86-Year-Old Widower Drives Cross-Country to Compete at First Congress, and Will Do the Same For AQHA World Show

By: Brittany Bevis

During our trip to the All American Quarter Horse Congress this year, we had the opportunity to visit with a very special gentleman, who made his first trip to Columbus, Ohio. Plenty of first-timers compete at the Congress every year, so what makes Mr. Ray Coxey special?

Ray is an 86-year-old widower who lives in Wellington, Colorado. Because he prefers to drive instead of fly, Ray drove 1,350 miles in his truck, a full day and a half, by himself, to compete at the show. He did the same thing at the Select World Show this year where he placed fourth in Amateur Yearling Fillies with his horse, Sheza Secret Premo.

Ray and his sorrel filly, by PF Premo and out of BPF Secret Dream, compete under the watchful eye of Dewey Smith. “We’ve been messing around together for a couple of years now,” Ray says. “As long as I’m with Dewey, I like everything. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here. He can talk me into anything. He’s very good at that, and he does it in such a way that you don’t really know you’re being talked into something.”

When asked what possessed Ray to drive 1,350 miles cross-country to attend his first Congress, his answer was simple. “My horse. What’s wrong with that? [When you fly], you’ve got to take all your clothes off, and you have to bring all your horse show clothes and your hat with you. I’ll just drive.”

On a daily basis, Ray cares for anywhere between 10-12 horses that reside on his Colorado-based property where he also raises foals. When asked how long he’s been in the horse business, Ray has to think a bit.

“When you’re this age, you just don’t know anymore. I can’t tell you that. I have no idea. I was probably in my 30s. On a way down, backyard scale, [I’ve been showing horses for] probably 40 or 50 years.”

At the Congress, Ray and his filly placed sixth in Amateur Yearling Fillies and fourth in the limited division. He’s hoping that trainer, Dewey, will be able to improve upon that placing when he shows the filly in open competition this week in Oklahoma City. Ray feels “Coxey” not only has the conformation to be a top contender, but also the mind. “She has a pretty face and nice, hind end. She’s pretty nice everywhere, overall.”

While Ray is still mucking stalls, grooming horses, and competing at shows, at 86, he doesn’t ride anymore. However, he does have a goal for his 90th birthday.

“I like to ride, but I don’t do it anymore. Do you know what my goal is? I have an old gelding, and when I’m 90, that’s four years from now, I want to ride him. I seen the other day where a 90-year-old man roped a calf in 13.5. I can’t hardly believe that. It would take me that long to get off the horse.”

“If he’s ready to go, when he’s 90, I’m going to Colorado and I’m going to ride with him,” Dewey says. “We’re going to go up on the mountains!”