AQHA Magazine July/August 2015 | Page 55

2015 proved to be an incredible year for Smoochin’s first two foal crops. Starting off at Summer Sizzler with ‘SQ Some Kinda Lovin’ owned by Sally Soper winning the yearling lungeline. Followed by RRD Close Range and SRQ Smooch N Vital Signs each winning under a judge in the 2 year old Western Pleasure. The beautiful SRQ Smooch N Vital Signs owned by Amanda Ryan then won the $5000 Novice Horse Western Pleasure Feature against a deep group of horses of older and imported horses. SRQ Smooch N Vital Signs went on to win the 2 year old Western Pleasure at Nambour All Breeds State Show. AQHA Nationals was next on the calendar which saw ‘MTC Feels Good to be Mee’ owned by Tenielle Obrien win the 2 year old WP at the pre show and finish Reserve in the 2 year old WP at Q15, SRQ Smooch N Vital Signs 3RD, ‘A League Of Her Roan’ owned by Megan Richards finish 4th and MTC Smooched 6th for Tracie Casotti. ‘CP Love Me Tender’ was named National Champion in the Yearling Lungeline for his Amateur Owner Tiffany Walter and 4th to Cathie Guthrie’s beautiful filly ‘ RRD Heavenlee Kisses’. ‘RRD Close Range’ started off the NSW State Show with a bang, after winning the feature Lungeline in 2014 with owner Desarae Sim, he continued on with winning the 2 year old WP Feature. ‘A League of Her Roan’ 3rd and MTC Smooched 4th. MTC Smooched went on to win the 2 year old WP Class. Adam O’connel and SQ Cee Im A Smoocher were placed 3rd Yearling on the Lunge at the State Championships. Further to that, MTC Smooched, backed it up with another win in the 2 year old WP class at NPHA just a few days later. ‘Strawberry Kisses’ was Reserve in the class shown by Holly Marshall, Holly also won the 2 year old Limited WP at NPHA under judge 1 and reserve under judge 2. The Yearling Lunge Line saw Kate Elliot with Blushin place 3rd and Adam O’connel and SQ Cee Im A Smoocher 4th. The prestigious ‘Cavallino Estate $15,000 2 year old WP Futurity winner was awarded to Desarae and Bob Sims stunning gelding, ‘RRD Close Range’. Closely followed in Reserve by ‘MTC Feels Good to Mee’, ‘A League of Her Roan’ 4th now proudly owned by Clairveux Quarter Horses and ‘MTC Smooched 5th. The Western Pleasure Breeders Group saw ‘MTC Feels Good to Mee’ win the $15,000 2 year old WP with RRD Close Range in Reserve, ‘Blessed and Kissed’ 3rd owned by Anita Vickers and shown by Kelby Hutchinson, and MTC Smooched 4th. Knowing Smoochin was such a beautiful show horse himself, it is a huge relief that he has been able to produce the same. I would like to sincerely thank the people who believed in us to bring Smoochin to Australia to further improve the bloodlines we have here and also to the trainers who have helped his babies make winners in the showpen. Here is some of the feedback I have received: ‘My Smoochins were bred to pleasure and they sure shown the industry that’s exactly what they plan to do. From babies to the saddle, they’ve been a pleasure to own and train. The decision to breed to Smoochin was an easy one with some perfectly tempered and moving horses. -DESARE SIM ‘Smoochin sure does spoil us breeders! His babies are naturally soft, flat movers that have very personable temperaments. They are very trainable from the start and really make breeding western pleasure horses exciting’ AMANDA RYAN ‘I could not be happier with the success Powder Puff (CP Love me Tender) has had this year. Especialy winning the National Champion Yearling Lunge line at Q15. From his outstanding yearling show career to now being started under saddle he has been an absolute dream to show and train in every way. As an amateur, I could not have asked for a more trainable horse with the most loving and willing personality to match! - TIFFANY WALTER “Apart from the obvious, the most impressive and important thing to me is not just having a horse that can jog and lope both ways but a ‘show horse’. They really seem to step it up when at the big shows when it really matters.” KANE SKOPP “A few years ago I could only dream of owning a Smoochin. My dream is now a reality and I could not be more excited about my boy Marroan Ranger (Archie). What can I say, he is without a doubt the easiest horse I have ever had to work with, his nature/temperament is faultless and to top it off he has so much natural ability it’s crazy. Love him to bits!!!! VICKY EVANS, New Zealand “I love my Smoochin babies! They are more than I could have hoped for. Thanks for allowing me to be part of the first crop! TRACIE CASOTTI Where do I start... Rockstar is the dream horse I never believed could be mine. From the moment he was born he was incredible, and has only gotten better. I cannot thank Tracie, Carolyn, Holly and Kane enough for giving me this opportunity. I hadn't seen Rocky for a few month leading up to AQHA Nationals, so when I saw him loping around the work arena I was speechless. He was beautiful and I couldn't believe he was mine. His front legs were so soft, as though they didn't even touch the ground. When I finally had my first lope on Rocky he was better than perfect; I couldn't make him go fast if I tried! Rocky's personable nature and trainability make him a joy to own, and I am so excited for our future show career together. TENIELLE OBRIEN "Smoochins are unbelievably talented with the mind to match! The next generation of pleasure horses" KELBY HUTCHINSON Buying a Smoochin baby, was an easy decision for me. After seeing the first crop of babies with t