GUNDERSON GRABS SECOND FUTURITY WORLD TITLE, GILLEY GRABS FIRST DERBY WORLD TITLE By Ann Bleiker FUTURITY AND DERBY WORLD CHAMPIONS H eidi Gunderson made headlines in the WPRA in 2021 when she won her first
Futurity 1D World Title aboard Nacho Money Honey, owned by Lisa and Swain Wudtke. She returned to dominance once again in 2023 this time aboard JD Jackson Kandyman. The duo won the 2023 WPRA Futurity 1D World Title after collecting 530 points to outdistance Alyssa Gabrielson and Rare Kelly who finished reserve champion with 490 points. “We started him for the owner, Dan Dolan, as a long yearling and we have had him ever since,” noted Gunderson about the 4-year-old. “I have always
Heidi Gunderson jockeyed her second futurity horse to a world title in 2023. Her first came in 2021 aboard Nacho Money Honey “Junie” and now she took JD Jackson Kandyman “Jackson” to the WPRA 1D Futurity World title in 2023. This year Jackson won a total of $122,000 on the year at Futurity competitions. He is now in Chelsea Moore’s barn and will be making his ProRodeo debut with his new jockey. WPRA photo by Rodeobum.com (James Phifer)
reins and introduce the young talent to the pro rodeo scene. “Chelsea Moore is going to rodeo this year,” noted Gunderson. “She has another really nice horse. Jackson is just 4 and has never been to a rodeo but I think he is going to take the scene amazingly well. Nothing rattles that horse. He gives you the same run every time down the alley and he is going to handle ground. “I wish it was me on his back, but it is not. I am just cheering for her and told her when she bought him, I just had one
been excited about him. Several times Dan was like we just need to sell him, and I would say I don’t think you should sell him just yet. Let me futurity him. “He just had a great year. He won $122,000 and placed in almost every go or average at every big Futurity I took him to. I hit one barrel this year but other than that he was solid.” Winning the title for the second time in her career was important for Gunderson but she was more excited to get the win for Jackson’s owner. “Dan is 83 years old and has owned horses his whole life,” said Gunderson of Murdock, Minnesota. “This was a bucket list item for him to have a horse like this and to get the win was just icing on the cake. Dan believed in in us – my husband (Mark) and I to train him and ride him and I believed in the horse, so it was a special year.” Following their victory at the WPRA World Finals they competed in Oklahoma City before Gunderson dropped Jackson off to his new owner, Chelsea Moore. Moore of Rose Hill, Kansas, will now take the
38 WPRA NEWS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024
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