RV Not For Hire Wins 2022 Pleasure Versatility Challenge

By Becky Newell

RV Not For Hire is the winner of the 2022 Pleasure Versatility Challenge, presented by Super Sires. “Teddy” was shown in all three classes by AQHA Professional Horseman Blake Weis, who picked up his third PVC win. Teddy is a 2019 bay gelding by Machine Made and out of I Will Be A Good RV by Good I Will Be.

“It feels good, actually,” Blake said. “It was nerve wracking … it was a little tight. The top three horses were really, really good horses.”

Second place went to VS The Fireman and AQHA Professional Horseman Aaron Moses, and third went to crowd favorite Xxtreme and Kyra Ley. Here are the full results.

“I rode the horse last year at the World Show and really like him,” Blake said. “I love him, but I didn’t have anyone (a customer) for him. Then early this year, my customer, Evon Werner, was looking for a horse and I knew Teddy was the one for him. So, I called Clay (Arrington) and asked him to bring the horse to Texas from Florida. So, Clay drove the horse to Texas the very next day.”

Now that Blake has won the PVC three times, does he have a good feel for the type of horse that it takes to win the event?

“I’m very big on the ‘look’ of the horse,” Blake said. “They have to be pretty. They have to halter. Obviously, I don’t go buy versatility horses, but when I look at one, I take into consideration whether they would be a fit for this competition.”

Blake described Teddy as easy to train.

“R. J. King helps me with all my pleasure stuff. He’s my go-to when I feel like something doesn’t feel right,” Blake said.

Blake said the plan for Teddy is to “start adding trail, western riding, all the classes. That’s what I like about this event. When you get to the World Show, you have about a week and a half to work with the horse and they just learn so much. So by the time you get home, they’re about ready to go.”

Horses competing in the Pleasure Versatility Challenge are shown sequentially in three classes in the Jim Norick Arena: a pattern class, sponsored by Cimarron Trailers, consisting of a blending of simplified trail and western riding maneuvers, which counts 40 percent; a western pleasure class, sponsored by The Equine Chronicle, which counts 40 percent; and a conformation class, sponsored by the World Conformation Horse Association, which counts 20 percent. Blue Ribbon Custom Tack is providing silver show equipment for the winners and, as a special incentive, will be giving away a custom work saddle to the contestant that finishes in 11th place overall.

Horses cannot have been shown astride in any western riding, trail or in any similar Pleasure Versatility Challenge event prior to the Farnam AQHA and Adequan® Select World official entry deadline of 5 p.m. Central on September 20. There are no eligibility restrictions for the western pleasure or conformation classes. As of the official entry deadline of September 20, and thereafter, horses may be shown without restriction at any competition without forfeiting Pleasure Versatility Challenge eligibility.

Blue Ribbon Custom Tack donated a Blue Ribbon work saddle with a Shane Dowdy tree to the 11th-place horse and rider, which was Cant Be Blue and Michael Jung of Farmington, Utah.

Previous winners were:
2018    KM Flat Out The Best, shown by Deanna Searles
2019    Snap It Send It, shown by Blake Weis
2020    Hot Lopin Lily, shown by Blake Weis
2021    Wellthereyougo shown by Robert King

The American Quarter Horse receives wide acclamation as the most versatile breed in the world. Undeniably, two of the most important disciplines of the American Quarter Horse are conformation and western pleasure. Two highly sought after talents of an all-around horse are the ability to change leads and navigate trail poles. Blend these four components into an event, and you have the Pleasure Versatility Challenge. The event highlighted a well-conformed, athletic horse that is a pleasure to ride. With a solid base of proper training, that horse can go on to become world-caliber in a number of classes – eventually reaching the level of the highest performing AQHA all-around horses.

The objectives of the event were to:
1.    Promote superior American Quarter Horses that demonstrate form to function, quality forward movement and trainability.
2.    Promote two fundamental AQHA classes, conformation and western pleasure, that serve as the foundation of the American Quarter Horse breed, as well as a pattern class that demonstrates some of the most basic desirable aspects of the AQHA all-around horse.
3.    Promote a Lucas Oil AQHA World Championship Show entertainment value event for spectators.
4.    Promote a showcase for potential private-treaty sale opportunities as an AQHA all-around horse.
5.    Promote an event that is beneficial to the horse industry.