight months, and she’s my junior horse for the AQHA World Championship Show next week,” said Illinois trainer Louie Saggione. “I’ve been showing her all year getting her ready for this, and I’m pretty proud of the way she showed. She had to make a lot of rides, and she handled it well. She’s just 5 years old and did a great job.”
Louie liked the red roan from the moment he saw her.
“I liked everything,” he said. “I liked the way she traveled. You gotta like the looks – that always helps – and when I got her home, Bob said he had to have her.”
Bob passed on the opportunity to show the mare himself, though he enjoys her sweet gaits, and he asked Louie to continue riding her.
“I don’t want to have to show against him, so he’s going to show for me,” Bob said. “I’ve had her at home for two or three weeks, just riding her, and she rides really nice. My wife loves her.”
Watch “Sophie” compete in the open team penning preliminaries at the World Show on the Fort Dodge Web cam on the morning of November 8.
Editor's Note, November 9, 2009 - Cotulla Blue and Bob Jamison finished sixth in open team penning at the World Show. They also finished thrid in open ranch sorting.
