Ann Woodruff and New Partner, World Champion, Made To Ride, to Debut at Sun Circuit

By: Brittany Bevis

Ann Woodruff and Round Meadow Ranch are excited to welcome a new partner to their show string for the 2022 season in the 4-year-old, AQHA World Champion, Made To Ride. “Foxy” competed in 2021 to great success with numerous wins for former owners, Judd and Gail Heflin, under the guidance of RJ King and Blair Townsend.

After securing a number of Novice Western Pleasure, Limited Non Pro, and futurity wins at majors around the country, the mare capped off an exceptional year by winning the 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes at the AQHA World Championship Show last fall.

Foxy is an AQHA mare by Machine Made and out of Huntin For A Cowboy. If the mare’s show record and easygoing demeanor wasn’t enough to convince Ann and Clint that she would make the perfect addition to their show string, her impeccable pedigree certainly did the trick. “We’re very excited to add her to the Round Meadow Ranch breeding program,” Clint says. “It’s just another plus for the whole situation.”

Ann confirms, expressing her excitement about the new partnership. “I can’t stop smiling yet,” she says. “I have huge butterflies in my stomach as I realize that I have big shoes to fill. I’m excited to team with Foxy under the guidance of RJ King and Blair Townsend to continue to learn and grow stronger in Western Pleasure classes. As I enter my last year in the Select Western Pleasure L1 division, our plans are to work hard and show at all of the major shows. RJ King will be riding Foxy again this year as well. Some of the long term goals are for Foxy to be my Select Western Pleasure partner, and we also hope to add her to the Round Meadow Ranch breeding program.”

Blair confirms that Foxy will be RJ’s Junior and Maturity horse for the show season, and the plan is to kick things off with Ann at the Arizona Sun Circuit. “Our first major outing together will be in Arizona in Novice and Select classes and then the Novice Championship,” she says. “We will probably let Ann show some in the Limited Non Pro Maturities, but will focus on Novice and Select classes.”

In 2021, Foxy had great success with four different riders of varying abilities and skill levels. That’s one of the reasons that Blair feels this partnership with Ann will work so seamlessly. “Last year, she won with four different people: Katie Helfin, Garrett Streit, RJ and myself, and I think that’s kind of impressive for a horse,” Blair says. “She’s such a show horse and is one of the easiest horses I’ve ever shown. She’s one of those horses that wants to be good. When you show her, you put her in her spot, and you can enjoy it. She doesn’t require a lot of preparation, and I think that helps keep her fresh throughout the year. She’s got a lot of try to her, and she’s definitely one of those mares that almost finds another gear when it’s show time.”

“Foxy is one of those horses that’s not complicated, and Ann is a very good rider. She tries very hard and wants to do well. She will put in the work. Also, she has a really fun personality, and she’s one of those ladies who you really enjoy helping.”

Because Ann currently has her hands full with her two all-around horses, Dunit on the Range and Goodbar Had a Dream, as of right now, Foxy will solely be maintained as a Western Pleasure horse. “We were extra excited to have been able to purchase her, because Foxy will not only let Ann be competitive in her last year of novice, but she will help her get her feet wet in Select Western Pleasure as well,” Clint says. “To me, she’s the whole package. She has great movement. She’s steady and a very kind mare who is uncomplicated and very fun to ride. She’s very consistent. She’s everything we’re looking for in a Western Pleasure horse.”

Although Ann and Foxy have only just become a team, they’re already clicking well. “I’ve already learned that she’s indeed a special horse. She’s responsive, patient, honest, and the talented horse that I thought that she was the first day that I saw her. We’re looking forward to our debut at the Sun Circuit. I’m extremely thankful for Katie Heflin-Steele and the Heflin Family for this opportunity. I would also like to thank the continued support of my trainers, friends, and family as I enjoy living my dreams.”