Page 202 - Speedhorse February 2018

APHA Commends the Top
PBRIP Paint Barrel Racers of 2017
Courtesy APHA
APHA’s barrel racers and their Painted partners battled it out in 2017 to land in the Paint Barrel Racing Incentive Program 2017 year-end standings. Throughout the year, competitors accumulated points in PBRIP- approved barrel races across the country. For these Paints, their hard work and dedication led them to victory on the cloverleaf.
PBRIP HIGH-POINT CHAMPION
The 2017 PBRIP High-Point Champion
is Major Peppy Skip and Kelly Heaton. Major Peppy Skip is a 2000 bay overo gelding by Major Peppy Royal QH and out of Alert Shannon Skip QH. With a whopping 249 points racked up, it’s no wonder why this team finished their year as the 1D champion.
When Kelly started getting involved in APHA’s barrel racing incentive program, she just thought it would be a great way to earn some extra cash aboard her flashy mount. She had no idea she’d be working with an unlikely barrel star.
“We actually got ‘Major’ off the bucking string as a 4-year-old head horse prospect for my husband, Kenneth,” she said. “We paid less for him than what most people pay for one month’s truck payment. Although he excelled at roping, Kenneth and he never really clicked, so I got handed the reins.”
Kelly admits that she struggled with Major around the barrels at first, despite being an experienced horsewoman. She decided to switch up her tactics and develop Major into her next mount in the roping pen. This led to a fast bond between the two, and soon they were reaping the rewards of their hard work— even around the cloverleaf.
“I quickly learned the versatility of the Paint Horse. Somehow being able to rope off
him made him the best barrel horse he could be for me,” Kelly remarked. “His old-style conformation and breeding has kept his body and mind sound. I love being able to go from the barrel pen to the roping arena, and then to the pasture to enjoy a peaceful ride all in the same day.”
The team came in second in the 2016 PBRIP 1D standings and set out to claim
the top spot for 2017. Being from Talala, Oklahoma, there is no shortage of PBRIP races for them to participate in, but they wanted to do more. Kelly strategized and decided that traveling longer distances to small, indoor arenas preferred by Major might help improve their chances.
“Achieving this goal took a lot of sacrifice from Kenneth to allow me to be able to travel long distances and compete as often as I did,” she explained. “PBRIP has allowed us to be competitive with a horse we paid very little for and end at the top of the pack. I’m so honored and blessed to have ended 2017 where we did.”
Going into 2018, Kelly thinks a well- earned break is in order for Major and plans to work on his skills in the roping pen with her husband. Kelly and Major plan to try their luck at the APHA World Show and are hopeful for the future.
1D LEADERS
Major Peppy Skip also led the 1D standings. He was bred by Roy Evans of Adair, Oklahoma, and is currently owned and ridden by Kelly Heaton.
Coming in second is Star Dude Blackie,
a 2005 black solid gelding by Star Bar Jodie and out of Leos Lonsum Dove QH. Star Dude Blackie was bred by Karen and Larry Armstrong of Eufaula, Oklahoma. Along with
his owner and rider Randee Prindle of Gilman City, Missouri, the pair earned a total of 171 points for their 2017 season.
Whistlewhileyoustreak came in hot at third place in the 1D. The 2013 bay roan solid gelding is by A Streak of Fling QH and out of Char Winken Dash. Whistlewhileyoustreak was bred by Ashley Rognlien of Bottineau, North Dakota, and is currently owned
and ridden by Lynsay North of Montreal, Missouri. The gelding and his rider earned 120 points this past year.
A very close fourth is Heros Midnight Moon with 119 points. The 2004 black
solid gelding is by Wegos Hero and out of Casanovas Moon. Heros Midnight Moon was bred by Don and Alice Ketchum of Indianola, Oklahoma, and is owned and ridden by Shannon Olson of Sperry, Oklahoma.
Wrapping up our 1D leaders is Top Rainbow. The 1997 bay tobiano gelding ridden by Jim Lewis earned a grand total
of 115 points to place as a 1D leader. Top Rainbow was bred by Butch Edgmon of Westville, Oklahoma, and is by Easy Top Jet and out of Money Taker QH. The gelding
is now owned by Cathy Baker of Talala, Oklahoma.
2D LEADERS
Top Rainbow, who was number 5 on the 1D list, was the top 2D winner for 2017 with a total of 89 points.
Second place with 86 points goes to Yogis Six Fols, a 2003 gray solid stallion. The stallion is by Yogi Leo and out of Blunikia Six QH, and was bred by Hele Bon Thompson of Yale, Oklahoma. Yogis Six Fols claimed this spot with his owner and rider Julie Payne of Claremore, Oklahoma.
200 SPEEDHORSE, February 2018
PAINT HORSE BULLETIN