WGC Double Java -

A World Class Pleasure

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By Sarah Gee
© Voice, April 2006

When you think of world-caliber lite shod competition over the past four years, one name comes to mind – Double Java. This talented black gelding, having earned eight world championships and five world grand championships, has fully secured himself a place among our industry’s most successful show horses. His combination of natural ability, show ring charisma, and amiable disposition sets him apart from the herd and continuously places him above the other contenders in his division. At this point and time, Double Java is THE lite shod horse.

Bred and raised on the west coast, Double Java is by four-time world champion Coin’s Double Pride and out of a Mark Of Carbon/Ebony bred mare named Wynne. The successful cross was the brainchild of long-time walking horse enthusiast, and owner of Coin’s Double Pride, Paul Hughes. Mr. Hughes encouraged Charles and Julie Wharton to breed their mare, Wynne, to his stallion. They did so, and Double Java has been proving Mr. Hughes right ever since.

Double Java has spent his entire show career under the able direction of Scott Benham at Golden West Farms. Throughout that career, he has experienced unparalled success. Discussing Double Java, Scott relates, “What sets him apart as a great lite shod horse is his natural ability. He’s a square going, well-balanced horse with a lot of natural headshake. He’s able to display that ability at the beginning of a class, in the middle of a class, and at the end of a class. He actually gets better as the class goes along. He also enjoys the competition. Whether it’s me or Jacqueline (Hotlschult) in the saddle, he knows how to perform in the show ring. He’s an easy horse to work with and truly a pleasure to have in the barn.”

In 2001, as a two-year-old, he was sold to Mark and Marcy Drummond. During that introductory show season, he made nine gate calls in both amateur and open competition and walked away with six blue ribbons. He was just getting started.

His 2002 highlights included numerous impressive wins up and down the west coast show circuit. He made victory passes at the Carousel Charity Show, Desert Classic, All Amateur Show, West Coast Trainers’ Show, the California Celebration, and the Western States Celebration. In addition, he made his first appearances at the Celebration placing in the top six in each of his five classes. His top Celebration tie that year was the Novice Lite Shod Reserve World Championship with Marcy Drummond. It was but a hint of things to come.

It could be said that in 2003, Double Java truly hit his stride. That year he made 24 show ring appearances and walked away with 22 first place ties. Those 22 victory laps included three for world championships and two for world grand championships. His 2003 titles include Amateur Lite Shod Four & Under World Champion with Marcy Drummond, Lite Shod 17 & Under Canter and Lite Shod Four-Year-Old Canter World Champion with Mac Benham, Lite Shod World Grand Champion with Scott Benham, and Amateur Lite Shod World Grand Champion with Mac Benham.

2003 was also the year that Double Java caught the eye of a very talented young equestrienne named Jacqueline Holtschult. Jacqueline’s grandparents, Mike and Kathy Chiappari, had been in the process of looking for the perfect horse for Jacqueline when they brought her to the 2003 Celebration. Jacqueline took one look at Double Java on the big oval and it was love at first sight. The following January fate stepped in when Mark and Marcy Drummond decided to sell Double Java. The Chiapparis bought him and the beautiful new partnership of Java and Jacqueline was formed.

The next show season saw Double Java go completely undefeated in 12 appearances. He and Jacqueline dominated the youth lite shod division on the west coast circuit while he and Scott continued to accumulate open lite shod blues. At the 2004 Celebration, Java carried Jacqueline to her first world championship in the Lite Shod 11 & Under class. Scott then directed him to Lite Shod and Lite Shod Canter World Championships, as well as the Lite Shod World Grand Championship.

In 2005, Java and Jacqueline continued their winning ways, taking blues at the Desert Classic, West Coast Trainers’ Show and the All Amateur Show before striding into Shelbyville to claim their second Lite Shod 11 & Under World Championship. Java then came back, with Scott in the irons, to capture the Lite Shod World Championship and the Lite Shod Canter and Lite Shod World Grand Championships.

Double Java has consistently dominated the lite shod division over the past four years. He is an all-around success with multiple open, amateur, and youth titles to his credit. He is both a flashy show horse and a well-loved kid’s horse. He is an outstanding representative of our great breed.