It was an emotional journey to the 2016 Palomino World Show for Kim Spann, of Williams, Oregon. But when Kenny Lakins loped forward on Withouta Doubt to accept a World Championship title in the 2-Year-Old Snaffle Bit Western Pleasure, sanctioned by the National Snaffle Bit Association, her excitement was eclipsed by an overwhelming relief that she had helped do her young horse’s breeder proud.

Spann first met Darlene Morawski when she purchased the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) foal B My One N Only from her in 2013. B My One N Only is out of El Bee Crème O Wheat, the dam of Withouta Doubt, but by One N Only. Withouta Doubt is sired by No Doubt Im Lazy.

“I began messaging Darlene about her colt,” she explained.

Spann completed the purchase from Morawski and the two became fast friends. So early in 2014 when Darlene posted pictures online of her newborn Palomino colt Spann wasted no time.

“I visited her farm while in Illinois for a Haflinger event in July of 2014,” she recalled. “That is the first time that I got to see Withouta Doubt. He was amazing and more beautiful in person. Darlene had the most beautiful farm and it was immaculate. Her Mare El Bee Creme O Wheat also amazed me with her beauty and movement. I then knew that I wanted anything that that mare produced and that Darlene was willing to sell.”

But Morawski had big plans. She told Spann she wanted to hold on to the colt she called Dillon and show him herself but that she would let her friend know if she ever decided to sell him. Morawski started the colt on the longe line and in June 2015 headed off to Berrien Springs, Michigan for the Tom Powers Futurity.

There Withouta Doubt won the Open Color Longe Line with Ocala, Florida trainer Kathie Kennedy showing. Then in October at the Championship honors the memory of one winner’s dedicated breeder Text Corrine S. Borton Photos Jeff Kirkbride & Shane Rux All-American Quarter Horse Congress Morawski showed Withouta Doubt to a fourth place in the Non-Pro Western Longe Line and Jon Barry showed him in the Open Western Longe, earning seventh place.

“I was so glad to be there to see Darlene show him in Longe Line,” Spann said. “They were amazing.”

It was there that Morawski told Spann that she wanted to take Withouta Doubt to the American Paint Horse Association World Show and then she would be willing to sell. The purchase was completed and Withouta Doubt was given some time off before heading to Kenny and Ashley Lakins, in Wilmington, Ohio, to begin his training under saddle.

“I had always admired Kenny and Ashley Lakins’ program and when I mentioned it to Darlene, she said she would introduce me,” Spann said. Little did anyone know, however, that Darlene would not have the chance to watch his future unfold. In March Darlene Morawski was hospitalized with respiratory failure and died.

“Losing Darlene this year was one of the hardest losses for me,” Span said. “She was a true friend and I know will be missed by many. The horse world lost one of the good ones.”

As life moved on so did Withouta Doubt’s training. Kenny Lakins took him to several smaller shows near him to get Dillon used to going to shows under saddle. Their debut together came at the 2016 Tom Powers Futurity where they placed fourth in the 2-Year-Old Color Breed Western Pleasure and it was Kenny’s idea to show at the Palomino Horse Breeders of America’s World Championship Show. Spann was not able to attend in person but watched the class online.

“I was just hoping he would win for Darlene,” she said. “I know how proud she was of that stallion. I was very impressed with his performance and Kenny also did an amazing job.”

Withouta Doubt will remain in the Lakins program and will likely be shown a few more times this year. Spann said both she and Lakins agree he will just get stronger the more he matures and they plan to campaign him in 2017. In addition to being registered with AQHA and PHBA he also has Pinto and American Paint Horse Association papers.

Spann keeps very busy at her Wingspann Farm, a 130-acre facility in a beautiful valley called Applegate in southern Oregon. She was raised with all types of animals and was trained in Dressage before moving on to Carriage Driving and combined Driving with Haflingers, which she imported and raised. She still keeps a few on her farm and has spent 20 years as a Certified Veterinary Technician. She has always owned Quarter Horses but in the last few years has gotten a lot more involved breeding and showing them.

Spann has shown before at the PHBA World Show and said she is impressed with the show and plans to return. The 2016 World Championship Show was presented by the PHBA July 13-23 in Tunica, Mississippi. The World Show is PHBA’s biggest event with nearly 500 horses competing in World Championship classes, futurities, and maturities for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes.