Seventeen-year-old Darcy Reeve piloted the talented A Certain Vino to the youth world championship in western pleasure on August 9 at the Ford AQHYA World Championship Show. Bred by Tim and Lou Petty of Ocala, Florida, the 2003 gelding’s first big splash on the horse show scene was his win in the 2005 Equine Sports Medicine Challenge at the Reichert Celebration. His titles since include the junior western pleasure world championship in 2007. Darcy herself is a seasoned campaigner in trail and western pleasure. It had already been a good Ford Youth World for Darcy even before this win - she qualified two horses for the trail finals, finishing fourth on What A Fancy Zippo.
Q. How did A Certain Vino ride this evening?
Darcy: He was great. He walked real fast like they like it, and I got a great spot on the wall. It was incredible – the best feeling ever.
Q. Were you worried about anything coming into the finals?
Darcy: Maybe my walk a little bit, that he might anticipate, trying to go. But he was perfect.
Q. Tell me how you got this horse?
Darcy: It was here in Oklahoma City at the 2005 (AQHA World Championship Show), when he was reserve as a 2-year-old. We found him, and we happened to walk by (Tim and Lou) Petty who owned him, and we asked if he was for sale. They said we actually just decided he is. We bought him right there.
Q. Was there anything in particular that made you want him?
Darcy: He’s just special. His size, his look, everything is just perfect.
Darcy Reeve and A Certain Vino won the youth world championship in western pleasure at the 2008 Ford Youth World.
Q. What are your plans now?
Darcy: I’m going to show him in the western riding and the pleasure next year. Charlie Cole will show him in western riding. I’ve got two other horses here that I showed yesterday. I’ll keep going like I’ve been doing.
Q. Who do you want to thank?
Darcy: I want to thank my trainers, Karen and Ty Hornick, and my dad (Lee) and my sister (Kelley) and my mom (Brenda) – for their support and just believing in me.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW A Certain Vino’s championship show schedule isn’t over yet. According to Darcy, we’ll see him “at the World Show, at the (All American Quarter Horse) Congress, plus many Worlds to come.”
WINNER STATS
Horse name: A Certain Vino Pedigree: 2003 gelding by Certain Potential and out of Dotevita by Zippo Jack Bar Exhibitor: Darcy Reeve, Garden City, Kansas Owner: Lee Reeve, Garden City, Kansas Trainer: Ty and Karen Hornick
Total class entries: 155 Sponsored by Zips Chocolate Chip
