THREE-YEAR-OLD MARES

IN A TOUGH CLASS, ELUSIVE ESSENCE TAKES HOME HER SECOND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

BY HOLLY CLANAHAN, AMERICA'S HORSE

But in the arena with him was Jay Lo 2002, last year’s world champion 2-year-old mare, and a host of other tough contenders.

Turner expected as much.

“This is the World Show,” he said. “It’s supposed to be tough. It’s supposed to be the best of the best.”

So he took a deep breath, made sure that Elusive Essence had a fresh spritzing of fly spray and shine spray, and strode in for his class.

When he left the arena, he was carrying a gold trophy, and “Digger” had added another championship jewel to her crown.

“She is very, very balanced. She’s very correct. She’s what AQHA is looking for today as far as conformation,” Turner said.  

Bringing home another gold trophy: Ted Turner Jr. and Elusive Essence

Turner’s wife, Darlene, owns the mare and showed her to the amateur world championship November 11.

“We’re very fortunate to own her,” Turner said. The mare is by the Turners’ stallion Mr Elusive, and “she’s just a joy to have and a joy to be around.”

The Turners purchased Digger last fall when she was 2, and she had been living in a pasture. As she transitioned into being a show horse and living in a stall, she began pawing her way to China, as Turner puts it, so she earned both a new nickname and a set of hobbles.

Her show career began in January, and since then she has amassed nearly 350 points.

She has been home in Aubrey, Texas, since showing at Congress, and Turner said that break was good for her.

“That helped brighten her up,” he said, describing how attentive she was in the ring.

With all of his horses, Turner brings them up two nights before their class, so they’re not fatigued by an extended period of hubbub in the World Show barns. The Turners’ home in Aubrey is just 175 miles from Oklahoma City.

“It’s easier to keep them fresh when you can keep them at home,” he said.

It also doesn’t hurt that Digger gets plenty of attention.

“She’s like a big pet” who could eat a whole bag of apples if she were allowed to, Turner said. “She’s a big part of our family.”