News
Congratulations to Kennady Johnson who was recently crowned Miss Rodeo Texas Princess 2010. Miss Johnson will be representing the Lone Star state of Texas in numerous rodeos and community events serving as a goodwill ambassador and spokesperson for Texas Western heritage and specifically the sport of rodeo. Wilhelm Performance Horses is especially proud of Kennady for winning the horsemanship division of the contest!
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Congratulations to the 2009 WTRHA Year End Winners from
Wilhelm Performance Horses
Jaci Marley & Custom AR Jessie
Champion WTRHA Youth
Champion 13 & Under
Green as Grass Graduate
Chloe Gates & Molly Ann Shines
Reserve Champion WTRHA Youth
Reserve Champion 14 - 18
Reserve Champion $500 Novice
Warnetta Martin & Docs Frosted Shiner
Reserve Champion Limited Non Pro
Reserve Champion Novice Horse Open
Kim Oldham & No Kiddin Amigo
Green As Grass Graduate
3rd Place $500 Novice
Melanie Wilhelm & Frostys Little Diva
Champion Novice Horse Open
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Congratulations to Chloe Gates on another successful year on Molly Ann Shines. Chloe was Year End Reserve Champion in the WTRHA Youth, Youth 14 - 18, and the $500 Novice. Chloe and Molly Ann also qualified to go to Oklahoma City to compete in the NAAC Championships in the Youth 14 - 18. This will be the pair's 2nd trip to OKC. Good Luck!!!!
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Congratulations to Jaci Marley and her good gelding, Custom AR Jessie. This is Jaci's first year in the NRHA and she has had quite a year. She won both the WTRHA Youth and the Youth 13 & Under Year End Awards as well as graduating from the Green as Grass Class. Jaci and Jessie also qualified to compete at Oklahoma City in the NAAC Championships by placing 2nd at the South Central Affiliate Finals in Tulsa. Good Luck in OKC!!!!
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Congratulations to Lacy Schults and Custom Gunners BH who recently were reserve champions at a Canadian futurity. "Carolina", a 3 year old mare by Custom Crome, was started by Wilhelm Performance Horses. Good Luck in the remaining futurites Lacy!
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Wilhelm Performance Horses is very proud of the youth who showed at the State 4-H Show in Abilene TX. From Left to Right: Lane Birkenfeld, Haley Birkenfeld, Ryan Birkenfeld, Kyle Birkenfeld, and Chloe Gates. (Not Pictured - Jaci Marley) Out of nearly 100 reiners Chloe placed 2nd, Ryan 3rd and Haley 7th. Way to Go!
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Congratulations to Chloe Gates and her good mare Molly Ann Shines. Chloe and Molly were the 2009 Reserve Champion Reiners at the State 4-H Show in Abilene.
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Congratulations to Chloe Gates and her 3 year old filly by Docs Frosty Lena CT. Chloe and Docs Maxi Freezer AKA "Missy" were the 3 Year Old Stock Horse Champions at the 2009 State 4-H Show in Abilene. Missy was raised by Kim Drerup of Nazareth, TX!
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A good time was had by all at the recent San Angelo Quarter Horse Show March 20 - 22. From Left to Right: Kim Oldham on No Kiddin Amigo, Jaci Marley on Custom AR Jessie, Warnetta Martin on Docs Frosted Shiner, Chloe Gates on Molly Ann Shines and Melanie Wilhelm on Classy 'N Chexi owned by Dave & Yvonne Koontz.
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Ride of a Lifetime
I saddle her up, then get ready myself
Last thing I do is get my hat from the shelf
To the warm-up pen I go
I'm up last, I know my nerves show
My insides jump with every stride
If we lose, oh well, we tried
It's my turn to go, all eyes are on me
I get to the gate and remember to breathe
I mash down my hat as we lope through the gate
We stop past the center, "Wow that was great!"
Now back ten feet and spin both ways
If we make it through this, we'll be okay
That wasn't too bad, this is going just fine,
Then I listen for Mel as I straighten my spine
Fast circles first, now I feel like I'm flyin'
Her body's relaxed but I know that she's tryin'
We make the transistion, and circle once more
Change leads in the center, go slow then lean forward
Two fast to the right, then change in the middle
I finally sit back and calm down just a little
Stops and rolbacks are all that remain
Just don't freeze up, this ride's been insane
Three perfect stops, then I drop my bit
My body is shaking, all I want is to sit
The judge gives me a nod and I start to walk out
They announce the score and everyone shouts
A seventy-two, so far it's our prime
I'll never forget that ride of a lifetime.
Author: Chloe Gates
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Friends, Amber Oldham and Chloe Gates, share 2008 year end awards. Amber was the youth 14-18 West Texas Reining Horse Association Year End Champion while Chloe took Reserve. In the WTRHA Youth 18 & Under Chloe was the Year End Champion while Amber settled for Reserve. Way to go Girls!!!!
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Vickie Barby and her good mare Frosted Lilly Lena continue to improve and have become a very consistent team. At the recent September Slide in San Angelo, the pair won the $500 Novice class and tied for 2nd in the rookie. After all the year end points are calculated this makes Vickie & Lilly the 2008 Year End $500 Novice Champions and they finished a strong 3rd in the tough rookie class. Congratulations!
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Chloe Gates and her BIG stopping mare, Molly Ann Shines, slid their way to a Top 4 finish in the youth division at the South Central Affiliate Finals. This was Chloe's first trip to the finals and her run earned her the Youth Rookie Championship and a beautiful Yucca Flats saddle pad. Chloe will compete at the NAAC this December in Oklahoma City. Chloe is a high school junior from Bushland, Texas.
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Ryan Birkenfeld and his good palomino gelding "Homebrew" get tougher each year. Ryan was the 2008 Reserve Champion reiner at the 4-H State Finals. Ryan is a junior at Nazareth High School. His flashy reiner is by local stallion Taris Judge.
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Kyle Birkenfeld, a senior from Nazareth, Texas slides to a stop on his gelding Tarzan Par Bar at the 4-H State Finals in Abilene. "Tarzan" is another good youth reiner by Taris Judge owned by Scott & Jane Bagley of Dimmitt, Texas.
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Congratulations to Chloe Gates on her purchase of Molly Ann Shines. Molly Ann is by Susan Russell's stallion Generatin a Spark by Shining Spark. She was trained & shown by Melanie to a reserve championship in the WTRHA Limited & Intermediate Open in 2007. After only a few shows, Chloe and Molly Ann won the District 4-H Reining show, pointed out of the Green As Grass Class and are in the running for the 2008 year end WTRHA youth championship.
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In only her 2nd year of showing reining horses, Vickie Barby is having much success on her new mare Frosted Lilly Lena, by local reining stallion Docs Frosty Lena CT. At left, Vickie is sliding her way to a winning run in the WTRHA $500 Novice class at Graham, TX.
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Last year's WTRHA year end youth champion is wasting no time making her presence felt in the rookie competition on her new horse Outback Whiz. At right, Amber Oldham is shown marking a 71.5 to place 3rd in the tough field at Glenrose, Texas. Amber will be representing the West Texas Reining Horse Association at the South Central Affiliate Finals in Tulsa. Good luck, Amber!
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This spring Hi Pro Feeds and Wilhelm Performance Horses teamed up to provide area 4-Hers a headstart to the 2008 show season.
Melanie Wilhelm along with Cynthia Finck, Jordan Rowan, Kelli Morris, Suanne Bliss, and Hi Pro Equine Consultant Alexis Atwood gave pointers to over 25 youth students to help them increase their scores in reining, showmanship, trail and western pleasure. We hope to make this an annual event!
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Congratulations to Docs Frosted Shiner owned by Terry & Warnetta Martin on a successful futurity season in 2007. Ridden by Melanie Wilhelm, Shiner placed in the top 5 in the Limited Open at the NRHA Futurity, was Reserve Limited Open Champion at the RMRHA Summer Slide Futurity in Denver and also picked up a check at the September Slide Futurity in San Angelo.