AMATEUR AGED MARES

THE LADY WINS.

BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, FIELD EDITOR 

Once again the amateur aged mares class at the AQHA World Championship Show was full of past halter world champions and World Show top-10 placers in all divisions at all ages.

But Peter Cofrancesco’s Sheza Virtuous Lady walked out with the world championship. Peter’s little girl, Ireland, joined him in the arena to carry out the gold trophy, with wife, Carmen, in the stands.

“This win is very special,” Peter said in Barn 1 after the win. “We’ve had her for a few years, and we’ve come here and come so close to winning the in the past. This was my last show with her regardless of how we did. We’re very fortunate. Now she’s going to hopefully be giving us babies to show in the future.”

The 6-year-old mare has several reserve world championships to her credit: 2004 and 2005 open and amateur reserve wins in aged mares, 2002 open and amateur reserves in 2-year-old mares and a 2000 reserve in weanling mares. She was also the 2001 world champion yearling mare.

“So many different things play a part in coming here and doing well,” Peter said. “Everything just fell into place today. The horse has to be ready, (and) you have to get the horse shown.

Ireland Cofrancesco carries the trophy for her dad, Peter J. Cofrancesco III and Sheza Virtuous Lady.

“(AQHA Pro Horsemen) Jeffrey Pait and Chris Thompson, they do an incredible job for my family preparing and getting these horses ready for us to show. She showed really, really well for me today. And the luck never hurts either.”

It’s been a good week for Cofrancesco Farms in Sparta, New Jersey. Peter also took home gold trophies in 3-year-old stallions with A Radiant Image and in aged geldings with Compounded.

“All our halter horses are also entered in the open,” Peter said. “We also have a stallion in the junior reining being shown by Tim McQuay. Chris Thompson (will show) a junior hunter under saddle horse named Huntin Buddy.”

What made him decide to own a reiner?

“I’ve always liked it and enjoyed watching it,” Peter said. “Any person that shows certainly has an appreciation for those equine athletes, the maneuvers and the patterns they do.

“My father bought a mare by Shining Spark several years ago that was competing here with Bobby Lewis in the junior heading and heeling,” he continued. “And she happened to be in foal with him, my reining horse that’s getting shown next week. He was born and raised at our place. He’s been a delight.” The horse’s name is Chic Magnetic.

“It’s been a great week, and we’re really blessed and truly fortunate,” Peter said with a smile.