FROM SHOW RING SUPERSTAR TO DAM OF EXCELLENCE
by COLLEEN SCOTT
When a horse can carry multiple amateur, junior and open riders to national titles, well, that horse is something pretty special. When that same horse is also named a Dam of Excellence with just six offspring, she’s even more special. And so it is with Kheanne (Khadraj NA x TN Katiki, by Versace), bred by Julia Neufeld.
Brett Becker, who has had the mare since the end of her 3-year-old year (Gordon Potts started Kheanne and showed her to a U.S. National Top Ten in the Arabian Western Pleasure Futurity in 2011), says the fact that multiple people have been able to win national titles on Kheanne speaks to her talent and personality. “Everyone I’ve ever had ride her has won on her. She’s a horse that can win no matter who is sitting on her. That says a lot.”
Retiring after the 2022 U.S. Nationals, the beautiful bay mare went out on top, taking owner Nancy Maximuck to the Reserve Champion title in the Arabian Western Pleasure AAOTR 60 & Over class in a highly competitive field of 31 horses. It was a thrilling end to the pair’s 2022 show season, having also claimed two top ten awards at the Youth & Mid Summer National Championship Show and a Champion at Region 2. But it was their national ride in Tulsa that Nancy is particularly proud of.
“I still get choked up and have goosebumps when I think about it,” she says. “I don’t think that is something that will ever go away. It was just about a perfect class. I understood her. She understood what I wanted, and we just clicked.”
Nancy attributes much of her success in the ring to Brett. “He really looks at the way you ride and tailors what he is saying to every individual. Not every rider is the same, and he understands that. He also knows his horses really well. As long as you follow his directions, you’re going to do well.”
And do well they did, ever since 2017 when Nancy bought Kheanne. With a successful show career and the mare approaching 15, Nancy and Brett had discussed retiring her following the 2022 show season. Although Kheanne was still at the top of her game, they decided to stick with their original decision and focus on breeding.
“She’s already had some really beautiful babies,” says Nancy. “We’re expecting one this year by Sundance Kid V that we’re pretty excited about.”
Those beautiful babies have since led to Kheanne’s next achievement, this one outside of the show ring. Recently named an Arabian Horse Times 2022 Dam of Excellence by meeting four requirements: one, that she herself is a national champion, and the remaining three, producing one or more national champions (three), as well as two or more reserve national champions (three) among just six babies, proves herself to be an incredible dam.
Kheanne’s first offspring were the result of twin embryos that Brett flushed the same day. Both are by Sundance Kid V.
Pictured top to bottom:
Bentayga+ (by Sundance Kid V)
Jasmine And Magnolia (by Sundance Kid V)
On Demand (by Onyx A)
Kheanne’s first filly, Jasmine and Magnolia was born in 2016 and quickly followed in her dam’s show ring hoofprints, capturing three national championship titles in 2021. At U.S. Nationals, she was champion in both the purebred performance halter class and in the Western Pleasure Maturity out of a field of 38. At the Mid Summer National Championships, she earned champion in the AWPA $15,000 Maturity class. She followed that up at the 2022 U.S. Nationals with a reserve championship in performance halter and a top ten in the Arabian Western Pleasure AAOTR 19-39 class.
The second embryo, Bentayga, a stallion, arrived five days later, and has also had a successful show career. In 2021 he was named U.S. National Champion Western Pleasure Junior Horse out of 40, after earning reserve champion in the same class at Mid Summer Nationals. Prior to that, he proved his abilities with two national top ten titles as a Futurity horse.
The stallion On Demand (by Onyx A), born in 2018, took home the 2022 U.S. National top ten title in the Arabian Western Pleasure Maturity after winning the championship at Mid Summer Nationals in the Arabian Western Pleasure Junior Horse class.
“How many mares can you say have produced three national champions out of just six babies—not very many,” says Brett.
Kheanne’s other offspring include the mare Trulianna (by Trussardi), a regional winner in the Western Pleasure Junior Horse division; the stallion Just Mac (by Justin Mac V); and Khameroon (by Rodan LTD), a 2021 colt.
All but Just Mac, who is with Greg Harris, reside at Becker Stables, something Brett is excited about. “They are owned by different people but having them here and being able to watch them mature has been very rewarding.”
What’s next for Kheanne? Nancy says that besides continuing to use frozen embryos with recipient mares, they also hope the mare can carry a foal during her next cycle.
“We’re just thrilled she had such a tremendous go for her final show ring appearance and we are so excited about her future. She is truly one of a kind,” Nancy says.
Brett concurs, and not just because of her successful show career and highly-performing offspring. “Kheanne has a great personality and is really a wonderful horse to be around.”
Keanne+// ~ 2017 Scottsdale ChampionKheanne+// ~ 2022 U.S. National Reserve Champion Western Pleasure AAOTR 60 & Over with Nancy Maximuck in her final show ring appearance.
FOR A LUXURY RIDE ...
BENEDIXXTION 2022 H/A Gelding (Bentayga+ x Vexxing+//)
CONTINUING HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE BREED AS A LEADING SIRE FOR ALMOST A DECADE
By Khadraj NA+++/ x Aphrodite FA, by Fame VFAWPA Enrolled | Sweepstakes Nominated Sire Scottsdale Signature Stallion
Proudly owned by the Pitassi Family
MERRY KHRISTMAS Kharismatic PGA+// x Merry Mac V (Dam is a National Champion Western Pleasure Jr. Horse)
THE JAZZZMAN Kharismatic PGA+// x Jasmine and Magnolia
Kharismatic PGA+// Ladys Dance+//
Khadraj NA+++/ Aphrodite FA
Sundance Kid V SDA Lady Jabask
Ponomarev
Khatreena NA
Fame VF
ANW Simplicity
Desperado V
Sweet Shalimar V
GG Jabask+/ SDA Bey Elegance
2021 & 2022
SCOTTSDALE CHAMPION WESTERN PLEASURE
AWPA Enrolled Region XII Spotlight Stallion Sweepstakes Nominated Sire Scottsdale Signature Stallion
Proudly bred & owned by Dr. Marta Wasiak & Dr. Babu Rankupalli
2021 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPION AWPA $100,000 WESTERN PLEASURE FUTURITY
2022 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION WESTERN PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE
2022 SCOTTSDALE UNANIMOUS CHAMPION WESTERN PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE
Khadraj NA+++/
Khash PGA
RA Kela
Kaiyoum++
PGN Kailicia
PGN Solitaire
AWPA Enrolled Sweepstakes Nominated Sire
Scottsdale Signature Stallion
Proudly owned by Laurie Martin Show Horses
Laurie Martin: 480-236-6382
Becker Stables: 530.477.5588
Brett’s cell: 530.392.0699
2020 U.S. NATIONAL TOP TEN WESTERN PLEASURE JUNIOR HORSE
2021 YOUTH NATIONAL TOP TEN WESTERN PLEASURE JOTR 15-18
Becker Stables: 530.477.5588
Brett’s cell: 530.392.0699
info@beckerstables.com
Enzo RA Kaliope Padrons Psyche RD Bey Shahmpane Khadraj NA+++/ RA LapakuAll things western ... Becker Stables is the number one source for the bloodstock it takes to win National Championships. Why? Because we’ve lined our pastures with the highest quality, consistent breeding horses who produce the best, time and time again. Because of this, we have been pairing winning horse and rider combinations for decades.
Poco Van Star Two x Weczendela Proudly owned by Bell Heir Arabians LLC
2022 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION HALF-ARABIAN WESTERN PLEASURE AAOTR 40-59 WITH JENNIFER BELL
Kharismatic PGA+// x Sheza Loded Lady+// Proudly bred & owned by Jamie & Sally Leonardini
2022 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION HALF-ARABIAN WESTERN PLEASURE OPEN WITH BRETT BECKER
2022 SCOTTSDALE CHAMPION
HALF-ARABIAN WESTERN PLEASURE AATR
2022 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPION
HALF-ARABIAN WESTERN PLEASURE
AAOTR 60 & OVER WITH KATIE RUSSELL
Justify x Sheza Loded Lady+// Proudly owned by Katie & Joe Russell
PA Kid Khan x I Am A Dun Diva
Proudly bred & owned by Cindy Beck
2022 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION HALF-ARABIAN WESTERN PLEASURE AAOTR 60 & OVER WITH CINDY BECK
2022 MID SUMMER NATIONAL UNANIMOUS CHAMPION WESTERN PLEASURE AAOTR CHOICE WITH CINDY BECK
2022 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPON ABS HALF-ARABIAN WESTERN PLEASURE AAOTR JACKPOT WITH BRANDI BURROUGHS
2022 YOUTH NATIONAL UNANIMOUS CHAMPION WESTERN PLEASURE JTR CHOICE WITH ALANA BECKER
2022 U.S. NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION LADIES SIDE SADDLE WESTERN AAOTR WITH BRANDI BURROUGHS
Khash PGA x ML Cerralina
Proudly owned by Mike & Nicci Waldschmidt
2022 MID SUMMER NATIONAL RESERVE CHAMPION WESTERN PLEASURE AAOTR SELECT WITH NICCI WALDSCHMIDT
Khadraj NA+++/ x Infra Red J
Proudly owned by Nancy Maximuck
2022 MID SUMMER NATIONAL CHAMPION AWPA $15,000 HALF-ARABAN WESTERN PLEASURE AAOTR MATURITY WITH NANCY MAXIMUCK
WC Khanspiracy Youth National Champion JTR Choice
JK Black Orchid Youth National Champion JTR Choice
HEADING TO FRESNO STATE! DIVISION I EQUESTRIAN TEAM SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
2022 AHTIMES YOUTH NATIONAL HIGH POINT RIDER (TIED)
