SENIOR HEELING

A WIN FOR LILLY.

BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, JOURNAL FIELD EDITOR 

Veterinarian Kurt Harris and his wife, Angie, took home their first world championship trophy. Their homebred mare, RS Lilly Starlight, and AQHA Pro Horseman J.D. Yates scored a 228.5 in the senior heeling finals to win the class.

“The mare was really good in the prelims,” J.D. said. “We marked a 226, and she was really on top of her game. I came back, and I drew a really good steer, and my partner did me a really good job, turned me a nice steer. She did her job; all I had to do was catch. I can’t take much of the credit for it.

“The owners are great to me and give me free rein with her. She’s a great mare.”

Kurt and Angie own Harris Equine Hospital Inc. in Whitesboro, Texas. They also own Rockin 7 Quarter Horses and raise horses that compete in cow events. “Lilly” is a second generation homebred for them: they bought her granddam, Play Dot, from Martha and R.L. Randall, who owned Zan Parr Express.

Although Kurt roped as a boy, he doesn’t have much extra time these days for it because of his veterinarian’s schedule.

The Harrises met J.D. through trainer Don Murphy of Marietta, Oklahoma.

“Don Murphy was riding the mare, and they wanted to start roping on her, and he suggested to send the mare to me,” J.D. explained. “I’m very fortunate to be able to ride her; she’s a great mare.”

AQHA Pro Horseman J.D. Yates of Pueblo, Colorado, won senior heeling on Kurt and Angie Harris' homebred mare RS Lilly Starlight.

AQHA Pro Horseman Todd Crawford rode the mare to a seventh-place finish in junior working cow horse at the 2004 World Show. At the 2005 World Show, J.D. showed her to a sixth-place finish in senior tie-down and a third in senior heeling.

“She’s a lot more solid, a lot further along, and she showed it,” J.D. said. “We marked about six points higher this year than we did last year. I’ve got to say that the year we spent on her was good for her.”

And a world championship feels “very special” to the Harrises.

“Especially since we raised her,” Angie said. “It’s really, really nice.”

Does the mare have any quirks?

“She’s got one really big quirk,” J.D. said. “She does not like Angie! She likes me and Kurt, but she does not like Angie. And I hate to say that, but she does not like her at all.”

“She doesn’t like me, and her mother doesn’t like me either,” Angie confirmed. “Her grandmother likes me the best.”

“Other than that, she has no quirks; she’s a great mare; she’s a special individual,” J.D. continued. “You know, coming here to the World Show, it’s tough to win. And usually the horses that are winners are special individuals.”

“We just want to thank J.D.,” Kurt said. “This guy’s a tremendous horseman. He’s done a wonderful job with her. And thank the good Lord for blessing us with Lilly.

“She takes her work very serious,” Kurt added. “I think J.D. will tell you that she’s very serious about her work. There’s not a lot of play in her.”

Their Fed Ex Open Week work is not done: They’ve got the senior tie-down to go on November 17.