J.D. Holland of Bucyrus, Kansas, and Rellas Fox marked a 220.5 in the heeling prelims, putting them in fourth place as they came into the heeling finals later that evening. Last in the draw of 15, J.D. and Rellas Fox broke from the box and quickly heeled their steer with the help of AQHA Professional Horseman Brad Lund. Marking a 223.5, it was the second Youth World championship for J.D., who won heeling in 2007 with his other horse, Pat Rat Jack. The Journal found J.D. in the Super Barn being congratulated by friends and family.
Q. Talk about your ride.
I was dead last and I knew what I had to do. There were a couple of good runs out there and his worst spot is the box and he came in there and he was just average in the box so I knew that was a good sign. I didn’t lose any points there. And I just went for it. The steer was all right, he was running on, which is what I like to have. I would have liked to have had a bigger run on him. He just came out of there perfect, everything set up and we got lucky.
Q. How was your prelim ride earlier today?
Prelims were OK. It was just kind of average. I wasn’t trying to win it. I was just trying to be more reserved and making a good solid run and just make it back and then give it all I got in the next round.
Q. What do you like about Rellas Fox?
We call him “Prince” and he’s just got more ability than he knows what to do with really. He’s got a big heart and a lot of ability and he tries every time and gives you 100 percent every time he goes. You couldn’t ask for more from one horse. He always gives me all he’s got.
J.D. Holland won the Youth World championship in heeling on Rellas
Fox.
Q. How do you feel about showing in Oklahoma City this year?
Well, I won first and second here and you can’t beat that. But it’s the World Show wherever you go. Same people. It’s fun wherever you go.
Q. Who is your trainer?
Brad Lund is my trainer. He lives about 35 minutes from me and I rope with him all winter and all summer. He comes up to our house and we go down to his. Him and my dad are partners on a lot of horses. He helps me tremendously with my roping and most of all my horsemanship. He’s an awesome horseman and a roper. He’s a heck of a trainer.
Q. Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Where do you start? You’ve got to start with my parents, Jim and Michelle. The let me do it and they pay for me to do it. They don’t push me. The let me do my own thing and they are supportive all the way through. My whole family and all of my friends, I miss a lot of time with my friends at home because we are horse showing and rodeoing every weekend. They are all supportive of everything I do and I’ve already gotten 10 text messages saying “congratulations.”
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW
J.D.’s parents own Superhorse With All Probability, or “Ticket” as he is known by his friends. Although J.D. graduated from high school in the spring, he still has one more year where he can show in AQHYA. He plans to bring some of Ticket’s babies to show at the 2009 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show.
