As Harley Reile of Gillette, Wyoming, led So Hot Shez Cool up to receive his gold trophy, there were tears in his eyes. After many years of showing, it was the first world championship for the 64-year-old. After receiving a huge hug from his wife, Ruth, and many pats on the back from friends, Harley told the Journal about his winning run.
Q. Congratulations! Tell me about So Hot Shez Cool.
I bought her as a weanling in Ohio from Firman Yoder, who was a ranch manager for Randy Jacobs. We showed her at the Congress. She was the reserve Congress champion. We were going to take her to the World last year, but she got hurt, so we couldn’t go. So this was her first World Show experience, and it was really exciting for me. I love the mare.
Q. Is this your first world championship?
This is my first world championship, and I’m 64 years old. It’s time, right? I’ve been showing for a lot of years, just smaller shows. But I qualified her for this show and I thought "I’m going to bring her. She’s a really good mare, and I might have a shot at it." We got it done, so I’m really happy.
Harley Reile and So Hot Shez Cool were the 2-year-old mare Bayer Select World champions.
Q. What’s it feel like to win your first world championship?
You can’t believe what it feels like. It’s like wow! You’re on a big cloud. It’s great. It’s fantastic. I was a kind of surprised because there were a lot of good mares in there. When you’re in that type of a competition, you’re fortunate to get the world champion because there are awfully good mares in there. Yes, I was a little surprised yet I knew I had a good enough mare to do it.
Q. You said you’ve been showing horses for a number of years. Has it always been halter horses?
No. When I started I was doing pleasure and a little trail but the pleasure and stuff got to be too much. I’m 64, and I didn’t want to keep on with the pleasure, so I thought, “Well, for an older guy, halter is easier.” That’s why I went with halter. I’ve been an AQHA member since the ’70s.
Q. Is there anyone you would like to thank?
I would love to thank Rick Lawrence, my trainer in Colorado, Randy Jacobs and of course my wife for all her patience and letting me go all over.
Fun Fact: Look for So Hot Shez Cool at the 2008 AQHA World Championship Show when AQHA Pro Horseman Randy Jacobs shows her in 2-year-old mares.
WINNER STATS
Horse name: So Hot Shez Cool Pedigree: 2006 sorrel mare by Ima Mr Cool Skip x Shes A Soft Sierra by Sierras Black Gold Exhibitor: Harley Reile, Gillette, Wyoming Owner: Reile Ranch LLC, Gillette, Wyoming Trainer: Rick Lawrence, Erie, Colorado, and Randy Jacobs, Dover, Ohio
Total class entries: 16
World Champion Prizes: Custom-designed gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, neck wreath, gold medallion, Cripple Creek-logo jacket, world champion patch, Tex Tan product
