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Hunter Under Saddle, then competed in the cutting to win the Versatility, put back in the float and taken home. He got plenty of his favourite jelly babies that night.' Still in 1987 Silver tried out for the prestigious Versatility, the Diamond and Champagne Versatility Stakes, held by the NSW Premier State Show. Judy remembers ' He performed as expected, won the Halter section, went the wrong way in the Reining Trail section( oops Dick!), placed well in the Pleasure and Cutting and won the Cowhorse section, coming a very reasonable 2nd overall.'
A big year for Silver on the Southern Circuit at Yarra Valley was in 1988. He won Hi Point Horse at Western District QH Association Sun and Surf Show as well as Hi Point Horse and Supreme Quarter Horse Exhibit. The Victorian State Championships also saw him take out Hi Point Horse. Then the ultimate, the AQHA National Show, Silver won the Cowhorse, Reining and placed in the Pleasure and Trail, taking out Hi Point Senior Horse. At the Premier State Show in NSW he won the Hi Point Trail Horse.
' At this time Silver was still competing for me and for my son Paul who started to do some Cowhorse and Trail with him. They also competed in some roping events and station cutting.' From 1991 to the end of 1998 Quick Silver was basically ridden by Youth- the first being Rebecca Flemming. ' 1991 saw Silver again doing Reining- winning the prestigious Jeff Hudson Bridle Reining at the Hunter Valley Quarter Horse Association, and also taking a young Rebecca Flemming to win the Youth Reining. The same year at the Victorian State Championship Show, Silver took Rebecca to win the youth Reining and also the youth Western Riding and Trail Champion, plus my son placed 3rd in the Bridle Trail and I won the Amateur Western Riding. In the same year, still 1991, Silver and Rebecca won the Youth Reining and Western Riding at the NSW State Championships Show, this was three Youth Reining Championship Titles in three States in the same year ' said Judy proudly.
Another try at the Diamond and Champagne Versatility saw Silver come 2nd again ' Still in the money though ', Judy added hopefully. It was at this point that the decision was made to give Silver a well deserved rest. During this rest period Silver sustained an injury which was to change his life ' or so we thought at the time ' said Judy.' To save his life we had the vet remove his right eye, Silver spent a full month in hospital. The vet had indicated that we should get on with things. If we were to treat Silver as if he were an invalid then he would become one ' explained Judy.
And so, the now one eyed super star, returned to the show ring. 1989, again at the NSW Premier State Show he won the Open Bridle Reining and his third try at the Diamond and Champagne Versatility States and this time HE WON! ' He won the halter section for the 3rd year in a row, I went numb at this stage, then he won the Trail / Reining section, placed well in the Pleasure and Cutting and came 2nd in the Cowhorse section. The judge was totally amazed at his ability to know exactly where that cow was!
Silver and Dick made a mean combination on a cow, rider and horse totally trusted each other. Good prize money and lots of champagne followed ' remembered Judy with much joy. Still in 1989, Silver took to The Royal Melbourne Show and won the Versatility and the Trail. At the South Australian State Championship Show he took out the Hi Point Bridle Horse Trophy.
' In 1990 The Sydney Western Riding Club put on an Amateur Versatility, called the Penrith Nissan Non Pro Versatility. Silver and I had a great time, we came 2nd overall, I can still clearly hear Dick yelling at me in the Reining Section " Whoa Maam "!!! remembers ' Judy.
1992 to 1994 were reasonably quiet years for Quick Silver. He just did some small shows and had lots of fun.
1995 was the first year that Youth, Jade Thomas showed Silver. They had to get to know each other, but they competed in the Western District QH Association( Sun and Surf) Versatility, winning this great event, taking home good prize money and a terrific rug combination.
The two of them had a very successful AQHA National in 1995 and Jade took out Hi Point Senior Youth, winning Senior Youth Western Pleasure, Senior Youth Western Horsemanship and Western Riding, also placing in the Trail and Reining. Judy remembers ' I was also lucky enough to win the Amateur Western Riding on Silver that year and we came home with lots of new rugs '.
2025 AQHA NOVEMBER / DECEMBER ISSUE