Pictured is local resident Bill Burton with his horse, JBS Mickey Mouse. Burton and “Mick” took home the reserve world championship title and first place Intermediate title in pole bending at the 2012 Adequan Select American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show, held Aug. 30. (Photo courtesy of The American Quarter Horse Journal)

Bill Burton of New Martinsville captured the reserve world championship title and first place Intermediate title in pole bending at the 2012 Adequan Select American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show on Aug. 30 in Amarillo, Texas.

Burton showed his American Quarter Horse, JBS Mickey Mouse, who is a 1996 bay gelding. JBS Mickey Mouse, sired by Jimmy Mac Darter and out of JB Kato, was bred by John Willrath of Mendon, Ohio.

“JBS Mickey Mouse is the horse of a lifetime,” said Burton. “He’s a talker. He greets me each and every time I enter the barn. He has to hold on to me, so he usually has my shirt in his mouth, and if not my shirt, then the skin on my arm. . . Mick’s best known for always having his tongue out. . .while running or in his stall.”

Burton adds, “When we pull into a horse show, Mick knows and gets a little excited. He kicks in the trailer until everyone knows we have arrived. He’s been known to kick the side out of our brand new trailer.

“Mick loves what he does and that makes him stand out from all of the rest,” said Burton. “Everybody loves him.”

In the pole bending class, 21 entries competed for world champion honors and a purse of $4,200. Burton and JBS Mickey Mouse received a prize package that included a custom-designed silver trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, a specially designed logoed jacket, courtesy of Cripple Creek Outerwear, product from Tex Tan or WeatherBeeta and a medallion.

The Intermediate awards program is designed to recognize exhibitors who have never placed in the top 10 at an AQHA world show in the particular class in which they are competing. Intermediate exhibitor status is based only on an exhibitor’s lifetime, combined world show record, not on the number of points he has accumulated. Intermediate accomplishments will appear on the official records of the horse and exhibitor. Intermediate first place winners in each class receive an eight-inch clear globe, in addition to a specially-designed patch that can be placed on a qualifiers jacket.

Burton expresses thanks to all of those on his team, stating that Mick and he are not the only ones on the team. “We have a great team, and it takes all of us doing our part to get to where we are today,” noted Burton. He stated he is thankful for his wife, Rhonda; their friends, Eddie Heinzman and wife Beth Ann; Mick’s chiropractor, Ross Sovich; Vicki McMillan; and Mick’s previous owner and trainer, Loren Cox.

AQHA is celebrating the 10th year of the Adequan Select World. Adequan Select World is the pinnacle event for American Quarter Horse exhibitors, ages 50 and over, around the world, who must qualify for the event by earning a predetermined number of points to compete in each of the classes representing halter, English, and western disciplines.

The 1,273 entries at this year’s event, representing competitors from 40 of the United States, Argentina, Canada, and Sweden, are competing for 43 world championships.

For more news from the Adequan Select World, visit www.aqha.com/selectworld.

Adequan is proud to be the title sponsor for the Adequan Select World. Other show sponsors include Bank of America, B&W Trailer Hitches, Farnam, John Deere, Markel, Merial, Montana Silversmiths, Nutrena, RFD-TV, SmartPak, and WeatherBeeta. The event sponsors are Cripple Creek, The American Quarter Horse Journal, Coors, Cavendar’s Boot City, Kiser Arena Specialists, and Pendleton Whisky.