Recognizing Senior Athletes – Both Human and Equine
Recognizing Senior Athletes – Both Human and Equine
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The love for American Quarter Horses is timeless, and showing horses is a sport that is accessible to all ages. Some of our more seasoned exhibitors were recognized at the 2025 Markel AQHA and Adequan® Select World Championship Shows.
Nutrena Senior Athletes
The Nutrena Senior Athletes Award recognizes an exhibitor and his or her American Quarter Horse for having the highest combined age competing at the Adequan® AQHA Select World Championship Show. AQHA has proudly teamed with AQHA Corporate Partner Nutrena on this award since 2012.
Congratulations to Donald Tisdall, 84, of Castle Rock, Colorado, and Pistol Packin Mister, 25, for being the senior athletes of the 2025 show. Their combined age is 109. Tisdall has won this award for two previous years riding Truly A San Peppy, competing in Select heeling.
Pistol Packin Mister is a 2000 sorrel gelding by Mister Dual Pep out of Taffy Remedy by Doc’s Remedy, bred by John Ward of Tulare, California.
Tisdall is the owner of 2011 AQHA Superhorse Chex This Dually and the owner of various other Superhorse contenders over the years. He also owns Romancing The Chics, who has carried Trey Yates to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Tisdall and Pistol Packin Mister also earned the AQHA Century Club Award, which was new at the 2025 World Show. This award was presented to all Select horse-and-exhibitor combinations with a combined age of 100 years old or older.
Wolaver and Impulsive Details earned the reserve world championship in Select working hunter and placed in the top five in Select equitation over fences and in the top 10 in Select hunter hack.
Gene Graves Super Select Special Recognition Award
This award goes to the Super-Select exhibitor, age 70 and over, earning the greatest number of points in Level 3 Select competition at the 2025 Markel AQHA and Adequan® Select World. The award is named in honor of the late AQHA Past President Gene Graves of Grand Island, Nebraska, who believed that recognizing our Super-Select exhibitors is a great way to shine the spotlight on this group of exhibitors that continues to support the equine lifestyle.
This year’s winner is Debbie Wolaver of Mocksville, North Carolina, showing Impulsive Details, a 2014 bay mare by MDR Impulsified and out of Late Night Details by Last Detail.
Wolaver was honored with a special plaque and will have the achievement placed on her permanent record at AQHA.
About AQHA 
The American Quarter Horse Association, headquartered in Amarillo, Texas, is the world’s largest equine breed registry and membership organization. AQHA’s mission is to record and preserve the pedigree and integrity of the American Quarter Horse, while protecting its welfare, promoting its versatility and encouraging lifelong enjoyment of the breed. AQHA is the global advocate for the American Quarter Horse, celebrating its legacy, uniting a passionate community and leading the equine industry.
AQHA news and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more information visit www.aqha.com/news or subscribe to our news text "AQHA In the Know" for the latest Association updates.
About the Show
The Markel AQHA World, Adequan® Select World and Adequan® Level 2 Championships are the premier events in the equine industry for amateur, Select amateur and open exhibitors. The show includes Level 3 and Adequan® Level 2 classes, as well as AQHA Level 1 Champion of Champions classes. The shows feature over three weeks of exciting competition, educational opportunities and a bountiful trade show. For more information, visit www.aqha.com/worldshow.
About the Sponsor
We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers, and clients – that differentiates us worldwide.