YEARLING GELDINGS

DIANNE WRIGHT LEADS HER HOMEGROWN HERO MONTSERRAT TO THE TOP.

BY CANDACE DOBSON, FIELD EDITOR

Homegrown goods made winning a Bayer Select World Championship twice as sweet for Dianne Wright.

The Bullard, Texas, native began her road to her first world championship when she purchased Montserrat’s dam, Martinique, at the 2004 AQHA World Championship Show. Dianne bred the mare to top-10 World Show finalist Coolest and raised the world caliber sorrel gelding she calls “Monty.”

“It feels unbelievable,” Diane said. “To win any world championship is amazing, but it makes it so much more special when it’s a horse you’ve raised yourself. I wasn’t really nervous in the arena today, but my nerves have finally caught up with me now that it’s over.”

Dianne and Monty accept their first world championship.

Dianne quit showing for a few years but got back in the halter show ring five years ago. She qualified for the World Show two years ago but this marks her first world championship.

“We’ve been to the World Show before, and we just thought the Bayer Select World Show sounded like a lot of fun,” Dianne said. “It’s not as hectic, and I definitely think everyone should come to Amarillo.”

Dianne and Monty are taking a quick break to celebrate their victory after the Bayer Select World, but Monty is scheduled to make his World Show debut in November with Dianne’s daughter in the amateur division and their trainer Steve Ferguson in open.

“We’re going to start getting ready for November,” she said. “I won’t be able to show, but it’s still a team effort between all of us. We’re really excited to see what happens in Oklahoma City in a few months.”