Momentum still belongs to Tate Kirchenschlager, who carried his October ARHFA Heading World Championship straight into the first ARHFA event of 2024.
The Stephenville, Texas, header dominated the Open Heading at Scottsdale, Arizona, won the futurity by a scant two-tenths of a point on four steers—aboard Riley Wheeler’s 6-year-old defending ARHFA World Champion Head Horse A Painted Sunshine (“Smoke”).
The futurity March 2-4 at Westworld in Scottsdale, Arizona, the ARHFA Sun Circuit Futurity added $45,000 to the Open and Non-Pro, and $35,000 to the Reys Smokin Dually Pre-Futurity. Judges were Jordan Allyn and Gary Wells.
A Painted Sunshine is by Second Painted Sign (by PYC Paint Your Wagon) and out of the Playgun granddaughter Miss Freckles Handle.
“The steers were stronger here than in Fort Worth, and he was catching up fast,” said Kirchenschlager, who had Shay Carroll heeling for him all day. “He scores so good and is so fast off the back of the box.”
Kirchenschlager’s Scottsdale haul was $19,340 including placing other horses in both the Pre-Futurity and 87-entry Open Heading (he was also 6th on Beto Wiley’s SJR Bet He Sparks). The reserve championship, by a whisker, went to Joseph Harrison, heading on Diane Beckmann’s Air Force 1. And third place in that Open Heading went to 6-year-old Celtic Tuff, by Woody Be Tuff out of Sucha Smartlookin Cat, with an 898.87 worth $6,900. The rider was Mike Kunzler of Snowville, Utah, for owner Briena Wells.
Pedigree: Tate Kirchenschlager’s A Painted Sunshine
