The American Paint Horse Association (APHA) presented the inaugural My Senior Horse High-Point Awards to three horses at the 2026 APHA World Championship Show, held June 19–July 4 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Sponsored by My Senior Horse in partnership with Linda Mars and the Mars portfolio of equine-focused products—including BUCKEYE Nutrition, SPILLERS, WALTHAM™ Equine Studies Group, ANTECH Diagnostics, Sound, and Mars Equestrian—the awards recognized the high-point senior horses in the Open, Amateur, and Youth divisions.
Open Senior Horse High-Point Award
The Open Senior Horse High-Point Award winner was Chics Big Gun, a 2008 sorrel overo stallion by Colonels Smoking Gun and out of Chics Metermaid. He is owned by Christine Reed and was bred by John Church.
Reed acquired Chics Big Gun in 2025 when his previous owners needed to downsize. Following a brief career in reining futurities as a young horse, he had spent most of his life without a job.
“He had never been injected and was still 100% sound at 17 years old,” Reed said. “We started riding him just for fun and exercise. We thought, with his bloodlines and the possibility of using him as a breeding stallion, we should do a little promotion. Could we get a show record on him and make him a Superior or a Champion at his age?”
From there, Reed said, things snowballed as it became clear the horse loved to work.
“He just started to flourish and kept getting better,” she said.
Amateur Senior Horse High-Point Award
The Amateur Senior Horse High-Point Award winner was A Western Sensation, shown by Julie Moe-Reynolds of Rolling Hills Estates, California.
The 2007 sorrel overo gelding is by Zippos Sensation and out of A Passing Fancy. He is owned by Julie and John Reynolds and was bred by Simons Show Horses LLC.
Youth Senior Horse High-Point Award
The Youth Senior Horse High-Point Award winner was Your One And Only, shown by Reese Fischer of New Braunfels, Texas.
Your One And Only is a 2007 black overo mare by One Hot Krymsun and out of Huslersmickeymouse. She is owned by Reese’s mother, Lacy Fischer, and was bred by Jason and Jessica Stender.
Lacy purchased “Stella” in 2019 from a family in Minnesota. Before joining the Fischer family, she had competed at local shows and the Paint Horse Congress with her previous riders, who were heading off to college. Reese was just 4 years old at the time and fell in love with her immediately.
“I think I got to show her one year, and then Reese decided that it was her turn and hasn’t looked back since,” Lacy said. This was Reese’s fifth time competing with Stella at the World Championship Show.
“Stella’s just my best friend,” Reese said. “She’s taught me so much.”
Lacy and Reese believe the key to Stella’s continued success as an older horse is that she was never pushed too hard when she was younger. They also credit regular turnout, daily exercise, supplements, and plenty of time to rest.
The pair consider Stella part of the family and plan to eventually retire her on their property.
“I can’t wait, because I want to just hang out with her every day and spend as much time with her out here as we can,” Reese said. “She’s my heart horse for sure.”
Related Reading
- My Senior Horse Awards to Be Presented at 2026 APHA World Championships
- Managing the Senior Performance Horse
- How Modern Senior Horse Care Has Improved Longevity
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