Double Tapn and Bud Lyon Capture Win in Congress Ranch Riding Stakes for Dan Fox

Double Tapn and Bud Lyon for Dan Fox Take Open Ranch Riding Stakes NSBA Champion Title Presented by The Equine Chronicle at the 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress!

By Sarah Welk Baynum

Bud Lyon rode five horses in the Open Ranch Riding Stakes yesterday, but it was six-year-old Double Tapn, known as “LJ” around the barn, who took the win for owners Katie and Dan Fox.

When the Fox family first bought LJ, they knew he had potential, but needed Lyon to help work through his quirks first to turn him into a champion.

“Katie found him and picked him out when he was a three-year-old,” says Lyon. “And she said, ‘I’ve got this horse, and I think he’s really nice, or could be really nice, but he’s a little quirky and a little weird.’ She asked if I wanted to take a crack at it, and I said, ‘heck, yeah, I do!’”

Since the Foxes and Lyon started working with Double Tapn, he’s won two world championships at the NSBA World in the rail and the ranch riding. He was also third in the Ranch Trail. Last year, he was the AQHA World Champion in the Junior Ranch Riding, and he even broke the arena record.

“He’s been having a great run in the last 12 months—we’re really proud of him. The pattern today was a little bit old-school cowboy. That’s a big pattern for any horse, and this is not the biggest arena—there is lot going on in a short space there. It presents some challenges, and I don’t think I’ve had to run this type of pattern since I won the 2018 Senior Ranch Riding World Championship,” explains Lyon.

The pattern in the Open Ranch Riding Stakes had two gates and several logs in the middle of a small corral, making it very challenging.

“I’m kind of glad we don’t have to run this type of pattern often! You need a horse that is very reliable, steers well, is very responsive, handles well, and allows you to show off the things that we like to do in the ranch classes. This horse has impeccable quality of movement, and he’s always got great expression. I think that that’s one of the things that Katie and Dan were attracted to him about, and what has made him so successful in the ranch classes!” says Lyon.

For Lyon and LJ, all the training and miles at other shows fell into place for them during this class.

“He’s very athletic as well, and that’s a big part of it. But I think today, everything just fell into place. And when you can add the execution on the pattern, have that quality of movement, and his great expression with the ears and that responsiveness, I think that’s what we’re all looking for in the ranch riding. I think that’s also what the judges love to reward,” adds Lyon.

Results through fifth place:

Champion: Double Tapn with Bud Lyon for Dan Fox – $5921.60

Reserve Champion: EverybodysTalkinAtMe with Shannon Quinlan Hill for Jannee and Dominic Pugliani – $4263.55

Bronze Champion: Cowpuncher Cadillac with Jimmy Daurio – $3079.23

Fourth: WhizenBoonSmal with Bud Lyon for Madison Rafacz -$2368.64

Fifth: ChillinLikeAVillain with Bud Lyon – $2013.34