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NOVEMBER 7-22, 2008 (dates tentative) Read below for a special recap of this past year's world show.
BY MEGHAN MACKEY, INTERNET MANAGER  | | Rita Crundwell of Dixon, Illinois, earned her fourth consecutive Oklahoma City Leading Breeder award at the 2007 AQHA World Championship Show. |
For the past three years, Rita Crundwell of Dixon, Illinois, has brought the winningest lineup of horses to the AQHA World Championship Show and 2007 was no exception. With 36 entries in everything from halter to hunters, Rita's horses earned seven world championships, two reserve world championships and a total of 173 points to win the Oklahoma City Leading Owner award. How does this year compare to the others? They’re all great. Most of my horses I showed, I raised myself and I’d either shown their mothers or their fathers or both of them and that makes it really special to me. I’ve been raising some really good foals, both the halter and the performance, and hopefully one day I’ll have all ones that I’ve just raised myself. What was the highlight of the 2007 AQHA World Championship Show for you?It was the first year for the performance halter and I showed my 3-year-old stallion that I also showed at the Congress and he was unanimous there under all four judges and he was unanimous here under all five judges. That was pretty special. And then I showed my yearling filly that was out of She Scores and by Mr Touchdown Kid and she was world champion in amateur and also open, and that was very special. As well as Acoolest, who I raised. I showed his mom, and he was last year’s open unanimous yearling stallion champion and this year I won the amateur 2-year-old stallions and Ross (Roark) also won the open 2-year-old stallions. Do you prefer showing your horses or watching them be shown? I get really nervous when I do it because I want to do well. But I also get nervous watching someone else show them because I want them to do well also! But I’d say it’s probably mutual. Who would you say is your superstar horse this year? Gosh, it’s hard to pick. Of the halter horses I’d probably have to say Acoolest because it was really special to win the 2-year-old stallions. Then of the performance horses, Good I Will Be is my 3-year-old stallion and I showed him in the hunt seat as well as the performance halter and last year I rode him in the western and he’s really a great horse and I’m just really fortunate to own him. What are your plans for next year? Just to try and qualify some good horses and come back! I can’t do it alone. I have really good people who take care of my horses and show them and do all the work behind the scenes. Like Jennifer Laney, she does all the banding when I go to big shows because I’m always busy showing horses and she just takes over. She and Buddy, they come to the Select with me whether I have horses with them out there or not. They come and get them all ready, as well as Ross and Sharon Roark, and Sandy Vaughn has the hunters and Els Mjork, she comes and braids all the hunt seat horses and the hunters, and just all the kids in the background working, the kids at home doing all the work. It takes a good team and I’ve got a great one. |
