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Many horse trainers wait a lifetime to accomplish what Jay Starnes has done in just over one year of professional training.
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Leaving Summerton, South Carolina on October 2, 2005, with seven horses to show at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio the Starnes' were merely hoping to have all their horses to show to the best of their ability. Coming home with seven Congress Championships and four Reserve Championships, well it just has not sunk in yet!
"You can show at the Congress and have a great ride and not even make your split! It is not totally in your hands, the judges have to like the way your horse goes, and that is simply someone's opinion," states Jay Starnes. Lucky for the Starnes' the judges really liked their horses!
Jay Starnes operates Starnes Quarter Horses LLC in Summerton where he specializes in western pleasure horses. He began taking outside training horses just one year ago. Jay showed in four classes at the Congress and won three of them and was a finalist in the other. Jay exhibited "Flashy Looking Lady" for customer Joanie Zelnio in the inaugural $100,000 2 Year Old Masters Western Pleasure Class and was crowned the unanimous winner. "This filly is really special. I showed her mother to two western pleasure superiors and this is her first foal. My dad broke her and I finished her into a show horse," says Jay.
Jay also showed "Hot Lopin Louise," his mother's show mare, to two Congress Championships in the 3 Year Old Western Pleasure Limited and Open Divisions. When Jay entered the show arena on "Louise" the pressure was off because Cathy Starnes had already piloted the 2002 sorrel mare to a Congress Championship in the Amateur Select Western Pleasure. Cathy capped of her 2005 Congress with a Reserve Championship in the 3 Year Old Non Pro Western Pleasure Open Division and a fourth place finish in the 3 Year Old Non Pro Western Pleasure Limited Division. Showing in only three classes and finishing 1st, 2nd, and 4th was more than Cathy had expected.
"I just wanted to win my own jacket," exclaimed Cathy. Only top ten finishers can purchase winners jackets. "Every Congress jacket I have someone else won on my horses, but I won my own this year!"
Jay Starnes also exhibited another horse that his parents own named "I Like Hot Chips" a 2-year-old gelding that he and his father broke and trained. Jay and his mount were named finalists in the Junior Western Pleasure, which is a big accomplishment since all of the colt's competition were at least two years his senior.
Jay's wife, Kristy Starnes exhibited two horses at the Congress this year to Championships. "Bring Me The Heat" and Kristy have been sweeping the 2-year-old Hunter Under Saddle classes at the futurities and the Congress was no exception. The pair were named Champion in the 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Open Division and Reserve Champion in the 2-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Limited Division. Kristy also showed her all around horse "Too Blue To Be True" to the title of Reserve All Around Amateur with a Reserve Championship in Amateur Horsemanship, 4th in Amateur Western Riding, 5th in Amateur Showmanship, 6th in Amateur Western Pleasure, and 7th in Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation. Kristy topped off her show with a Championship in the Amateur Versatility. "The versatility is so much fun! You show in 4 classes and are never allowed to leave the show pen. After you show in one class wagons drive in with your clothes and tack and you have 5 minutes to change into your attire for the next event. It probably looks like total chaos but Cathy and my dad, Mike Bell, have been helping me in the arena for the last two years and they have it down to a science!" "Too Blue To Be True" showed that he had the versatility it needed by taking 6th in the Hunter Under Saddle, 2nd in Horsemanship, 1st in Western Pleasure, and 6th in Pole Bending to win the Amateur Versatility.
Many horse trainers wait a lifetime to accomplish what Jay Starnes has done in just over one year of professional training. Jay is quick to give thanks where it is due, "My dad helps me out a lot, whether I need him to lunge, ride, or just watch me he is always there. And my wife and mother keep me well-dressed in the show pen as well as keep my name out there when they are winning on horses I train." The 2005 All American Quarter Horse Congress will not soon be forgotten in the minds of the Starnes.
