PREMIER - June 2023

horsepower

Laura Hull of Waukegan Farms brings new meaning to the term horsepower. The select amateur exhibitor from High Point, North Carolina competes in western pleasure. But that’s not the only horsepower she’s passionate about. Together, she and her husband Maurice own Silver Hare Racing, a professional car racing team that competes in the Trans Am Series TA2 division. Between showing horses and racing cars, the Hulls have found a way to marry their passion for two very different kinds of horsepower.

A successful competitor in the western pleasure arena, Hull owns two western pleasure mares and

MAURICE &

shows under the guidance of Joy and Justin Wheeler. Hull and her seven-year-old mare, Do I Look Lazy or “Bug,” have garnered significant success over the past several years. In 2021, the pair won the Novice Select Western Pleasure at The Championship Show in Ocala, Florida. That same year, they were Reserve Champions in the same class at The NSBA World Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2022, Hull and Bug brought home the win in the Novice Select Amateur Western Pleasure at The All American Quarter Horse Congress.

Hull says she and Bug have shared a special

LAURA HULL | WAUKEGAN FARMS

connection from the start. “She’s such an exceptional mare; she has so much heart and try. Winning the Congress with her was extraordinary. What a privilege to compete and be successful at that level,” Hull says. Several years earlier, on a recommendation from the Wheelers, she purchased the mare sight unseen. “I trust them completely,” says Hull. “The Starnes had her at that time and Joy and Justin felt she would be a good fit for me.”

Their feeling was right, and now Hull looks forward to continuing to show Bug, who is by Lazy Loper and out of the mare A Certain Illusion, well into

DO I LOOK LAZY

the future. “We’re just hitting our stride and I hope to continue showing her for a number of years,” she shares. Hull appreciates the difficulty in competing and remaining on top at the highest level. She says, “Everyone knows what it takes to win at this level. It makes me so proud to have the support of Justin and Joy and our entire team. They work so hard to have Bug prepared and make sure she’s peaking at the right times. Our barn family is incredibly supportive as well, from the people at the shows to the folks that work at home at the barn. It takes everyone to make it happen, so the wins are just as much theirs.”

That team approach also fuels the Hull’s racing endeavors. The team employees a total of ten people full time. Maurice serves as one of the team’s three drivers and has had great success in the Masters Trans Am Division. “He’s quite an accomplished driver,” says Laura. “He’s been a three-time champion and reserve champion.” The team competes in road course races throughout America. These purpose-built road courses feature right and left turns along with elevation changes and slow and fast corners. The Hulls operate the team together with Laura serving as team manager and Maurice as the team’s primary driver.

Despite the juxtaposition of speeding around a track racing cars and slowing things down to lope around the pleasure pen, Hulls says there are a lot of parallels between racing and showing. “It’s all about the support of your team,” she shares. “Horses and cars both have to be prepared to win. The rider and driver must be prepared too, mentally and physically. You have to be able to keep focus, not be distracted, and aim for perfection the entire time

VS BLURRED LINES

you’re in the arena or on the track. So, to me, preparation is the biggest parallel. It’s the best of all the horsepower.”

In 2024 the Hulls are looking forward to Bug’s first foal by sire Hay Goodlookn through an embryo transfer. In addition to Bug, the Hulls own a four-year-old mare, VS Blurred Lines, or “Robyn” by VS Code Red and out of Lope the Line. They purchased her as a two-year-old from Kristen Galyean, whom they thank for the opportunity to own such a special mare. Like Bug, Hull says that the bay roan mare is, “very kind with a great disposition.” She goes on to say, “I feel honored and excited to own and show these girls.”

Hull and Robyn competed together for the first time in May at The Madness in Wilmington, Ohio. “We were extremely pleased with her,” she says. “We haven’t pushed her. At the Madness we had our names called through some tough rounds of split classes. My main goal going into that show was just to have really good rides and start to develop the same feel and confidence I have with Bug.” This year she will show both mares in different futurity classes, as well as the Select Western Pleasure. “The one we feel is ready and right for the situation we’re in is who I’ll show,” she says. As she looks ahead to goals for 2023, Hull says that keeping her mares competing at their best is at the top of the

list. “Everybody wants to win a big prize. But for both of these mares to stay healthy and strong, to experience the shows with my teammates, and just to have a fun, successful year—that’s really my goal.”

Hull has been riding with the Wheelers since 2007. Though her journey with horses began long before that. “I grew up in a very rural area of North Carolina, not far from where we own Waukegan Farms, and have another home. My family had a dairy and tobacco farm. The first thing I ever remember is my father setting me on a mule at the farm. Later, when I was about 10 or 12, my father bought me a horse; my sister had one too. We spent hours trail riding all over.”

As is true for so many in the horse industry, it wasn’t until much later in Hull’s life that showing and competing became part of the picture. “Before we got married, my husband surprised me and bought me a horse. It was one of the sweetest gestures ever, but it didn’t turn out very well,” she shares with a laugh. “He was one of those horses that could be sweet and nice, or act like a serial killer. He was a bit bipolar. Luckily Justin got us out of that situation, and we went on to learn from our mistakes. From then on, we’ve never bought a horse without our trainer’s advice. But my husband knew how much I loved the horses and with Justin and Joy’s help we found another.”

In 2008, Hull showed the mare Hot Blazin Angel with the Wheelers. The pair won the Novice Amateur

Western Pleasure at the NSBA World Show and experienced a good deal of success in the show pen. After campaigning “Angel” Hull took a break from showing to focus on different things in her life, including raising her daughter. “Life happens and you have to have your priorities,” she says. “But I was never completely out of it. We raised and sold some prospects during that time with Joy and Justin’s help.”

Looking to the future, Hull hopes to break into the hunt seat arena. She shares, “Since we bought Bug, it’s been wonderful to get back into the show arena. I dearly missed it. At some point, I’d love to earn a title in the hunter under saddle as I have in the western pleasure.” She acknowledges, “The hunt seat is tough. So to go into the pen in this group and have a good ride, feel good about what happened, and have your name called—that’s our goal going forward.” She notes that many of the programs being put together today, including The Premier, offer strong incentives for competitors. “It’s a great opportunity to show, have a fun experience, and recoup some of the investments we’ve made in the industry.”

Apart from showing and racing, the Hulls also remain busy with their family and businesses. Together they own Waukegan Farms in Semora, North Carolina. The farm is an award-winning tree farm that grows Loblolly pines, which are used to create telephone poles and dimensional lumber. Hull describes them as big, tall and straight pine trees. In 2010 they earned North Carolina Tree Farm of the Year. They also successfully run a commercial real estate company out of High Point, North Carolina, and enjoy hunting, fishing and engaging in conservation efforts across the country. Collectively, they have four children and two grandchildren. “All of our kids are successful and doing well. That’s an accomplishment we’re proud of,” she says.

LAURA, JOY & JUSTIN WHEELER

Article Written by: Elizabeth Arnold

COMBINING COLORS SHOW

PROGRAM

This is a new opportunity to promote the Midwesthorse industry as a whole and support the betterment of the industry. We offer incentive breeding to nominated stallions and opportunity for cash payback and prizes to Midwest owners, breeders, and exhibitors.

CLASSES

PRICING + DEADLINES

a 4 show circuit series

THE GREAT 8 THE GREAT 8 MIDWEST CONNECTION

MAY 5-7

GREAT 8 ZONE-O-RAMA (4 judges POR) C BAR C ARENA | CLOVERDALE, IN

MAY 26-28

GREAT LAKES BREAKOUT (4 judges POR)

INGHAM COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS | MASON, MI

JULY 29-30

BORDER BASH (4 judges POR)

FULTON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS | WAUSEON, OH

SEPTEMBER 16-17

HOOSIER BUCKEYE PALOOZA (4 judges POR)

HOOSIER HORSE PARK | EDINBURG, IN

Exciting Prizes for 2023!!

4 Series All Around Saddles (Youth, Am, Open, SPB) Adding SPB Saddle in 2023!

17 Division All Around Awards

17 Division Res. All Around Prizes

Grand Champion Halter Award Series Class Circuit Awards

* Must show at 3 of 4 events to qualify.

* Exhibitor AND Owner must hold memberships in MI, OH & IN to qualify.

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