RR Morning Star and Felix Lejour Grab AjPHA Youth World Show Titles

On Friday, June 22, at Will Rogers in Fort Worth, Texas, the reining and reined cow horse classes kicked off the American Junior Paint Horse Association Youth World Show. Reining began with the Novice 18 & Under and ended with the Youth 14-18. RR Morning Star (PT) and Felix Lejour grabbed both of those World Championships.

French native, Lejour, who has been living in Brighton, Colo., as a foreign exchange student, piloted his father Francois’ 2006 sorrel overo mare (RR Star [PT] x Miss Gunnerpine [PT] x Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner]), bred by McQuay Stables Inc., Tioga, Texas, to a pair of 208.5 scores in the Novice Youth Reining 18 & Under and the Youth Reining 14-18.

RR Morning Star (PT), who is trained by Wayne LaFortune, Keymar, Md., has an Equi-Stat record of more than $16,000.

The Reserve Champion in the Novice Youth division, marking a 199.5, was Alison Kampmann, Millstadt, Ill., aboard her 1997 grullo gelding Im Jac Frost (PT) (Q T Poco Streke [PT] x Co Jackies Glo x Mr Barbie Cody Jac), bred by Don Tolva, Hinsdale, Ill.

In the Youth 14-18 division, a 206 earned Kimmy Ferrante, Somis, Calif., the Reserve title aboard her 2001 bay tobiano gelding Oaks Choice (PT) (HB Instant Choice [PT] x Peppys Live Oak x Doc’s Oak), bred by Finley and Delores Nevin, Wichita, Kan.

Youth Reining 13 & Under

For the third year in a row, Rylee Justus, Larkspur, Colo., and Diamond Gun (PT) earned the World Championship in Youth Reining 13 & Under. They bested the field of nine with a winning 204.5 score.

Diamond Gun (PT) (Like A Diamond [PT] x A Little Cunshy [PT] x Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner]), owned by RMJ Ranch, Larkspur, and bred by Frederick Gillespie, Dublin, Texas, just returned to the show pen from a tendon injury.

Justus expressed how happy she was with her 2005 sorrel overo gelding after her class, but she didn’t have much time to rest. She and her third-place finisher in the class, Bright Lil Gun (PT) (Colonels Lil Gun x Miss Bright Doc [PT] x Exclusively Ours), are headed to Oklahoma City, Okla., for the National Reining Horse Association Derby.

Missing the top by only one point, John Cunningham, Stonewall, La., was named the Reserve Champion with Cougarazzle Dazzle (PT) (Cougarand x Imagine A Story [PT] x Story Creek), bred by Bob and Glory Ann Kurtz, Boyd, Texas.

Limited Youth Working Cow Horse

After garnering a Reserve title in reining earlier in the day, Kimmy Ferrante, Somis, Calif., returned that night to win a World Championship in the Limited Youth Working Cow Horse. She marked a composite 424.5 with her gelding Oaks Choice (PT) (HB Instant Choice [PT] x Peppys Live Oak x Doc’s Oak), bred by Finley and Delores Nevin, Wichita, Kan.

With around $10,000 in reined cow horse earnings, Ferrante was excited to land her first World title her first time showing at the AjPHA Youth World Show. Just one class later, she earned a second Reserve Championship in the Working Cow Horse 18 & Under division.

Young John Cunningham, coached from the sidelines by Tom Neel, rode Smokeys June Bug (PT) (Smokey Bar Leo [PT] x May Dial Trouble x Dial Jester), owned by Joe Cunningham and bred by Linda and Bruce Stenerson, Bonsall, Calif., to another second-place finish.

Youth Working Cow Horse 18 & Under

Sarah Grider did it once again. The reined cow horse competitor from Quitman, Texas, took the Champion title in Youth Working Cow Horse 18 & Under for the fifth consecutive year aboard No Con Doc Com (PT).

The 2000 sorrel tobiano gelding (No Controversy [PT] x Tari x Hickoryote), owned and trained by her father, Walter, and bred by Joe Menefee, Ruston, La., has carried his rider to many wins at Paint shows, reined cow horse events and in 4-H since she was a young teen.

Next year will be Grider’s last year of eligibility in the Youth class, and she said she plans to return to defend her title one last time if she can.