Slight Detour: A Texas Win!

Courtesy Photo - AI Content

An Idaho native won big in Texas yesterday.

Riding her colorful Appaloosa gelding Ned, Janice Wood Schoonover earned a World Championship at the 2026 Appaloosa World Show in Fort Worth.

While the political Blue Wave was coming to life and slowly rolling across America and a "David" from Texas who had engaged with and triumphed over "Goliath" in his political pursuit, our longtime friend from Gold Creek rode her colorful Appaloosa gelding to the ultimate winners' circle.

https://www.appaloosa.com/world-show

Here's the rundown from Janice, detailing what she and Danielle accomplished during the annual show at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center over the past few days:

I won world champion novice non-pro Ranch rail pleasure, and I won the Appaloosa Ranch Horse Association first-place novice non-pro Ranch rail pleasure sweepstakes

I also won a 4th in non-pro ranch riding, 9th in Non-Pro Ranch rail pleasure and 9th in novice non-pro Ranch trail.

Danielle earned 10th in novice non Pro Ranch trail and 10th in non pro ranch rail. She was also a finalist in novice non-pro Ranch rail pleasure! And, we were both finalists in open Ranch rail pleasure.

The ranch classes were most definitely the largest, most attended classes here at the World Show. We were always showing with between 18 and 28 competitors in a class.

****

Overall, Janice and Danielle and their horses put in an impressive showing for a couple of first-timers at World competition.

Last night after his monumental win in Texas, U.S. Senator-elect James Talarico, a former public school educator, headlined his acceptance speech with "Love thy neighbor."

I can vouch that here in Idaho and around the region there was a lot of love in the air from neighbors, family and friends who know and appreciate Janice and Danielle.

We are so thrilled for them as the two chased their dream from North Idaho to deep within the heart of Texas. And, the dream came true.

Their fans had the opportunity to go along virtually and witness their traveling and show experiences, thanks to Danielle's frequent video reports from the time they left their home last week at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch to yesterday's exciting win with two Appaloosas raised on the ranch.

Janice's horse Ned is a 9-year-old gelding with the registered name Get Smart on Friday, while Danielle's 8-year-old mare Pali's Little Smarty is known around the ranch as "Fawn."

Our family has known Janice and Danielle pretty much since each of them was born.

We always enjoy talking about the relationship with the Wood family which dates back to the 1940s when our dad Harold Tibbs' mom Iva Tibbs taught Janice's parents, Jim and Virginia, at the Gold Creek one-room school house.

Through the years and thanks to a common love for horses and even some geocaching, we have maintained lifelong friendships, including a memorable experience in 1977 when Janice, my sisters and Kim Lewis represented Idaho by competing as 4-H youth judges at Arabian National Show in Albuquerque, N. Mex.

This friendship was most recently highlighted by sessions where Janice and Danielle spent time prepping for the World Show and picking up tips from my sisters Barbara and Laurie at their Colburn arena.

Janice Wood Schoonover and Danielle Schoonover Otis, you are from Sandpoint and we ARE PROUD OF YOU!

Safe travels home from Texas with those horses and all those prizes.

Dream completed; lifelong memories remain.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏