BY KIMBERLY FRENCH, JOURNAL INTERN
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| Movin Artfully on his triumphant victory lap in senior pleasure driving. |
It is her first trip to the World Show but Melissa Doddridge of Tustin, California, thought her horse Movin Artfully had a realistic chance for a trophy in senior western pleasure driving.
Trained and exhibited by AQHA Pro Horseman Jason Martin of Pilot Point, Texas, “Joey” did not disappoint. The 7-year-old gelding earned his fourth world championship. He was junior world champion hunter in 2004, world champion hunter hack in 2003 and world champion in junior pleasure driving in 2003. This is his first world championship in senior pleasure driving and his first world championship for Melissa. She purchased him this year.
“We took him to Congress and he won the senior there so we kind of figured why not take him here,” said Melissa. “He could win it. It’s our first world show and I was hoping to get a trophy because I really wanted one.”
Melissa realized Joey might actually become the new world champion as the number of contestants in the arena began to dwindle. Her emotions rose to a crescendo when only three horses remained in the arena.
“I saw third place get announced and then the second place horse,” Melissa said. “It was so exciting. I was excited.”
The bay gelding is a family horse. Melissa shows him on the open hunter-jumper circuit and her mom Pamela Doddridge will be showing him as well.
“He’s like the family horse,” Melissa said. “He’s technically my mom’s horse but I kind of stole him from her this year but she is taking him back next year.”
There’s not a bad bone in Joey’s body.
“He is a sweetheart and he’s just like a big dog,” Melissa said. “He’s very sweet.”
The gelding better be prepared to travel. A busy show season still lies ahead.
“We are shipping him back to California this weekend for a show that I have,” Melissa said. “Then his next Quarter Horse show will probably be Florida, and then I’m just going to show him a lot on the open circuit.”
Pamela Doddridge, Melissa’s mom, is no stranger to the Gateway of Champions. In 1994, she was the world champion senior western rider. She mentioned pointing Joey to a larger goal in 2007.
“We might try him for Superhorse next year,” Pamela said.
WINNER STATS Horse name: Movin Artfully
Pedigree: Artful Move x Anothersadlovesong TB by Temptor TB
Exhibitor/Trainer: Jason Martin, Pilot Point, Texas
Owner: Melissa Doddridge, Tustin, California
Breeder: Mary Nixon Trust, Grants Pass, Oregon
Total class entries: 17
Purse: $7,607.84 World Champion Prizes: Custom gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, Cripple Creek World Show jacket, Tex Tan silver halter and spurs, Justin ostrich Techno Crepe boots, 100 pounds of Nutrena feed, Professional’s Choice and WeatherBeeta product. Total purse and prizes for the 2006 AQHA World Championship Show: $2,457,010 |
