Ted and Darlene Turner with Rita Habighorst and AQHA President Ken Mumy.
Existing, a daughter of world champion Mr Elusive out of a Color Me Skip mare, has generations of winners in her ancestry. And she’s helping her owners do the same thing with their family tree. After Existing and AQHA Professional Horseman Ted Turner Jr. won the 3-year-old mares class at the 2008 AQHA World Championship Show, owner Vern Habighorst of Phoenix, and his wife, Rita, talked to the Journal about the multigenerational effort.
Q: Tell me about your granddaughter who also shows this mare: Rita: Our granddaughter, Monica (Hamm), is 11 years old, and she won the Youth World with this mare, which was very, very exciting. And this is very exciting, too. We’ve had this mare about a year now, and we really enjoy her. (Monica) only started showing in February, and she’s never even been around horses, so it is especially exciting. I think she’s got Grandpa’s blood in her. … Vern was third with the mare in amateur (3-year-old mares). She’s been doing really well.
Q: So could Monica not be here today? Rita: We live in Arizona, so Monica’s in school. I will call her as soon as she’s out of school.
Q: What are your plans for the horse? Rita: Monica and Vern will both show her next year. And Ted’ll show her in open again.
Q: As owners, how many world championships have you had? Vern: This is the sixth. (including youth, amateur and open). Rita: Vern stopped showing for like 18 years, and he started showing again last year, so last year, he got world champion in amateur and open (2-year-old geldings) with A Kid By Design.
Q: What got you back into showing after so long? Vern: Oh, it’s fun. Rita: I think he figured at 67, it was time to either do it or forget it.
Fun fact: “Zisty” loves her treats, so Vern gives her apples and Ted gives her orange Certs.
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Existing Pedigree: 2005 bay mare by Mr Elusive x Article By Color by Color Me Skip Exhibitor: Ted Turner Jr. Owner: Vern Habighorst, Phoenix Trainer: Ted Turner Jr. Breeder: Pat Lemmon, Wylie, Texas
Total class entries: 26 Purse: $14,479.40
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, Justin Boots
