CHAMPION WEANLING GELDING

DON VAN AMERONGEN STARTS CRL COOSTARDEE’S SHOW CAREER OFF WITH GOLD.

BY CANDACE DOBSON, FIELD EDITOR

Don Van Amerongen first caught the horse bug after his father rented a pasture to a man with some ponies when he was growing up.

After Don outgrew the ponies, he moved into the AQHA show ring where he’s been for nearly 40 years. He started in the western pleasure arena but later found halter was where his real passion lies.

The Mount Pleasant, Iowa, resident scored a maiden world title for both he and CRL Coostardee in the weanling gelding competition.

Don and New CRL sealed their first world championship after placing first under all five judges in weanling geldings.

“The Select show is a lot more laid back than the World Show in Oklahoma City, but I enjoy that. AQHA has done a great job of being extremely helpful and making everyone feel welcome when we come to town,” Don said.

Don and “New CRL” competed against a field of six weanling geldings and placed first under all five judges to secure their first world championship gold trophy.

“He is really picking up his mother’s definition in his hip and forearm,” Don said. “He is starting to definitely stand out in a crowd.”

The sorrel gelding is bred to stand out amongst the toughest halter competitors. He is by AQHA Reserve World Champion Coosa and out of Miss Tardee, by multiple AQHA World Champion Ima Cool Skip.       

Don purchased the weanling from Wayne Halvorson, and he plans to show the newly crowned Select champion at the AQHA World Championship Show in November to compete for a second world title.