YEARLING MARES CHAMPION 

SIMPLY JEWELL HITS THE BIG TIME.

BY CANDACE DOBSON, FIELD EDITOR

Before claiming the yearling mares world championship, Simply Jewell had only been shown on a local level. The 2005 World Show was her first time in the big spot light, and boy did she shine. The bay mare stepped up to the plate with handler, Ross Roark, and scored her first world championship.

“She’s never been to a big show before, so we really didn’t know what to expect,” owner Mike Murray said. “I’ve had several people look at her during the past few days, and everyone agreed we might have a shot.”

Roark accepts the world champion trophy for Jewell.

Murray purchased "Jewell" last April from Tracy Zumbrun after a friend of his saw her.

“My friend called and said come get her because she is one in a million,” Murray said.

AQHA Professional Horseman Denny Hassett fitted the mare, but Ross Roark showed her in the World Show arena.

Murray isn’t sure what he and Jewell’s next move will be, but he said he would like to flush her next year and get an embryo.

“She really sticks out in the arena because she’s extremely feminine. Her head and neck are amazing,” he said. “I think she is going to produce some great colts.”

Murray has been involved in the horse industry since he started showing in 4-H. This was his fourth AQHA world championship.