Home of

World & National

Champions

Left to right: Rose Marie our spotted Watui. Louis, a Sophomore at Saint Thomas Academy,

Bob, who started this great program, Laura is pictured with her great show mare, She Invested in Gold, "Betty" who accumulated over

900 halter and performance points!

  We are happy you found us and invite you to tour our website. You will find lots of pictures of the babies and our mares. If you have any questions, please call or email us. We would love to talk to you.

We have some wonderful 2011 babies, if you are looking for a great well bred individual.

A note about Bob & Laura...

    They met at a Viking Football game in 2004 through mutual friends. It turned out they had a lot in common. Bob had been actively involved with the Appaloosa horses for over 35 years and Laura had her first horse by the time she was 13. (We won't talk about how many years that is). That year, Laura put 900 halter and performance points on her palomino mare.  Palominos were her passion and she has many National yearend Hi-points and Championships displayed with the photos. To this day, the Palominos hold a spot in her heart. Watch for Laura's new gelding.

    Over the years Bob and Laura have accumulated over 40 World and National Titles. That is not counting the horses they sold that went on to earn titles for their new owners. Bob and Laura agree the titles are great, but the pride of knowing the majority of the horses that earned those titles were born and bred at the ranch.

    Bob's passion is halter horses. Laura enjoys the halter as well as the performance. You will see more of them as they show more of their foals at the bigger futurities where the best of all breeds show in one pen.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about us and our horses please stop by again. We will update you here as the news happens with the horses at the ranch and horses we have sold.

    Des Moines, IA, Sept. 24-25, You better be ready when you arrive for a Futurity weekend of this caliber. Tim Finkenbinder didn't let us down. Awe Sum Style, Laura's weaning filly was ready to show.

  Tim showed the filly in the open Breeder's Cup and secured a 2nd place with a purse of $5,210. A custom trophy from the Cowboy Bronze Collection was awarded to the first place entry in the color class entry, An Awe Sum Style.

  Tim Finkenbinder set the pace and Laura Lovegreen took the lead from there, showing her Jr. Weanling Filly in the WCHA Futurity placing 6th in the Open WCHA ($1,100), 5th in non-pro ($900), and 1st in The Color Class ($625).

The concept works!

  Bob Ketschka has been an advocate of the  World Conformation Horse Association (WCHA) since its conception. You will find his name included on the list of founding members. Breeders across the United States recognized something needs to be done to invigorate the industry.

 

In the first year the $150,000 purse was divided into 24 different classes, paying ten places and generous non-pro incentives. We are really excited about the possibilities of where this futurity can go. The foundation is laid and this WCHA will build and grow.

 

  After watching from the stands, mare owners are calling stallion owners. They are asking stallions to be included for next year's futuity (2012), that weren’t nominated this year. Exhibitors are looking at their mares and the list of stallions when making breeding choices. This concept is really taking hold.

  The top 10 placings got checks plus gift bags which included additional gift certificates. Entries placing below 10th place, were included in drawings for flat screen color TVs, GPS systems, luggage and Good Ride and dac gift  certificates. Some of the  people  who didn't get a check  actually  went  home with more  product and prizes than the big winners. WCHA focused on taking care of everyone; not just the top placers.The sponsors made this happen. They really came through.

  Nearly 80% of the stallion nominations went to the weanling category. An interesting trend in these classes, non-pro exhibitors outnum-bered open exhibitors, and dominated the placings. This result can be accounted for by the fact that non-pro exhibitors had the added incentive of competing for both the open and

non-pro purses.

   These weanlings, are the top placing foals of the quality that will go on to the Congress and respective breed World Championships. Open and non-pro exhibitors showed together. The non-pros entered in these classes were eligible for both the non-pro and open purses. The added incentive filled the class with non-pros. There were 28 fillies and 39 colts. As an example, the Weanling Colts had 39 entries and 34 were shown by non-pros. The classes were divided into Jr. and Sr. age divisions. Non-pro exhibitors were not only winning the first prize, but they dominated the placings. That was exciting and it showed that the WCHA judges were focused on getting the right horses at the top, rather than looking at who the exhibitors were.

Looking Forward To Next Year!

  We are breeding to stallions that participate in the WCHA program. We are told WCHA intends to focus their growth to raise more money for the 3 color breeds, ApHC, APHA and PtHA, and increasing those purses, which will increase growth in our sector of the industry.

  We went home a little richer with nearly $8,000 in cash and prizes in our pockets, but more important...we are a part of a renewed excitement with the leading breeders in the equine industry.

  For more information regarding the WCHA Breeders Futurity and how you can get involved see their web-site. You will find their site on our links page.

Reviving the Halter Horse Industry: WCHA Pays Out $150,000 At The Inaugural Breeders Championship Futurity Weekend

Next on the Schedule:

2011 ApHC World Championship

  We have Awe Sum Style entered in the Non-Pro and Open 2011 Weanling Fillies. She is in the capable hands of Tim Finkenbinder and she is fit and ready to show.

  Awe Sum Style is offered for sale. There is a before and after price. You may qualify for the Doug Schembri Memorial Limited Futurity held concurrenttly with the Open Weanling Fillies

  This filly has regular papers and after her show career she will be an outstanding broodmare. She is by Kids Classic Style and out of Awe Sum Maid, producer of a World Champion and European National Champion. She has her own page. Take a look...Give us call.

Good Luck to everyone showing

one of the "kids".

Congratualtions Mark Lang

on the purchase of

World & National Champion

Willy Wonka Will.

Laura Lovegreen at WCHA

Showing Weanling Filly

2011 WCHA Futurity Entry

Awe Sum Style

Awe Sum Style

Sneak Preview of the ad

that will be in the World Show

issue of The Appaloosa Journal

You can buy her before of after

The World Show...Call for pricing.