BY MEGAN BROWNELL, JOURNAL INTERN
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| Adelaide Moncrief and Steady Spirit celebrate their win in amateur hunter hack. |
Adelaide Moncrief of Fort Worth, Texas, told her grandpa she would win for him. Aboard Steady Spirit she made her promise a reality and won the world championship in amateur hunter hack at the 2007 AQHA World Championship Show.
“I can’t explain how happy I am,” Adelaide said after returning to the barn.
She has been riding “Danny” for two years and said he gives her everything he has.
“He has more personality than I’ve ever seen in any horse and more energy than most Quarter Horses. But he always gives me 100 percent, even when it’s too much!” Adelaide said as she smiled.
Danny is a 1996 bay gelding by General Mito out of African Mimosa (TB) by Steady Growth (TB). He is owned by Adelaide’s parents, Kit and Charlie Moncrief of Fort Worth, Texas.
This past summer, Adelaide’s grandpa became gravely ill and was expected to pass away but he is still battling his illness. Adelaide said his support means the world to her.
“I wish he could have been here today,” she said about her grandpa. “But I’ll get him a video. I told him I would win for him, so that’s what I did!”
Adelaide has been training with AQHA Professional Horseman Chuck Briggs for ten years. She said since graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in psychology, she’s been able to ride more.
While preparing Danny, Adelaide made sure she rode her best to keep him happy.
“If you do something wrong, like put him up to a bad distance, he’ll hold a grudge against me. He knows when I make a mistake,” she said.
Their success doesn’t show many mistakes. Adelaide and Danny earned the reserve world championship in amateur working hunter at the 2006 World Show and numerous championships at Regional Experiences.
Remembering their wins and celebrating their first gold trophy, Adelaide won’t be letting Danny get too far from her heart.
“I’ll have (Danny) him forever. I could never get rid of him - he’s special,” Adelaide said.
Horse: Steady Spirit
Pedigree: 1996 bay gelding, General Mito x African Mimosa (TB) by Steady Growht (TB)
Exhibitor/Owner: Adelaide Moncrief, Fort Worth, Texas
Breeder: David Howe, New Market, Canada
Total class entries: 29
Purse: $9,311.03 World Champion Prizes: Custom gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths sterling silver buckle with a 14-karat gold overlay, Cripple Creek Outerwear World Show jacket, WeatherBeeta product, Justin smooth ostrich Techno Crepe boots, 100 pounds of Nutrena feed, Professional’s Choice products and neck wreath. Total purse and prizes for the 2007 AQHA World Championship Show: $2,634,750. |
