Born To Excell lived up to his name on the final day of competition at the 2008 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show. The 5-year-old sorrel gelding and exhibitor Casey Query of Terre Haute, Indiana, trotted through the judges’ gauntlet to earn the title of youth world champion aged gelding.
A wide-eyed Casey showed off a big grin as he was ushered by family and trainers through the maze of drug testing and photos after the awards presentation.
“It’s great to win,” Casey said. “It’s a really good feeling. Born To Excell is a really good horse, and he did really good today. He’s got a really good personality.”
This is the first youth world championship for the duo, who now have their sights set on winning again at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in October. Casey, who has owned Born To Excell for about two years now, loves the gelding’s attitude.
“He set up for me really nice today,” he said. “We just went in there and did our best.”
Casey Query and Born To Excell won the 2008 youth world championship in aged geldings.
Being in the winning spotlight is nothing new for Born To Excell, who won the 2007 open world championship in aged geldings as well as the 2006 amateur world championship in 3-year-old geldings.
When he isn’t winning gold trophies, Casey enjoys hunting and fishing. Casey looks for advice from his trainers, Chris Arentsen and Steve Ferguson, with whom he has been for about four years.
“I want to thank my dad, my mom and Chris and Steve. They have been really good trainers.”
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Born To Excell Pedigree: 2003 soreel gelding by Excelebration x Jamas by Opposition Exhibitor: Casey Query, Terre Haute, Indiana Owner: Gina Query, Terre Haute, Indiana Trainers: Chris Arentson, Trenton, Illinois, and Steve Ferguson, Tyler, Texas
Total class entries: 31 Sponsored by Western Hauler
