At the 2006 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show, J.D. Holland was the reserve champion in heeling behind Cody Doescher. This year, J.D. is the champion and Cody is reserve.
“We just traded,” J.D. said.
Although Cody rode the same horse, Glitter Bell Gal, as he did last year. It was a different horse for 17-year-old J.D., who won the reserve title aboard Freckles Silver Cash in 2006.
“Last year, I didn’t get to bring (Pac Rat Jack) because he got hurt, and he got hurt again this spring. Matter of fact, I just got him back a week ago,” J.D. said. “But he has all the ability in the world. It didn’t take hardly anything to get him ready for this show. He’s that kind of horse.”
J.D. and “Pac Rat” were second in the draw of 15. As they entered the John Justin Arena, Cody was leading with a 221.5.
“My run really couldn’t have been any better,” J.D. said of his ride. “I got the perfect steer that I needed. He ran pretty good. When we took that corner, he kind of slowed for me just perfect, and my trainer Brad Lund just turned him absolutely perfect. And the horse couldn’t have been any better.”
J.D. and Pac Rat marked a 223.5, which held through the next 13 riders.
“This is my fourth Youth World Show, but this is the first time I’m a world champion,” J.D. said. “It’s pretty cool.”
J.D. gives a lot of credit for his win to Brad.
“The original reason that I started Quarter Horse showing was because of Brad Lund,” J.D. said. “He moved into our area six or seven years ago, and I decided to come to my first Youth World with him. He’s one of my dad’s best friends, and they own a bunch of horses together. So not only is he a mentor, but he’s one of our best family friends. It was pretty special having him as my partner. He’s an awesome guy.”
But J.D. knows he wouldn’t be a world champion if it wasn’t for Pac Rat.
“He’s got just an amazing heart and a lot of try,” he said. “This is his fourth Youth World and I got third in the heading on him two years ago. This is the first year I made the heeling finals on him even though that’s his main event. I was pretty happy to make it back on him finally in this event.”
J.D. will now be heading back to Bucyrus, Kansas, to start high school football, which he is an outside linebacker. But he hopes to come back to Fort Worth, Texas, with Pac Rat again next year.
“I wouldn’t mind winning it again,” he said with a smile.
