With three American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championships, seven Quarter Horse Congress Championships and numerous futurity wins in Western Pleasure to his credit, it’s safe to say Casey Willis knows what it takes for a young contender to be successful in the show pen.

That’s why when he describes Feeling Groovey (Pippi), a 2022 chestnut mare, sired by Hay Goodlookn and out of Forever N Ever, as “big, strong and beautiful,” you just know she’s one to watch.

Feeling Groovey was bred by Stanley Scott, of Ocala, Florida, and sent to Willis’ father-in-law, Rusty Green and his wife, Katie, to get her start under saddle. In March of her 2-year-old year they enlisted Willis to aid in her development.

“She was a big, beautiful filly with a great disposition,” Willis said.

She made her showing debut with a top 10 in the 2-Year-Old Maiden Open Western Pleasure at the Quarter Horse Congress last October and then followed that up by  capturing a bronze in the 2-Year-Old Level 3 Open Western Pleasure at the AQHA World  Show in November. Then at the Florida Gulf Coast in January Pippi and Casey were Circuit Champions in Level 2 Junior Western Pleasure and won the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure.

Feeling Groovey is now owned by MNM Stoneridge Farms LLC, where Willis and his wife, Deanna moved in January.

Michelle Monteith and her husband, Chuck Vohs, built Stonridge on 50 acres in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, so that they and their children, Sam, Kate and Caroline, could enjoy their horses at home.

“We tried to put together a comfortable facility that would be functional at a professional level,” Michelle said. “The farm has over 30 stalls, individual turnout paddocks, large pastures and a hot walker. We’ve got a beautiful tack room, heated indoor, show barn and broodmare barn. Casey and Deanna have a home on the farm, and we have staff apartments as well.”

Michelle met Casey and Deanna when she purchased Congress and AQHA World Champion The Lopin Illusion (Sonny), a 2017 chestnut gelding by The Lopin Machine out of A Certain Illusion, from them at the end of 2023. She said they are really enjoying working with the couple.

“They make everything easy,” she said. “They’re incredibly organized and their attention to detail is unmatched. We’ve all learned an incredible amount in a short period of time. Casey really takes time ensuring that you know how to pilot your horse. He’s truly invested in the success of his clients.”

In fact, they are already enjoying tremendous success in the show pen with Feeling Groovey and Casey winning the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure at the Arizona Sun Circuit, and the Orange Blossom Circuit at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida and capturing a Reserve Championship at A Sudden Impulse Futurity in Ocala as well. They followed that up with a win in that same event at The Madness in Wilmington, Ohio and  a Reserve (tied to win) at The Premier.

“I think she has all the pieces we look for in our show horses,” Casey said. “ She’s big, strong, beautiful; she lopes and jogs; and she  naturally carries her head and neck great.”

Feeling Groovey will continue to be shown in Open 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure classes at all the major events this year with Casey and in Amateur and Non-Pro classes with Michelle eventually, as well, Casey said.

 “She’s incredibly strong and talented and comes from a maternal line that I love,” Michelle said.

Ironically, Michelle first saw Feeling Groovey last year at the Quarter Horse Congress but at the time, she wasn’t in the market for a new horse.

“Once I got to meet her and see her go on a regular basis, I was in love,” she explained. “She’s a very sweet mare in addition to being talented. I love that about her.”

Until it’s time for Michelle to start showing Pippi, she will continue to show A Lopin Illusion in Level 3 Amateur Western Pleasure and Casey will show him in Level 3 Senior Western Pleasure.

“He is a special one and I am happy to be able to ride him again and coach Michelle on him,” Casey said.

Michelle’s son, Sam Latta, will continue to show his show partner, The Whos Who (Conway), a 2019 gelding by Machine Made and out of Whos Chasing Who. In 2023 the team won the Level 1 Youth Western Pleasure 14-18 at the Quarter Horse Congress and then last year they captured the Level 1 Western Pleasure 14-18 Championship at the AQHA Youth World Show. They were Circuit Champions in 14-18 Youth Western Pleasure at the Arizona Sun Circuit last month and Casey and Conway were Reserve Champions in the West Coast Breeders Senior Western Pleasure.

Michelle’s daughter, Caroline Latta is expected to start her show career later this year with Sam’s former show partner, No Doubt Im Chill (Simon), a 2019 chestnut gelding, sired by No Doubt Im Lazy out of Best Blazin Angel.

Michelle got her start in the show world as a youth competitor at a very small barn.

“As a young adult I owned a Hunter Under Saddle horse, Air Ride Equipped. We were fortunate to win an AQHA Reserve World Championship and World Championship with him,” she said.  “I took a long break while the kids were young and am excited to be back.”

In addition to the show horses, MNM Stoneridge LLC has been assembling a group of highly decorated broodmares.

“We’ve enjoyed having a few babies on the farm,” Michelle said.

The son of AQHA judge Tracy Willis and Sharon Willis, of Rogersville, Missouri, Casey was named head trainer at Masterson Farms LLC in Somerville, Tennessee, in December of 2014 where for the next six-plus years he trained and exhibited numerous Western Pleasure champions in AQHA and NSBA competition, including with KM Suddenly So Easy, with whom he won his first AQHA World Championship title in the 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure. In 2020 Casey moved to Ocala, Florida and established Casey Willis Show Horses LLC. Then in September 2022 he married Deanna Green, who has also earned numerous AQHA World and Congress Championships, and together they have built or help build the careers of numerous successful contenders in Western Pleasure and coach many youth and amateur competitors.

When he moved to Stoneridge Farms he took along most all his clients and will have a limited number of openings for new customers.

“We run a boutique horse training operation and don’t like to have too many numbers,” Casey said. “It’s important to me to ride all the horses myself and for my clients to get their lessons from me.”

Although they have only been in Pennsylvania for a few months now, Casey said he and Deanna are excited about their new venture.

“Michelle and her family have been wonderful to work with,” he said. “They all do the horses together as a family and it makes it fun.”

You can visit the MNM Stonebridge website at https://mnmstoneridge.com.

You can also connect with Casey Willis via the Casey Willis Show Horses Facebook page.