“Beautiful, talented and trainable” is how Ohio trainer Blake Britton describes the 2018 sorrel mare he just recently rode to a Reserve Championship (tie) in the 3-Year-Old & Over Maiden Western Pleasure Western Pleasure at the Southern Ohio Quarter Horse Association’s Madness Show Circuit in Wilmington, Ohio.

Marilynn Monroe, sired by Machine Made and out of KM WeKnowShesHot, earned a total of $7,750 in her first journey into the show world – a check for $6,250 for the overall Reserve (tie with Making Them Won Me) in the class and another $1,500 because Britton was the highest placing Intermediate rider to compete.

Blake and his wife, Becca purchased Marilynn Monroe in early January of her 2-year-old year. 

“She is so pretty to look at and bred so great that we just had to have her,” Blake said.

Training came easily for the filly.

“She has been very smart and quick to learn,” Blake said. “And she can lope all day long.”

But with Covid-19 restrictions in place last year there were few opportunities to show a 2-year-old so Blake and Becca decided it would be more beneficial to hold Marilynn back to show in a maiden event this year.

Both Blake and Becca are excited to be showing her at all the major futurities for the rest of the year – Blake in Intermediate classes and Becca in Novice Horse events.

“Her movement is just very soft and she is just so big and pretty,” Blake said. “She’s a lot of fun to show.”

The Brittons are hoping Marilynn will have a long and successful show career but say that with her breeding, they are also looking forward eventually raising babies out of her as well.

“We love her to death,” Blake admitted. “My wife spoils her, so she gets all the treats she wants.”

Blake is equally excited about Marilyn’s full brother, KM Slot Machine (Ace), a 3-year-old sorrel gelding, owned by Libby Trucco, of Delaware, Ohio.

“We found Ace in November of his 2-year-old year, and after having the mare we knew he would fit into our program as well,” Blake said.

Trucco had asked Blake and Becca to find her a prospect to develop into a show horse for her.

“I wanted something to show in the 3-year-old Non-Pro events and then continue the following year in Amateur Select Western Pleasure,” she explained.

The Brittons looked at many possibilities, all over the country. After viewing many, many videos and a few failed pre-purchase exams, Trucco got the call that Blake had found “the one.”

“I was instantly taken by just how handsome he is,” Trucco said. “His gorgeous head, his kind eye, and his silly personality had me from the very start.”

Trucco asked Blake to put the deal in motion and in early December she became the new owner of Ace.

“After meeting Ace and watching his quick progression it was obvious to me, this gelding was the right pick,” Trucco explained.

KM Slot Machine made his show debut at The Sudden Impulse Futurity in Ocala, Florida in April, where he and Blake placed sixth in the Maiden 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure.

They followed that up with a Reserve Championship in the Intermediate Division of the 3-Year-Old & Over Novice Horse Open Western Pleasure, bringing his total lifetime earnings to $17,000 in just two shows so far.

Becca will continue to show Ace in Limited Horse Limited Rider classes this year and Blake will show him in Intermediate and Open 3-Year-Old classes.

“It is my plan to get back to the show pen aboard Ace in the 3-year-old Non-Pro events,” Trucco said. “My goal is to have fun and enjoy my horse.”

Blake started Blake Britton Show Horses in the fall of 2015 on 15 acres in Chillicothe, Ohio. Becca moved there in 2017 and they were married in 2019. Their facility includes a 31- stall show barn, a 60-by-120 indoor arena, an indoor walker and round pen with a big outdoor riding arena as well.

“We specialize in the preparation of Western Pleasure and futurity horses,” Blake explained. “We both love doing the futurity horses. To us there isn’t anything more rewarding than taking a horse from its very first ride to the day it makes the show pen. Becca and I are excited to continue to watch our business grow.”

Helping them reach that goal is Megga Machine, a 3-year-old sorrel gelding by Machine Made out of Ms Rad Rodder, owned by Pinnacle Quarter Horses. “Fletcher” has over $7,500 in lifetime earnings. He and Becca placed fourth in the Limited 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure at the National Snaffle Bit Association World Championship Show in 2020. Blake won the Open 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure at the Michigan Breeders Futurity last year and won the 2-Year-Old Tom Moore Sale Slot class.

This year Megga Machine won the Limited 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure at the Fun In The Sun Futurity and Kris Gilmore was Reserve Champion in the 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure. Fletcher also placed in the top five at The Sudden Impulse Futurity and at The Madness.

In April Blake and Becca spotted Dreww Breeze at the Georgia On My Mind Futurity with Katy Jo Zuidema and Blake knew right away the 2-year-old by Machine Made and out of Sheza Sudden Breeze (by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Zippin The Breeze) would work in his program.

“I’ll show him later this year in the 2-year-old events for owner Chris Lagerblade,” he said.

In addition to training young Western Pleasure contenders, Blake and Becca also coach youth and Non-Pro contenders.

“Blake and Becca make an amazing team,” Trucco said. “Their work ethic and honesty are so refreshing.  Their horses all look so fit, so prepared, and they all look happy doing their jobs.  I am really looking forward to working with them.  My guess is they will help me achieve my goal of getting back my intital passion of showing …. just having fun!”

You can contact the Brittons by calling Blake’s cell phone at (740) 804-1039. You can also connect with them by visiting the Blake Britton Show Horses Facebook page.