Pride of Alen Again was advertised going for the World in 2000 and that he did, full steam ahead. He was campaigned throughout the season preparing for the final Saturday Night spotlight and the 2000 World Grand Championship. Winning his preliminary class on Monday night set him in the drivers seat for World honors. POA already had several top honors on his resume, including winning the Breeder's Cup Sweepstakes as a Two Year Old, tying Reserve in the Three Year Old World Grand Championship, winning the NSSHA Four Year Old World Grand Champion, and coming back as a five year old to tie for third in the Stake at SSHBEA. As a six year old in 1999, he was crowned Reserve World Grand Champion, just one step away.

Bred and raised by Ronnie Sapp of Pikeville, Tennessee, he is by Spotted Alen Again and out of a Pride's Dark Spirit mare. Around the time he was foaled, June 18, 1993, Ronnie had just sold his sire and felt this would be his last time breeding to Spotted Alen Again, thus the best name needed to go to the gangly bay & white colt. In early February, at 18 months, after only two weeks of work, Doug and Carolyn Sanders of Tullahoma, TN purchased him and he was sent immediately to their trainer. It didn't take long for word to spread, "Have you seen Harry Dean Hobbs two-year-old?  He's one of the best I've ever seen." Campaigned under the Sanders banner till he was five, he was purchased just before the stake by the Larry Ingram Family of Pulaski, TN. When he finished a disappointing third, it didn't take Ingram long before he offered him for sale. At this stage in the bay & white stallions career, fans either loved him or they hated him. There was no in between.

Meanwhile, down in Tuscaloosa Alabama, a family was toying with the prospects of the horse industry. While at a Walking Horse Show, Kathy Price saw a Spotted Saddle Horse Class and that was it for her. "That's what I want!" she told her husband Carl and their young trainer Andy Clark. Unbeknownst to Kathy, the search was on.

Raised in the racking horse industry and having worked for Knox Blackburn, a walking horse trainer, Andy stated "I didn't even know who to call to ask about the Spotted Saddle Horses as I'd never been around them. Someone said call Harry Dean Hobbs in Tennessee. I'd never even talked to the man before. I just asked him if he knew where there was a top horse and he said I've got him standing right here in my barn. So off to Tennessee I went - P.O.A. thrilled me from the very first step I saw him take."

Returning home, Andy told Carl Price what he'd found, and back to Tennessee the pair went. After two passes Carl asked Andy "Do you want to ride a World Grand Champion?" Andy said yes, and Carl wrote out the check and said "Well, there he is."

Harry Dean trailered him to Corinth, MS the following Saturday night to a walking horse show as a surprise for Kathy. Thinking she might not get her Spotted Saddle Horse, Kathy's eye had turned to a new BMW instead. Imagine her amazement at the show when she was presented her horsepower, but it had four legs rather than four wheels.

"Harry Dean helped us a lot from the very first. He and his family could not have been greater to us in any way. They just took us under their wings" said Andy. "People have no idea how much this World Grand Championship win has meant to me. From the time I was a little boy it's been my dream to ride under the spotlight. My sincere thanks to the Price family for sticking with me and providing me with such quality stock to work with."

In interviewing Hobbs for this story he stated "Things just don't happen over night. I always knew that someday P.O.A. would wear the roses. I just didn't know if I'd be on him, where he'd be, who would be on him, or who would be training him. Hats off to Andy as he's done a great job with him. When we sold him my wife Dorinda said 'I'm not coming to the barn anymore. Every time I get attached to one, you sell him.' Of course Dorinda didn't really mean that but P.O.A. sure was an easy horse to get attached to." Smiling he added, "I do happen to have a black & white colt by him to start in January."

Only in the Spotted Saddle Horse business a short time, Carl, Kathy and & young Jeremy Price are all in the show ring and have become top competitors in every division. Their big, red tractor trailer rig has become a familiar sight at the shows, and I'm sure there is a P.O.A. baby in the background waiting for young Mary Katelyn when she's ready to make her show ring debut. The Price family owns the only show barn in the industry to have three World Grand Champions in its show string - 1996 WGC Puff the Magic Dragon, 1999 WGC Hy-Tone Dancer and 2000 WGC Pride of Alen Again. The Prices are a fine family and a very welcomed addition to the industry.

The Price's collectively want to thank the Spotted Horse World and SSHBEA for all their good fortune and send a special thanks to the many friends and supporters they have come to know in such a short time. "To win the World Grand Championship with our horse was indeed a thrill for us all and we know what an extreme honor it is" stated Carl Price. Their hopes are to share their World Grand Champion on exhibition whenever and wherever asked. "We are so proud of Andy for all his efforts and hard work. He is responsible for this wonderful newfound way of life for us" stated Kathy.