The 2-year-old stallion Golden Gunslinger, aka “Jesse,” can finally retire from the show pen. Frankly, there’s just nothing left for him to prove.

He’s a multiple All American Quarter Horse Congress champion, and was named grand champion stallion this year at the Congress, unanimous under all four judges.

And now he’s won three AQHA world championships: open and amateur yearling stallions last year and 2-year-old stallions this year. Again, all five judges placed him first on their cards.

“It’s been a great ride,” said AQHA Professional Horseman Don Bell of Whitesboro, Texas.

“He’s got such a good combination of many things, it’s hard to say (what’s best about him),” Bell continued. “Some people like his muscle; some like how pretty he is; he’s really well-balanced. He’s just an all-around good horse, I just can’t say enough good things about him.”

Bell had a slew of people to thank from his wife, Joetta (this year’s amateur showmanship world champion), and family, to Jessie’s farrier and veterinarian.

“Without my team, none of this would have been possible!” he said.

Trainer Don Bell of Whitesboro, Texas led Golden Gunslinger to the 2-year-old stallions world championship. The horse placed first under all five judges.

Jesse has benefited from a new element that Bell has added to his training program: swimming.

“Since (Jesse) was about 12 months old we started swimming him at Jeff and Lisa Petska’s in Whitesboro, Texas.” The Petskas operate Whitesboro Equine Therapy in Whitesboro, Texas, a rehabilitation facility that houses an underwater “Aqua-Tread” treadmill. 

“It’s been tremendous,” Bell said. “For one (thing), it gives us somewhere else to go and something else to do than the same old thing every day. It also allows horses to stretch their tendons and all their soft tissues more effectively than working them on the ground.

“A lot of these halter horses now are big horses and a lot of pounding on the ground every day is not real good for them,” he added. “Anything we can do to help our exercise program and reduce the stress on these animals is a good thing.”

Bell’s father-in-law, Rick Meredith purchased the colt as a weanling from breeder Doug Tallent. After Jesse’s championship yearling year, Meredith sold him to Kenneth Mills of Fruitland, Maryland, who owns the colt’s sire, Kids Classic Style. Mills left him in Bell’s training program.

“He’s been a real blessing to my program and for me,” Bell said. “I hope we can find another! As long as Kenny Mills owns him he’ll never be shown again. He’ll go to the breeding barn and hopefully we can raise several just like him.”

Jesse bred a limited number of mares in 2005 and will return to the breeding shed at Doug Tallent Quarter Horses in 2006, to stand alongside his sire.

Actually, that just might be the one thing he’s got left to prove: how well he passes his good looks on!